Sea Dogs' Comeback Attempt Falls Short In Game Six
Published on May 10, 2010 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release
MONCTON, NB --- The Saint John Sea Dogs' memorable fifth anniversary season came to an end on Monday night, as the Port City's major junior squad suffered a 7-4 loss to the Moncton Wildcats in Game Six of the President's Cup Finals. By virtue of their 4-2 series win, the Wildcats will now go on to represent the CHL's easternmost faction at the 2010 BMO MasterCard Memorial Cup Tournament in Brandon, Manitoba as champions of the QMJHL.
Kelsey Tessier (2), Marek Hrivik (2), Scott Brannon (2), and Randy Cameron all scored for Moncton in their title-clinching victory, while Michael Kirkpatrick (2) and Stephen MacAulay each tallied markers for Saint John in what proved to be a season-ending defeat.
In the final performance of his QMJHL career, overage net minder Marco Cousineau made 36 saves in a losing effort for the Sea Dogs, while Philadelphia Flyers prospect Nicola Riopel (27 saves) backstopped his team to both a Game Six victory and a berth in the national championships.
Saint John got off to an excellent start on Monday, as sophomore forward Stephen MacAulay skillfully redirected a Nathan Beaulieu point shot through Riopel's pads just sixty seconds into the game. A mad scramble in Sea Dogs territory led to Moncton's first goal of the match 12:24 later, with overage centre Randy Cameron banging home his 13th marker of the playoffs to tie things up at one apiece.
The home team pulled ahead late in the opening frame, as Wildcats Captain Scott Brannon beat Cousineau on a close-range one-timer to improve his post-season goals total to five. Moncton went up 3-1 courtesy of a transition tally off the stick of Marek Hrivik, who slammed a nifty behind-the-back pass from Cole MacMillan to the back of Saint John's net early in the second period to register his fourth of the playoffs.
Star forward Kelsey Tessier then further added to the hosts' advantage, netting back-to-back goals to give his team a 5-1 lead midway through regulation. A fluky goal credited to Marek Hrivik put Moncton up by five late in the middle frame, as the import winger's centering pass caromed off of several skates and sticks in taking a circuitous route to pay dirt.
With their season on the line the Sea Dogs staged a valiant comeback attempt in period number three, as veteran centre Michael Kirkpatrick found the back of the net twice in the opening 3:43 of the stanza to reduce his team's deficit to three. A bullet of a wrist shot from Vancouver Canucks prospect Yann Sauvé pulled Saint John to within two of their opponents late in regulation, but that would be as close as the visitors would get as Scott Brannon added an empty net goal to give Moncton the win by a 7-4 final.
Saint John's highly-successful season comes to an end with the team having won a grand total of 67 games, 14 of which came during the club's first-ever journey to the league finals in the 2010 playoffs.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from May 10, 2010
- Wildcats Claim Second President Cup Title - QMJHL
- Sea Dogs' Comeback Attempt Falls Short In Game Six - Saint John Sea Dogs
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