QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Ryan Francis Nets 200th QMJHL Point in 5-4 OT Win

November 28, 2021 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


The Saint John Sea Dogs (11-8-0-3) defeated the Baie-Comeau Drakkar (6-9-2-3) in overtime on Saturday night at TD Station. Yanic Crete opened the scoring with his first goal in the QMJHL, Ryan Francis tied the game late with his 200th point of his QMJHL career, and William Dufour sealed the deal with a breakaway goal in overtime.

Jonathan Lemieux got the start in net for the Sea Dogs, playing 31:15 and making 7 saves on 9 shots, before he was injured making a save in the second period. Noah Patenaude replaced him for the rest of the game, making 15 saves on 17 shots in the 5-4 OT win. Olivier Ciarlo started in net for the Drakkar, stopping 35 of the 40 Sea Dogs shots.

The Sea Dogs struck first, taking the lead off a goal from Yanic Crete, his first in the QMJHL, at 7:28.

The game was tied when Benjamin Corbeil beat Lemieux with an unassisted wrist shot at 10:44. The Drakkar took the lead with 2:11 remaining in the first period.

Shots after the first period were 11-7 for Saint John.

The first power play of the night came when the Drakkar iced too many men at 3:38. It went to 5-on-3 for nine seconds after a call against Anthony Lavoie for roughing, but the Sea Dogs were not able to score on either power play despite keeping the pressure in the Baie-Comeau zone.

Lemieux was replaced by Patenaude after he was injured making a save and left the ice midway through the second period.

Nico Laforge was sent off at 13:51 for interference and Carter McCluskey received 10 minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct on the same whistle.

On the penalty kill, Ryan Francis was awarded a penalty shot, he beat the netminder but shot the puck over the net. The Sea Dogs killed the penalty, but remained down by one.

Jacob Chantler scored shortly after the penalty ended and tied the game up, picking up a rebound and shoving it past Ciarlo.

With 1:02 remaining in the period, the Sea Dogs got another power play. With 4 seconds left before the period ended, Josh Lawrence fired a one timer off a pass from William Dufour from the faceoff dot and the Sea Dogs went into the final frame up 3-2.

Shots after two were 30-13 for Saint John.

The Drakkar started the period by putting pressure on the Sea Dogs, but some big stops by Patenaude kepr the Sea Dogs in the lead.

Baie-Comeau tied the game up at three a piece on a passing play at 7:51. They took the lead 1:17 later. Both goals were scored by Baie-Comeau's points leader, Jacob Gaucher.

Patenaude made his way to the bench with a minute remaining, and with 32 seconds left on the clock, Ryan Francis took the tie back with the Sea Dogs fourth goal of the night and his 200th point in the QMJHL. It went to a review and was ultimately deemed a good goal and the game was sent to overtime.

Extra time didn't last long until William Dufour was sprung on a breakaway 15 seconds after the puck dropped and fired a wrist shot into the back of the net for the win in front of the crowd at TD Station.

Shots at the end of the game 40-26 for the Sea Dogs.

Alpine 3 Stars

1 William Dufour (1G 1A)

2 Jacob Gaucher (2G)

3 Yanic Crete (1G)

The Sea Dogs will be back in action for a weeknight matchup with the Halifax Mooseheads on Tuesday at 7 PM. Get your tickets at the TD Station Box Office or online.

Holiday Packs are now on sale! Get 10 flex tickets, a $15 Sea Dogs Styles gift card, and an ornament signed by a Sea Dog! Available at the TD Station Box office now.

Check out the Saint John Sea Dogs Statistics



Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from November 28, 2021


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