QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Sea Dogs Come Up Short in Rimouski

Published on January 30, 2009 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


RIMOUSKI, QC --- The Saint John Sea Dogs put forth a noble effort versus the Rimouski Oceanic on Friday night, battling the 2009 Memorial Cup hosts hard for sixty minutes of intense major junior hockey in eastern Quebec.

In their final match of the regular season to take place in the Eastern Standard Time Zone, Saint John very nearly pulled off a dramatic comeback on Friday. The Oceanic built up a 3-1 lead over the course of the opening fifty minutes of play, with rugged winger Shea Kewin scoring late to cut the Sea Dogs' deficit to one. Despite their best efforts Saint John was unable to net the equalizer in the closing minutes of play however, as they ultimately fell by a score of 3-2.

Ryan Sparling also scored for the Sea Dogs in Friday's loss, while Robert Mayer made 30 saves in suffering the 22nd defeat of his season. The 19-year old net minder was named Third Star of the Game for his efforts.

Fresh off his best outing of the year, Mayer came up with a tremendous save early on the first period to keep the hosts off of the scoreboard. The Swiss import moved from the left side of his net to the right in robbing Patrice Cormier of a sure-fire goal by way of a sensational arm save that kept the star forward's close-range one-timer from breaching the Saint John goal line

Cormier was able to convert on his second chance of the night however, beating Mayer high, blocker side after being set up nicely on a nifty feed from Philippe Cornet to give Rimouski a 1-0 lead a quarter of the way through the game.

Saint John responded three minutes later, with Ryan Sparling finishing off a three-on-two rush by ripping a shot over Dopud's right shoulder to send Friday's contest into the first intermission with the score deadlocked at one apiece.

Rimouski took a 2-1 lead 3:16 into the second period on a highly-impressive individual effort by Luca Cunti. The European winger skated around a Sea Dogs defenseman prior to sneaking a low shot between Mayer's pads to improve his 2008-09 goals total to 13.

A highlight-reel save by Mayer off of a crease-hovering Olivier Fortier a few minutes later kept the visiting squad from south western New Brunswick within immediate striking distance of their opponents, as the star goalie continued to play well between the pipes for Saint John.

After successfully killing off a David Stich penalty, the Sea Dogs went on their first power play of the night 11:18 into the middle frame. The Port City's major junior squad was unable to capitalize on their numerical advantage however, as they continued to trail by one well into the second half of Friday's match.

Oceanic defenseman Félix Lefrançois inadvertently fired the puck into the stands whilst in his own zone late in the central stanza, giving Saint John their second man-up opportunity of the evening. Yann Sauvé was awarded a two-minute minor for slashing during the power play however, as the second period came to an end with the Sea Dogs and Oceanic skating in a four-on-four situation.

With Mike Thomas in the penalty box for high-sticking, Rimouski took a 3-1 when lead when a long-range backhand shot off the stick of Marc-Andre Bourdon found its way to the back of Saint John's net 8:06 into the third period.

Midway through regulation's final frame, a streaking Philip Richer very nearly cut the Sea Dogs' deficit to one when he beat Dopud cleanly on a hard shot at the end of an off-man rush. The rookie's blast struck iron however, as the score remained 3-1 in Rimouski's favour as Friday's match officially entered the late-going.

Shea Kewin then took advantage of a bad giveaway deep in Oceanic territory, firing a shot past Dopud to tally his ninth marker of the season in the 56th minute of play as the visitors refused to back down in their quest for a road victory.

That would be as close as the Sea Dogs would get however, as the hosts were able to hold on to their one-goal lead throughout the duration of regulation to pick up their 28th win of the season.

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from January 30, 2009


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