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Cape Breton Eagles

Mooseheads Edge Eagles in Shootout at Sold out Centre 200

December 30, 2018 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Cape Breton Eagles News Release


SYDNEY - The first strike in the Hurley Cup went the way of the Halifax Mooseheads in an entertaining, back and forth contest that would finish in a shootout loss for the Screaming Eagles.

There was a great pace from the beginning, although neither team was able to light the lamp in an opening period that saw Halifax outshoot Cape Breton 9-8. The scoresheet would see its first action in the second period, and the teams would do more than trade goals.

The visitors would strike first in the second stanza on a broken play. Samuel Asselin would flip the puck through the legs of Kevin Mandolese at the 4:18 mark, but after the 12 minute mark the Eagles would find a counter.

Cape Breton's goal came when Ryan Francis came up the left wing passed it down to Mathias Laferrière who found a way to beat Cole McLaren from a sharp angle. Then 40 seconds later, the fireworks would start. Eagles captain Declan Smith laid a heavy hit on Halifax's Maxim Trépanier. Raphael Lavoie would come to the defense of his teammate and set off a spirited scrap in which both players connected, but Smith got the bulk of the shots.

The referees deemed it to be a clean hit and it was the Eagles who would earn the power play after Lavoie was assessed the instigator penalty. The home side couldn't score on the man advantage and it was a tie game at the second break.

Just like the second frame, the third period would see each team score twice with Halifax striking first. It was once again Asselin, redirecting a shot by Mandolese to put the visitors up 2-1. 67 seconds later, it would be an even game. Shaun Miller put a shot on McLaren and it would just squeak through his pads, lying in the blue paint, and Mitchell Balmas raced to the net to knock it over the goal line. Despite the two sides trading quality chances no go ahead goal was to be found in regulation.

Overtime would see tremendous back and forth action with highlight reel saves on both ends of the Antoine Crete-Belzile was denied on a 2 on 1 in the first big chance of the extra session. The Eagles would generate another great scoring opportunity when Mitchell Balmas and Leon Gawanke were denied on a 2 on 0.

Halifax was not without their chances as well, as with four seconds left a giveaway left Lavoie all alone in the slot before he was denied by a stellar Mandolese stop. There was enough time in the ensuing faceoff for Lavoie to get off another shot, but he was once again turned aside.

As was the case Friday, Cape Breton's Derek Gentile would lead off the shootout, and with a slick backhand put the Eagles in the driver's seat. It was then time for the goaltenders to have their way: After Trépanier was denied by Mandolese, Balmas was turned aside by an exceptional pad save by McLaren. Lavoie failed to score the Eagles had a chance to win in the third round of the shootout.

After ending the shootout against Moncton Friday, Egor Sokolov hoped to do the same but ended up hitting the post. This allowed Mooseheads captain Antoine Morand to beat Mandolese and send the shootout to extra shooters.

Ryan Francis was unable to score in the overtime round, sending Benoit-Olivier Groulx to shoot. The Halifax forward lifted the puck over Mandolese to give the Mooseheads the victory.

Screaming Eagles forward Shawn Boudrias made his Cape Breton debut after having been acquired from the Gatineau Olympiques. He registered one shot on goal. Boudrias now has the distinction of being teammates with Mitchell Balams on three separate teams- Charlottetown, Gatineau, and Cape Breton.

McLaren turned aside 33 of 35 shots in regulation and overtime in the win, while Mandolese stopped 35 of 37 shots prior to the shootout in the loss.

Sunday's game was game one of the third annual Hurley Cup, a two game total goal series between the Screaming Eagles and the Mooseheads. The second and deciding game of the Hurley Cup goes tomorrow at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax. Video of the game will be streamed in the main concourse at Centre 200 as part of the CBRM's New Year's Eve celebrations. You can catch all the action beginning with the pre-game show with Patrick McNeil at 1:30 on 1270 AM CJCB or online at www.cjcbradio.com.

THREE STARS OF THE GAME 1. Kevin Mandolese (35 saves on 37 shots) 2. Samuel Asselin (Halifax) 2 goals, +2 3. Ryan Francis (Cape Breton) 2 assists

Scratches For Cape Breton: Liam Kidney, Kyle Havlena, Félix Lafrance

Scratches For Halifax: Jared McIssac (World Juniors), Marcel Barinka (injury) , Ostap Safin (injury), Jake Ryczek (injury), Jocktan Chainey (injury), Cole Stewart, Kyle Petten

Final Shots On Goal: 37-35 in favour of Halifax

Attendance: 4886 (SOLD OUT)

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from December 30, 2018


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