The Wins Keep Coming for Halifax
January 8, 2023 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Halifax Mooseheads News Release
It took a late third period goal from Jordan Dumais to pull out the victory but the Mooseheads stayed unbeaten in regulation in their last 13 games with a 5-4 win over the Cape Breton Eagles.
The 11-0-2-0 run of points in 13 consecutive games is tied for the sixth-best streak in franchise history. The 2012-13 team set the mark with points in 17 straight.
Josh Lawrence forced a turnover deep in Eagles territory and found Dumais for the go-ahead goal with just 2:14 remaining in regulation. The goal bailed the Herd out after they had coughed up a 4-2 lead earlier in the final period of play. Alexandre Doucet had the other assist on the game-winning goal to give the newcomer a goal and an assist in his home-ice debut with Halifax. He has scored multiple points in all five games since joining the Mooseheads in a trade from Val d'Or over the holiday break. He has six goals and five helpers with the Herd and remains second in the QMJHL scoring race with 64 points. Dumais has the scoring lead with 71 points.
The game had its ups and downs for the Mooseheads who didn't play up to the caliber that they're capable of for the second time this weekend. The Moose also survived a scare against a much weaker opponent in Saint John on Friday. Nonetheless, the offensive talent pulled through as they continued a streak of scoring at least five goals for the seventh straight game.
Evan Boucher got the scoring started on a first period power play for his 14th tally of the season. Cape Breton rebounded to tie the game 1-1 at the 17:10 mark as Jacob Newcombe found the back of the net. The game was tied for just 92 seconds before Zach L'Heureux skated up the ice and beat Oliver Satny with a low shot through the five-hole. The Nashville prospect exchanged words with the Eagles bench as he skated by which led to a fight moments later when Conor Shortall dropped the gloves with L'Heureux off the ensuing draw. Both players were given game misconducts. Shortall had picked up a checking to the head penalty earlier in the game when he delivered a high hit to Attilio Biasca. The Mooseheads Captain was forced to leave the game with a gash to his face before returning with a bandaged nose and a full shield.
Cape Breton tied the contest 2-2 just past the midway mark of the second period on a Trevor Thurston deflection in front of Mathis Rousseau but it wasn't long before Alex Doucet put the home team back in front and then Josh Lawrence put on a show with an incredible individual effort for a highlight reel shorthanded goal near the end of the period to give Halifax a 4-2 lead.
There was a sense of nervousness among the crowd of 7,778 at Scotiabank Centre after back-to-back Eagles goals in the third period from Cam Squires and Angelo Fullerton that tied the game 4-4, but in true Mooseheads form this season, Jordan Dumais scored when it was needed most.
Rousseau made 22 saves to earn his career-best 18th win of the season, while Satny took the loss after stopping 30 of 35 Halifax shots. The team recognized Attilio Biasca and David Moravec for their participation in the IIHF World Junior Championship in a pregame ceremony and gave the players an award for their excellent efforts with Switzerland and Czechia.
The Mooseheads will really be put to the test on home ice later this week when a couple of the league's top teams visit the Nova Scotia capital. The Quebec Remparts and Canadian World Junior Gold Medallist Nathan Gaucher will be in town on Thursday night at 7pm. Long-time timekeeper and off-ice official Ron Beard will also be honoured with a lifetime achievement award in a pre-game ceremony. Then on Saturday night, the Herd will face off with the equally talented Sherbrooke Phoenix at 7pm on t-shirt giveaway night in Moose Country. The first 3,000 fans through the gates will receive a free Mooseheads t-shirt. The Moose will wrap up the weekend at home on Sunday afternoon at 2pm versus Moncton. Tickets for all games are on sale now at TicketAtlantic.com.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from January 8, 2023
- The Wins Keep Coming for Halifax - Halifax Mooseheads
- Mooseheads Top Eagles in Back & Forth Game in Halifax - Cape Breton Eagles
- Draft Choices, Prospects, Free Agents, and the Return of Alex Drover - Saint John Sea Dogs
- Islanders Shuffle Roster - Charlottetown Islanders
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