Mooseheads Take the Game #1 Battle vs Cape Breton
Published on March 31, 2023 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Halifax Mooseheads News Release
The rivalry between Nova Scotia's two QMJHL teams has officially been renewed in the 2023 playoffs as the Halifax Mooseheads and Cape Breton Eagles played an entertaining and physical Game #1 on Friday night at Scotiabank Centre.
Goalie Mathis Rousseau stopped 37 shots for the Mooseheads while Markus Vidicek, Josh Lawrence, Brady Schultz and Braeden MacPhee scored in a 4-1 victory to give the Herd the early series advantage.
More than 8,300 fans filled the building with electricity, starting during an amped up pre-game light show followed by a large ovation for Jordan Dumais who received the QMJHL's Jean Belliveau Trophy as the regular season scoring champion. Owners Sam and Peter Simon presented Dumais with the award while Attilio Biasca accepted the Luc Robitaille Trophy on behalf of the team which is given to the club that scores the most goals in a season.
The Herd didn't make their fans wait too long before getting on the board as Vidicek went hard to the front of the net and buried the puck off a feed from Dumais at 10:21 of the first period to fire up his teammates. Josh Lawrence found some open space a few minutes later and picked his spot with a snipe to make it 2-0. Halifax took that lead to the dressing room, despite a strong start from the Eagles that saw the visitors fire 16 shots on Rousseau in the first period.
Brady Schultz connected for the Mooseheads on the power play in the final minute of the second stanza to increase the lead to 3-0. Schultz accepted a pass near the half wall and beat his defender with a shot fake before blasting one home from the circle and the thunderous roars inside Scotiabank Centre continued. Rousseau had another perfect period with 12 saves.
The third period began perfectly for Halifax as a Braeden MacPhee shot from the point beat a screened Oliver Satny in the opening minute to put the Moose ahead 4-0 which served as a dagger to the Eagles. Cape Breton managed to break the Rousseau shutout bid at the 11:32 mark by sliding one in off a second rebound as Angelo Fullerton got the credit, but the 18-year-old goalie was too good in Game #1 and was named the first star. Schultz finished with a goal and an assist to grab the second star and Macphee was named the third star.
The teams combined for 34 hits in one of the more physical games we've seen all season while there was a generous amount of rough play after the whistles too as the Battle of Nova Scotia started to heat up in the playoff for the first time since 2008.
Cape Breton and Halifax will do it all again on Saturday night at 7pm in Game #2 at Scotiabank Centre. Tickets are on sale now at TicketAtlantic.com.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from March 31, 2023
- Wildcats Looking for More Home Ice Success in Game 2 - Moncton Wildcats
- Cats Take 1-0 Series Lead in OT Thriller - Moncton Wildcats
- Mooseheads Take the Game #1 Battle vs Cape Breton - Halifax Mooseheads
- Mooseheads Weather Early Storm, Top Eagles in Game One - Cape Breton Eagles
- 2023 Awards Began Tonight in the QMJHL - QMJHL
- Game #1 Tonight in Moose Country - Halifax Mooseheads
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