Playing for a Greater Cause
November 4, 2023 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Halifax Mooseheads News Release
It was a night with extra special meaning and one that had the Halifax Mooseheads thinking about more than the game itself as they grabbed a 5-1 victory over the Sherbrooke Phoenix on Mooseheads Fight Cancer Night.
The team took to the ice in their purple jerseys and thoughts of family and loved ones on their minds who have fought or continue to battle cancer. With 8,555 fans in the stands holding those same thoughts, you could feel the unity in Moose Country and it gave the players the strength they needed to put in an extraordinary effort against a tough visiting opponent.
Jordan Dumais scored twice and added an assist to reach career point number 299, while Mathieu Cataford had one goal and two assists to pace the attack in Halifax's fifth consecutive victory, but it was a goal from Braeden MacPhee that defined the meaning of the night.
The 19-year-old gritty forward pointed to the sky as he notched his second of the season late in the second period to put the Herd ahead 4-1 and he was immediately overcome with emotion. The native of Moncton, NB filled with tears upon returning to the bench as his teammates put their arms around him in support. MacPhee lost his mother Jolene to cancer at the age of 46 last spring while the Mooseheads were in the midst of an extended playoff run. The club rallied around Braeden upon his return to the ice against this same Phoenix team.
"Losing my Mom this year, it's been a tough year," he said.
"It just really felt good to score that goal and the emotions came out a little bit but it was a really special moment for me."
The purple game worn jerseys are currently being auctioned online with proceeds going directly to those who are battling cancer via the Halifax Mooseheads Charitable Foundation. Fans who would like to bid can visit ElevateAuctions.com/MooseheadsFightCancer.
MacPhee is not alone on the team in terms of having cancer affect his family with many other players fighting for someone special in their own lives.
Halifax's other goal came from Lou Levesque when he opened the scoring in the game thanks to a long and precise stretch pass from Nashville Predators prospect Dylan MacKinnon. The put the Herd ahead 1-0 at the 8:46 mark of the first period and they never relinquished the lead. Levesque is third in QMJHL rookie scoring with 17 points on eight goals and nine assists.
Defenceman Jake Furlong had a fantastic outing with a trio of assists while Yannik Ponzetto and Brady Schultz also had helpers to increase the Mooseheads season record to 13-4-1-0.
Goalie Mathis Rousseau got the start for the third time in four nights on home ice and was his usual solid self with 25 saves on 26 shots to earn his 12th win in 13 tries this season.
The Mooseheads will have a strange schedule of three-games-in-three days next weekend when they visit the Saint John Sea Dogs on Friday night before returning to Scotiabank Centre for a pair of games on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. The Herd will hold 90's Night on Saturday at 7pm versus Shawinigan and Kids Day on Sunday at 3pm against Cape Breton. Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.ca.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from November 4, 2023
- Wildcats End Québec Road Trip on High Note - Moncton Wildcats
- Playing for a Greater Cause - Halifax Mooseheads
- Isles Snap Three-Game Skid with a 4-3 Win over Val-d'or - Charlottetown Islanders
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