QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Sea Dogs drop 3-1 decision to Wildcats

Published on February 8, 2009 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


SAINT JOHN, NB --- The inaugural game of the Brunswick News Rivalry Cup Challenge was played at Harbour Station on Sunday afternoon, with the Saint John Sea Dogs and Moncton Wildcats appropriately staging a highly-competitive, back-and-forth battle which entertained fans throughout.

After Moncton built up a 2-0 lead over the course of an intense opening forty minutes of play, star Saint John centre Michael Kirkpatrick pulled his team to within a single goal of their opponents' total midway through the third period. That would be as close as the home team would get however, as the Sea Dogs were unable to complete the comeback despite a late-match surge of offensive pressure in the visitors' zone. An empty net goal by Scott Brannon sealed the deal for the Wildcats, who continue to lead the divisional standings in the QMJHL Atlantic.

Randy Cameron and Mark Barberio also scored for Moncton on Sunday, while goaltender Nicola Riopel was named First Star of the Game after turning in an exceptional performance between the pipes for the Hub City's major junior squad. The 19-year old finished the day with 33 saves to improve his 2008-09 record to 35-10. Riopel is now 12-3 in his career versus Saint John.

At the other end of the ice, import net minder Robert Mayer suffered his 24th loss of the season after allowing two goals on 13 shots faced prior to being pulled in favour of rookie Karel St-Laurent. The freshman goalie out of Ville Ste-Catherine, QC stopped all ten shots sent his way by Wildcats players in 34:05 of action.

With 5,585 fans having attended Sunday's game, the Wildcats will need to have a crowd of at least 5,779 on hand at their March 10 home game versus the Sea Dogs in order to capture the 2009 Rivalry Cup.

The bad blood which exists between these two teams took centre stage in the early-going on Sunday, as Mike Thomas and Jordan Lane squared off at centre ice for a bout of fisticuffs just 2:43 into the first period. Despite giving up six inches to Lane in terms of height, the tough-as-nails Thomas more then held his own in what proved to be a marathon of a scrap. Both wingers landed some solid shots during the multi-minute affair, with the decision ultimately going the way of a draw.

Both Robert Mayer and Nicola Riopel were quite sharp throughout the opening frame, combining to make 17 saves as Sunday's match reached the twenty minute mark with the score deadlocked at zeroes.

The Wildcats scored the first goal of the game on the power play, with Randy Cameron ripping a wrist shot past Mayer's blocker from a tough angle to give his team a 1-0 advantage 1:22 in to the second period. Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Mark Barberio then doubled the visitors' lead four minutes later, bringing an end to Mayer's afternoon on a long-range wrist shot that eluded the Sea Dogs net minder on its lengthy trip to Goalsville.

Karel St-Laurent took over goaltending duties for Saint John following Barberio's even-strength marker, ultimately facing only two shots in fifteen minutes of action in the middle frame as the Sea Dogs dominated the duration of the stanza.

Saint John fed Nicola Riopel a steady diet of rubber in period number two, with the star goalie adding 14 saves to his daily total as he continued to confound his opponents' shooters. Overage forward Shea Kewin registered the best near-goal of the second for the hosts, firing a slap shot from twenty-odd feet out that struck iron after beating Riopel cleanly during a Sea Dogs power play.

Michael Kirkpatrick was finally able to put the puck past Riopel 12:04 into the third period, firing home a well-placed shot that brought the sizeable Harbour Station crowd to its feet as the Sea Dogs suddenly trailed by only one goal with nearly eight minutes remaining in regulation.

Despite producing some strong scoring chances in the late-going however, Saint John was unable to net the ever-important equalizer as the stingy Moncton defence was able to keep the puck out of the net from there on in as they laid claim to their 40th win of the year.

Following Sunday's loss, the Sea Dogs are now 27-25-2-2, good for third place in the QMJHL Atlantic.

Up next for Saint John is a Friday the 13th clash with Acadie-Bathurst at Harbour Station. Tickets to this 7:30pm contest can be obtained by calling the arena box office at (506) 657-1234.

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from February 8, 2009


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