Screaming Eagles Edged by Mooseheads on Pink at the Rink Night
Published on October 26, 2018 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Cape Breton Eagles News Release
SYDNEY - The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles carried a lead into the third period but couldn't finish in a 4-3 loss to the Halifax Mooseheads on Pink At The Rink night.
It was a back and forth game that saw neither team ever hold a two goal lead. Both sides struck in the opening period, beginning with the visitors. Cole Stewart scored his first career goal on a pass from behind the net from Brock MacLeod. The Eagles would equalize when Egor Sokolov snapped a drop pass from Isiah Campbell past Alexis Gravel. It was Sokolov's 12th goal, putting him in the lead in the QMJHL. The opening period saw just one power play, which Halifax killed off, leaving the teams tied at one at the end of 20 minutes.
Cape Breton couldn't convert on their second power play in the middle stanza, and near the end of that power play Samuel Asselin would put the Mooseheads up 2-1 on a shorthanded breakway. Asselin swept around the crease and was able to tuck the puck just past Kevin Mandolese's extended pad.
But the third time was the charm, and the Eagles wouldn't need much time on the next man advantage to beat Gravel. Just five seconds into the power play, and 7:37 into the middle frame, Eagles captain Declan Smith snapped the puck past the Halifax netminder to tie the game.
The home side would leave the second period with the lead following a fancy give and go between Leon Gawanke and Alex Drover. Gawanke skated over the blue line, dropped the puck to Drover and headed to the net. Drover passed the the puck back to Gawanke who lit the lamp for the go ahead marker. The Eagles killed off a pair of minors in the final half of the period and headed into the final frame up 3-2.
The third period would belong to Halifax's Benoit-Olivier Groulx. Before the four minute mark Groulx would find himself on the opposite end of the net from a Jordan Maher shot, and flipped the rebound in to tie the game. Less than three minutes later, Groulx would execute a perfect tip in front of the net to redirect past Mandolese for the game winner.
Screaming Eagles coach Marc-André Dumont would elect to pull his goaltender early, calling a timeout with just under three minutes to play, and putting a sixth attacker on the ice. While the Eagles would carry most of the play at game's end, they couldn't find a game tying goal as time ran out at Centre 200.
Gravel stopped 26 of 29 shots in picking up the victory, while Mandolese allowed four goals on 26 shots in taking the loss.
For the tenth annual Pink at the Rink game the Screaming Eagles wore pink uniforms that were raffled off following the game. All proceeds went to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation's Cape Breton Cancer Patient Care Fund. In total, $11, 819.70 was raised for the Fund.
Game two of the rivalry weekend home and home series goes tomorrow night in Halifax at 7 PM. You can catch all the action beginning with the pre-game show with Patrick McNeil at 6:30 on 1270 AM CJCB or online at www.cjcbradio.com.
THREE STARS OF THE GAME 1. Samuel Asselin (Halifax) 1 goal, 2 assists, +3 2. Declan Smith (Cape Breton) 1 goal, 2 hits 3. Benoit-Olivier Groulx (Halifax) 2 goals
Scratches For Cape Breton: Ian Smallwood, Liam Kidney
Scratches For Halifax: Ostap Safin (injury), Samuel Dube (injury), Kyle Petten (injury)
Final Shots On Goal: 29-25 in favour of Cape Breton
Cape Breton Power Play: 1/3
Halifax Power Play: 0/2
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from October 26, 2018
- Screaming Eagles Edged by Mooseheads on Pink at the Rink Night - Cape Breton Eagles
- Islanders Take First Game of Rivalry Weekend over Sea Dogs - Charlottetown Islanders
- Islanders Edge Dogs; D'Orio Magnificent - Saint John Sea Dogs
- Rivalry Weekend Begins as Islanders Battle Sea Dogs - Charlottetown Islanders
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