Sea Dogs Down Voltigeurs 4-2, Win 16th Straight
Published on November 27, 2009 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release
SAINT JOHN, NB --- A season-high 5,074 fans were treated to a first-rate exhibition of thrilling major junior hockey at Harbour Station on Friday night, as the league-leading Saint John Sea Dogs earned a dramatic 4-2 comeback win over the reigning league champion Drummondville Voltigeurs to extend their franchise-record winning streak to sixteen games.
After an exceptionally-entertaining opening 58 minutes of play produced a 2-2 deadlock, overage winger Mike Hoffman tallied the go-ahead goal for Saint John late in the third period to propel the home team to victory. The Ottawa Senators prospect also scored the game-tying goal for the Sea Dogs late in the second period and made several sensational plays throughout the evening.
Nicholas Pard and Mike Thomas both tallied single markers for the hosts, with Thomas capturing First Star of the Game honours by virtue of a highly-impressive two-way effort in which the Team Captain made remarkably-effective use of his brash physicality.
Drummondville's offensive production came courtesy of Gabriel Dumont and Ryan McKiernan, with Andrew Randazzo dishing out a pair of assists in picking up a Second Star of the Game nod.
Between the pipes Marc-Antoine Gélinas (16-3) turned in yet another stellar performance for the Sea Dogs, turning aside 29 of the 31 shots sent his way by the Voltigeurs' virtuosic offence. Frédéric Piché (4-2), meanwhile, suffered the loss for Drummondville after allowing three goals on twenty shots.
The lone goal of an intensely-competitive first period came at the 18:42 mark of the match, as 19-year old Sea Dogs forward Nicholas Pard deflected a Kevin Gagné snap shot past Piché following an impressive down-ice rush orchestrated by star winger Nick Petersen.
Drummondville tied things up early in period number two when Ryan McKiernan beat a badly-screened Gélinas on a wrist shot from the top of the slot. The visitors then took a 2-1 lead in the 33rd minute of play, with Gabriel Dumont pouncing on a loose puck at the side of the Sea Dogs' net and jamming home the 11th goal of his season.
Veteran sniper Mike Hoffman tied things up at two apiece at the 17:59 mark of the middle frame, outmaneuvering a Drummondville defender whilst manning the point on a Saint John power play prior to skating into favourable position and ripping a blistering wrist to the back of the Voltigeurs' net to improve his 2009-10 goals total to 13.
Friday's third period was nothing short of spectacular, as the two star-laden squads volleyed scoring chances back-and-forth with tremendous rapidity throughout an amazingly fast-paced stanza. With 1:32 remaining in regulation, Mike Hoffman scored from a seemingly-impossible angle, banking a shot in off of Piché from the far corner of Drummondville's zone to put Saint John back on top 3-2.
The closing moments of play were fraught with trepidation as the Voltigeurs' talented offensive specialists vehemently pursued the equalizer. An empty net goal by Mike Thomas in the dying seconds sealed the deal for the Sea Dogs however, giving the #1 team in the Q their 24th victory of the season and opening up a seven-point lead on the second-place Voltigeurs.
Up next for the Port City's major junior squad is a Sunday afternoon showdown with Patrick Roy's Quebec Remparts at Harbour Station. Tickets to this 4pm matchup are available by calling the arena box office at (506) 657-1234.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from November 27, 2009
- Juniors rip Olympiques 5 to 2 - Montreal Juniors
- Sea Dogs Down Voltigeurs 4-2, Win 16th Straight - Saint John Sea Dogs
- Rocket Launch Past MAINEiacs - Lewiston MAINEiacs
- Mooseheads, Screaming Eagles Put Provincial Pride On The Line - Halifax Mooseheads
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