QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Reinforcements Help Dogs Win Third Straight

Published on January 7, 2012 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


HALIFAX - The Saint John Sea Dogs welcomed three players back from international tournaments Saturday and all three contributed to a 6-3 win over the Halifax Mooseheads.

Fresh off Canada's bronze medal win at the World Junior Hockey Championship, Jonathan Huberdeau had a goal and an assist, while Nathan Beaulieu chipped in two assists for the Sea Dogs. Team Atlantic member Oliver Cooper, meanwhile, returned from the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and found the back of the net as well. Kevin Gagne had a goal and two assists for the Sea Dogs, while Stephen Anderson, Pierre Durepos and Zack Phillips notched singles. Stephen MacAulay and Aidan Kelly added two assists each and Mathieu Corbeil made 19 saves for the win over his former team.

It was the third straight victory for the Sea Dogs, who improved to 31-12-0-2 and reclaimed top spot in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League standings.

Nathan MacKinnon, Cooper's Atlantic teammate, had two goals for the Mooseheads, while Matthew Boudreau had the other. Zachary Fucale, who played for Team Quebec at the under-17s, stopped 28 shots in the loss. Halifax fell to 24-13-1-3 but remains second in the Maritime Division.

The Mooseheads had the power play working early, scoring on their first two opportunities. Cameron Critchlow won a faceoff to Corbeil's right, and MacKinnon finished a give and go with Martin Frk down low for the game's first goal at 9:55 of the opening frame. Boudreau made it 2-0, finishing a back-door pass from Darcy Ashley for his 20th of the season at 19:26 of the first.

Huberdeau got the Dogs on the board on a Saint John power play just 57 seconds into the second period. Playing his first QMJHL game since Nov. 5, the Saint John captain deflected home his world junior teammate Beaulieu's wrist shot from the point. Danick Gauthier had the other assist on the 11thof the season for No. 11. Anderson then equalized at 1:44, bagging Stephen MacAulay's rebound for his sixth. Gagne picked up his first assist of the night on the play.

MacKinnon temporarily restored the Halifax lead with his 21st on a shot from the slot at 4:22, but Durepos drew the Dogs back even on another power play at 6:55. Durepos fired a one-timer from the top of the right-wing circle for his second of the season, with assists from Gagne and Kelly.

Gagne then snuck in from the point and banged one home from the high slot to make it 4-2 at 17:04 of the middle frame. MacAulay and Anderson had the assists on Gagne's career-high eighth. Cooper rounded out the five-goal period, burying Beaulieu's rebound off the back boards for his ninth at 18:10. Kelly was awarded the other assist. Gauthier had a chance to put the game out of reach with a long breakaway midway through the third, but Fucale was equal to the task. The Mooseheads pulled the young goaltender for an extra attacker, but the Sea Dogs were able to take advantage of the empty net at 18:44 as Huberdeau fed Phillips for the game's final goal, his 22nd.

The Sea Dogs return home for games Thursday against the Shawinigan Cataractes and Saturday against the Drummondville Voltigeurs. Both games are 7 p.m. starts at Harbour Station. Tickets are available at the Harbour Station box office, by calling 506-657-1234 or online at www.tickets.harbourstation.ca.

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from January 7, 2012


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