SCREAMING EAGLES FALL TO DRAKKAR
Published on January 15, 2018 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Cape Breton Eagles News Release
The Eagles came out flying, outshooting the Drakkar 7-1 in the opening five minutes and in the process finding the night's opening salvo. Tyler Hylland set up up shop in the front of the goal and tipped home a point shot to give the Eagles a 1-0 edge. While the Eagles dominated the early going at even strength, their penalty trouble would get the Drakkar into the game.
Ivan Chekhovich first struck on the power play to even the game, and then Baie-Comeau thought they had a go ahead goal from D'Artagnan Joly. It was overturned on video review, due to goaltender interference, but the break for the review allowed the Drakkar to keep their top power play unit on the ice and Luke Kirwan would bank it off Kyle Jessiman's pads and in for a goal as Baie-Comeau enjoyed a two man advantage.
Cape Breton would kill the rest of the 5 on 3 but couldn't stop the bleeding yet in the first period. Christopher Benoit would push the Baie-Comeau edge to 3-1 after he found himself alone in front of the goal and converted his own rebound. Then the Drakkar would have another goal called back as it was ruled Kirwan was offside, but the opening period would still finish 4-1 after Xavier Bouchard hammered a shot from the top of the circle Jessiman.
Just as they did in the opening frame, the Eagles would start strong in the second, as Peyton Hoyt raced to the front of the goal to convert a pass from Ty Fournier in the period's early minutes. The teams would then trade goals before the period ended.
It was Chekhovich who put the home side up 5-2, converting on a rebound from the right side of the net. Prior to the Eagles getting the goal back, there were some fisticuffs as Cape Breton's Leon Gawanke dropped the gloves with Baie-Comeau's Shawn Element.
The third Eagles goal would come on their own 5 on 3. Cape Breton did not have long with the two man advantage- just 19 seconds- but after a series of short passes between Adam McCormick and Declan Smith, Smith would rip a shot past Francis Leclerc to cut the Drakkar lead to two.
After all of the scoring in the first half of regulation, neither team could find the back of the net for the remainder of the game. The Eagles outshot the Drakkar 13-8 in the final frame (after the shots had been even in each of the first two periods) but couldn't get any closer. Marc-André Dumont elected to lift Jessiman for the extra attacker with over three minutes to play, and Cape Breton held the puck in the Baie-Comeau for a bulk of that time but couldn't solve Francis Leclerc. In the final 30 seconds, Leclerc took a shot at the empty net but it was gloved down by Kyle Havlena at the Eagles blueline.
Leclerc picked up the win, stopping 28 of 31 shots. Jessiman took the loss, stopping 24 of 29.
THREE STARS OF THE GAME 1. Ivan Chekhovich (Baie-Comeau), 2 goals, 6 shots 2. Jordan Martel (Baie-Comeau), 3 assists, 2 shots 3. Peyton Hoyt (Cape Breton). 1 goal, 1 assist, +2.
Scratches For Cape Breton: Ross MacDougall (lower body injury), Kevin Mandolese (upper body injury), Ryan Francis, Noah Laaouan. Scratches For Baie-Comeau: Hugo Savinsky, Samuel Dickner, Isaih Gallo-Demetris, Xavier Bolduc, Jérémie Hébert.
Final Shots On Goal: 34-29 in favour of Cape Breton.
Cape Breton Power Play: 1/5.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from January 15, 2018
- SCREAMING EAGLES FALL TO DRAKKAR - Cape Breton Eagles
- SEA DOGS END ROAD TRIP WITH LOSS IN RIMOUSKI - Saint John Sea Dogs
- Smith's Natural Hat Trick Leads Eagles to 4-1 Win in Chicoutimi - Cape Breton Eagles
- SEA DOGS HANDCUFFED IN LOSS TO ARMADA! - Saint John Sea Dogs
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