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QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Sea Dogs Capture 2009-10 Luc Robitaille Trophy During 5-2 Road Loss

March 14, 2010 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


MONCTON, NB --- The Saint John Sea Dogs wrapped up the most successful regular season in franchise history by reaching yet another milestone on Sunday night, laying claim to their first-ever Luc Robitaille Trophy as the highest-scoring team in the QMJHL during a 5-2 road loss to the Moncton Wildcats.

Saint John finishes the year with 309 goals scored, two more than the Drummondville Voltigeurs. The top-seeded Sea Dogs (53-12-1-2) will now prepare to face the P.E.I. Rocket in Round One of the 2010 President's Cup Playoffs. This intradivisional series begins on Friday night (puck drop - 7:30pm) at Harbour Station.

Slovakian sniper Tomas Jurco scored both of Saint John's goals in Sunday's loss, while Mark Barberio (2), Marek Hrivik, Daniel Pettersson, and Gabriel Bourque all found the back of the net for Moncton.

Between the pipes, Philadelphia Flyers prospect Nicola Riopel (21 saves) earned the 19th victory of his overage campaign, with Marco Cousineau (33 saves) finishing the season with a record of 25-19 after suffering a defeat in the final game of the QMJHL's regular season schedule.

Sunday's match opened with a quick scrap as Danick Gauthier and Spencer Metcalfe dropped the gloves in Moncton's zone in the first minute of play, fighting to a draw in what was a spirited-yet-brief tilt. The Wildcats then took a 1-0 courtesy of Daniel Pettersson, who beat Cousineau on a nifty backhand shot after being sprung in all alone by David Savard at the 3:25 mark of the first period.

Gabriel Bourque doubled the hosts' lead 13:40 later, making use of some dazzling deking manoeuvres in converting on a penalty shot. Import winger Tomas Jurco got Saint John on the scoreboard late in the opening frame, burying a rebound produced by a Michael Kirkpatrick shot. Jurco's man-up marker locked up the league goal scoring title for the Sea Dogs.

Both goalies played exceptionally well throughout a scoreless middle frame. Marco Cousineau came up with the best save of the period midway through the stanza, stoning Alex Saulnier from close-range after the rookie centre was set up nicely for a point-blank-one-timer at the behest of a highlight-reel-feed from Kirill Kabanov.

The Wildcats pulled ahead 3-1 in the opening minute of period number three, with Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Mark Barberio finishing off a nice passing play in Sea Dogs territory by wiring home the 26th goal of his season past a sprawling Cousineau. A rocket of a slap shot off the stick of Marek Hrivik then put the home team up by three at the 5:21 mark of regulation's final frame.

Saint John pulled to within two of Moncton ten minutes later, with Tomas Jurco again striking on the power play to break Chris DiDomenico's rookie goal scoring record by netting his 26th tally of 2009-10. That would be as close as the Sea Dogs would get however, as Mark Barberio added an empty-net marker for the Wildcats to give the hosts the decision by a 5-2 final.

Tickets to the first two games of Saint John's opening round post-season tilt with P.E.I. are on sale now at the Harbour Station Box Office (657-1234, www.tickets.harbourstation.ca). The complete Round One schedule will be announced on Monday.

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from March 14, 2010


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