QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Sea Dogs Fall To Oceanic 4-2

Published on February 6, 2009 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


SAINT JOHN, NB --- The Rimouski Oceanic completed a sweep in their season series with the Saint John Sea Dogs on Friday night, skating into Harbour Station and earning a 4-2 win at the expense of the Port City's major junior squad.

Rimouski finishes the season with a 3-0 record versus Saint John, who are now 27-24-2-2 following Friday's loss.

Payton Liske and Olivier Ouellet both scored for the home team in their first game of the month, while Robert Mayer made 28 saves in suffering the 23rd defeat of his sophomore campaign.

At the other end of the ice, Maxim Gougeon stopped 18 of the 20 shots sent his way to earn his 25 victory of the season, while Jordan Caron (2), Sebastien Piche, and Frederic Desroches all scored for Rimouski in what proved to be their 12th road win of 2008-09.

The Oceanic scored the lone goal of a penalty-filled opening period, with Jordan Caron banging home his 25th marker of the year midway through the frame during a 5-on-3 advantage for the visitors.

Robert Mayer was extremely busy during the opening twenty minutes of play, making 14 saves to prevent his team from incurring a multi-goal deficit in the early-going.

The Sea Dogs tied things up 7:39 into period number two, with overage winger Payton Liske taking a feed from Steven Anthony in Rimouski territory and beating Gougeon on a low wrist shot to improve his 2008-09 goals total to 18.

Anthony very nearly produced the go-ahead goal for Saint John seven minutes later during a four-on-four session, carrying the puck through the Oceanic's zone and getting off a hard backhand shot between the crease and the slot that Gougeon managed to block by virtue of a sprawling pad save.

With just-under six seconds remaining in the middle frame, Frederic Desrochers gave Rimouski a 2-1 lead, beating Mayer high with a close-range backhand chip shot that found its way to the back of Saint John's net.

A highlight-reel goal by Stephane Piche put the visitors up by two early in the third period. The 20-year old defenseman carried the puck one-handed around Saint John's zone for a lengthy period of time prior to sneaking a shot across the Sea Dogs' goal line to register his 17th goal of the year.

Saint John responded with a spectacular goal of their own to reduce their deficit to one eleven minutes later. After seeing his two-on-one rush broken up by a Rimouski defender, wily forward Olivier Ouellet dove at a loose puck near the Oceanic goal crease and managed to roof a shot over Gougeon's shoulder as if he were using a lob wedge.

Ouellet's sensational marker sent the crowd of 4,565 into a frenzy, as the Sea Dogs had pulled to within one of their opponents with seven-and-half minutes remaining in regulation.

That would be as close as the hosts would get on the evening however, as an empty-net goal by Jordan Caron secured the visitors' victory in the final minute of play.

Up next for Saint John is a Sunday afternoon tilt with the Moncton Wildcats at Harbour Station. The puck drops at 4pm as the Sea Dogs look to capture their first win of February in Game One of the 2009 Brunswick News Rivalry Cup Series. Tickets to this intra-provincial match can be obtained by calling the arena box office at 657-1234.

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from February 6, 2009


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