QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Sea Dogs Clinch Regular Season Crown

March 5, 2011 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs clinched the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League regular-season championship Saturday with a 8-0 win over the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.

It's the second straight Jean Rougeau Trophy for the Sea Dogs, who clinched home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs before a crowd of 5,879 at Harbour Station. Saint John is first-ever team from outside Quebec - and the seventh team in QMJHL history - to win back-to-back regular-season titles.

Alexandre Beauregard paced the Sea Dogs with a hat trick, while Jonathan Huberdeau tallied a goal and two assists to set a new team points record with 96. Michael Kirkpatrick had three assists, Zack Phillips and Stanislav Galiev had a goal and an assist each and Simon Despres and Tomas Jurco chipped in singles. Pierre Durepos added two assists.

Jacob DeSerres made 18 saves for his fourth shutout of the season, setting a new team record, and tying Robert Mayer's team wins record of 26.

Alexandre Veronneau made 39 saves in a losing cause as Cape Breton fell to 17-42-1-4.

The Sea Dogs ran their record to 53-6-1-2, matching last year's records of 53 wins and 109 points. They also extended their home record to 30-0-1-1.

The Sea Dogs set the tone early, with Despres' point shot finding its way through a crowd just 57 seconds into the game. Kirkpatrick and Durepos assisted on the goal, the 12th of the year for Despres.

Phillips made it 2-0 on a power play at 10:48. Kirkpatrick fed him down low to Veronneau's right and Phillips walked out and fired across the goalie's body and high to the glove side for his 36th of the year. Nathan Beaulieu had the other assist.

Jurco's 30th of the year extended the lead to 3-0 on another man advantage at 15:36 of the first. Galiev danced around a defender and the goaltender, then tucked a pass from behind the goal line in between Veronneau's right leg and the post. The skill play gave Jurco, fighting his way to the net, a wide-open cage to tap into. Gabriel Bourret had the other assist.

Beauregard scored the first of his goals at 12:32 of the second period. The gritty winger carried the puck down the left wing on a 2-on-1 with Jurco, faked the pass, then ripped a wrist shot high to Veronneau's glove side. Huberdeau and Stephen MacAulay - playing defense in place of the injured Eric Gelinas and Kevin Gagne - had the assists.

Beauregard ran the lead to 5-0 while killing a penalty at 16:04. He stole the puck at centre ice, broke down the right wing, danced around two defenders and beat Veronneau.

Galiev's goal rounded out the second-period summary at 17:29. Phillips circled around the net then, with his back to the net, made a quick turn in the right-wing circle and fired a shot that Galiev got a piece of. Huberdeau had the other assist for his 95th point, tying Chris DiDomenico's record.

Beauregard completed his first QMJHL hat trick at 2:49 of the third period, on another steal, which he followed with a toe-drag move past a defender and a backhand to the top corner for his ninth of the year.

Huberdeau rounded out the summary with his 38th of the year at 13:20, setting the new points record with assists from Kirkpatrick and Durepos.

Saint John is on the road for its next four games, beginning Thursday against the Rimouski Oceanic, an 8 p.m. start. Tim Roszell will have the call on News 88.9 FM. Fans can also catch all the action online via the official TELUS QMJHL webcast (click HEREto order; charges apply).

Saint John's next home game is at 7:30 p.m. March 18 as the Eagles make the return visit on this St. Patrick's Day themed night. The final regular-season game is set for 4 p.m. March 20 against the Prince Edward Island Rocket and will be Fan Appreciation Day.

Tickets can be obtained by calling the Harbour Station box office at (506) 657-1234, or by visiting www.tickets.harbourstation.ca. The Sea Dogs would like to remind fans holding flex tickets to cash them in soon to avoid being disappointed by waiting until the last minute. These tickets do not carry over to playoffs and are redeemed on a first come, first served basis.

Check out the Saint John Sea Dogs Statistics



Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from March 5, 2011


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