QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Sea Dogs' Winning Streak Ends With 7-3 Loss To Wildcats

December 13, 2009 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


MONCTON, NB --- After going two full months without tasting defeat the league-leading Saint John Sea Dogs dropped a 7-3 decision to the Moncton Wildcats on Sunday afternoon, bringing an end to an epic 22-game winning streak (#3 all-time, QMJHL). Coincidentally, the Sea Dogs' franchise-record run began with an overtime victory over the Wildcats back on October 17 at Harbour Station.

Scott Brannon (2), Mark Hrivik (2), Randy Cameron (2), and Mark Barberio all scored for Moncton in Sunday's win, with Shane Owen improving to 7-1 on the season after turning in a solid 27-save performance between the pipes for the home team.

Import wingers Stanislav Galiev (2) and Tomas Jurco, meanwhile, provided the offence for Saint John in a losing effort, while veteran goaltender Marc-Antoine Gélinas (32 saves) suffered just his fourth defeat of 2009-10.

The Wildcats took an early 1-0 lead on Sunday when Marek Hrivik beat Gélinas on a wrist shot from the slot in the second minute of play. Randy Cameron and Daniel Pettersen both picked up assists on the Slovakian forward's offensive strike.

Saint John went on the power play midway through the opening frame, generating several stellar scoring chances during the two-minute man-up session. Some great work by Shane Owen in net for the hosts kept the visitors from converting on their numerical advantage however.

Freshman forward Stanislav Galiev produced the tying goal for Saint John at the 13:59 mark of the first period, taking a pass from line-mate Nick Petersen in the neutral zone and bursting into Moncton territory on an uncontested breakaway. The Russian-born sniper made a sensational deke on Owen prior to roofing the puck over the Moncton goalie's flailing glove hand to tally the ninth marker of his rookie season.

The Sea Dogs' defensive special teams then unit came up with an impressive penalty kill late in period number one, as Sunday's intraprovincial showdown reached the twenty minute mark with the score deadlocked at one apiece.

Stanislav Galiev struck again early in the second period to give Saint John their first lead of the afternoon. The 17-year old winger banged home a loose puck from the side of the Wildcats' net on the first shift of the stanza to pick up his second tally of the game.

The Wildcats tied things up at two apiece midway through the middle frame, with a net-charging Randy Cameron finishing off an odd-man rush by redirecting a crisp pass from Simon Jodoin to the back of Saint John's net, registering the tenth goal of his overage campaign in the process.

The home team pulled ahead 3-2 two minutes later when Mark Barberio ripped a snap shot over Gelinas' left shoulder to make his third goal of the year of the short-handed variety. Moncton doubled their lead a moment later when Scott Brannon converted on a penalty shot, electing to shoot on the play and beating Gelinas high, glove side

Marek Hrivik then put the hosts up by three at the 15:54 mark of the second period, burying a feed from Randy Cameron at the end of a lengthy scramble in Saint John's zone.

Moncton added to their lead in the third period, with Cameron and Scott Brannon each netting goals to make the score 7-2. First-year Sea Dogs forward Tomas Jurco chipped a backhand shot past a down-and-out Shane Owen late in regulation to pull the visitors to within four of their opponents, but the Port City's major junior squad was unable to further reduce their deficit as the Wildcats took the decision by a 7-3 final.

Despite Sunday's loss, Saint John remains ahead in the 2009-10 Brunswick News Rivalry Cup standings by a mark of 5.5 - 5.

Up next for the 30-5-1-0 Sea Dogs is a Thursday night tilt with the Halifax Mooseheads at Harbour Station. The puck drops at 7pm as Saint John hopes to kick off a new winning streak versus their Atlantic Division adversaries. Tickets to this game are available by calling the arena box office at (506) 657-1234.

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from December 13, 2009


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