QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Saint John Caps Banner Night with Big Win

Published on October 29, 2011 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs topped off the biggest celebration in team history with a 6-0 win over the Chicoutimi Sagueneens Saturday.

After 5,888 fans watched a 30-minute pre-game ceremony featuring championship ring presentations and the raising of the President's Cup and Memorial Cup banners, the Dogs kept the party going with their seventh straight win, and 10th in a row at home.

Zack Phillips led the way with two goals and two assists, while linemates Jonathan Huberdeau (goal, three assists) and Tomas Jurco (goal, two assists) also enjoyed multi-point nights. Ryan Tesink and Grant West - with his first Quebec Major Junior Hockey League goal - added singles and Mathieu Corbeil made 14 saves for his third shutout in four starts.

The Dogs victimized Los Angeles Kings second-round pick Christopher Gibson for five goals on 21 shots. Gibson yielded the goal to Francis Desrosiers in the third period and he stopped six of seven in relief.

Saint John improved to 14-5 with the win while the Sagueneens fell to 9-6-1-4.

The building was buzzing as fans lined up nearly two hours before the game in anticipation of the evening's special ceremonies. Fans received commemorative noisemakers and watched video tributes to the championships to set the tone. QMJHL Commissioner and Leading Seaman Levesque of the HMCS Brunswicker were introduced at centre ice for the presentation. Sea Dogs Chairman and CEO Scott McCain received his ring first and then assisted with the presentation of rings to the local owners, board of directors, administration, scouting and hockey operations staff, coaches and players. Among the players were ex-Dogs Alexandre Beauregard and Gabriel Bourret, now with Chicoutimi, and former goalie Jacob DeSerres, in full gear and Sea Dogs jersey.

A military band ushered in the Memorial Cup and Sea Dogs players carried the banners to their positions at the east end of the rink, where the banners - President's Cup first, followed by the Memorial Cup - were raised to the rafters. After a ceremonial faceoff and the singing of "O Canada" by Huberdeau's sister Josianne, fans were treated to video messages from Dogs alumni who were unable to accept their rings in person due to pro hockey and university commitments elsewhere in North America.

It took the Dogs until the 14:28 mark to get on the board, but once Tesink broke the deadlock, the goals kept coming. The Saint John native went in alone on Gibson, deked to the backhand and roofed his sixth of the season. Huberdeau and Pierre Durepos assisted on the team's league-best ninth short-handed marker of the year.

Jurco added his eighth of the year with 37 seconds to go in the opening frame, with assists from Phillips and Nathan Beaulieu.

The Dogs ran the lead to 3-0, as West, the newest Sea Dog, got in on the action at 7:55 of the second. After Phillips held the puck for what seemed like an eternity, he centered and West knocked it in over a down-and-out Gibson. Huberdeau picked up the other assist.

Phillips scored his first of the night at 11:12 of the middle frame, finishing a nice passing play with Jurco and Huberdeau and finding room on the short side.

The Minnesota Wild first-rounder added another at 14:05. Jurco threw the puck on net as he fell to the ice, setting up a chance for Scott Oke, and Phillips pounced on the rebound and roofed it for his 11th of the season.

West continued to endear himself to the fans, dropping the mitts with Beauregard for a heavyweight bout 3:14 into the third.

Huberdeau made it 6-0 at 11:43 of the third, with assists from Charles Roussel and Oliver Cooper.

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from October 29, 2011


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