CB @ Halifax - Friday, September 10th

[christopher]

Does anyone know if this is on Eastlink?

I can't find the thread with the schedule!

[christopher]

To answer my question and for those wondering as well:

Yes, the game is on Eastlink.

[Deer]

Game is indeed on Eastlink, and on 103.5 The Eagle it's the radio debut of Kyle Moore - replacing Ken MacNeil after seven seasons.

Sounds like we'll have pretty much our full lineup for this game - paper says Ellis doesn't go to pro camp until Sunday. Last night's opener between Moncton and Bathurst was a glorified preseason game, both rosters littered with guys gone to pro camps.

Season openers are usually pretty awful - guys are nervous, there's little chemistry among brand new lines, ice is bad, all contributes to very sloppy hockey with little flow. Often it's a two-ref game and the zebras are overzealous in trying to make an early impression, and there are far too many PPs. Hopefully tonight's game is a decent one in spite of all of these trends.

The big story to this one is the debut of much-hyped Halifax import Martin Frk. Will he tear us apart in his first game, or does he need time to adjust to the new surroundings? Is he even that good? Guess we'll start seeing.

I expect Verroneau to start for us, since he seems to be the guy expected to be #1. Corbeil-Theriault is out with an injury for them. Not sure if Delmas is gone to a pro camp or not. If so, I guess American rookie Anthony (I think that's his first name?) Terenzio will start in net for the Moose.

Our defence could be an adventure - extremely young and raw, will be interesting to see how they do when thrown into the fire.

More than anything, I hope to see signs of a gritty, hard-working team that will make it enjoyable to come to the rink this season - whether or not we win many games.

[canbeer]

Delmas is still around for a few days and is starting. So Bety will probably sit as the 4th 20 year old.

Nobody is missing up front for the Moose but Hannay and Abeltshauser are away on the back end though after last year a young D squad is nothing new.

The mentor (Metcalfe) vs. protege (Hannay) will have to wait for another game. I can see some of the bigger CB vets trying to knock around a young Moose team so I expect a gritty, intense game. Despite missing a couple important D, I expect Delmas to show his ability and the Moose should be ok on the backend... whether or not they will show chemistry up front is something we'll have to wait and see.

Considering how well Lacerte played vs. the Moose in the preseason game in Hali I would think they would rather see Verroneau.

Hope it's a good one.

[Hat Trick Swayze's]

Mario Confirms in pregame Dion-Cuzner-Shaw as the 2nd line

[Hat Trick Swayze's]

Looks like Taylor has new Assistants
Dion
and Metcalfe

according to the Gamesheet on the new but Brutal Q site

[Hat Trick Swayze's]

Lacerte getting the start........

[iolaire]

Great result folks and an encouraging start for the Eagles

[dt281]

Good to start things off with the win. You would think there would be some nervous guys playing in front of a big crowd in their first game. Overall it sounded like a pretty even game and it was pretty impressive that the Eagles didn't allow a goal 5 on 5 considering how inexperienced the D are.

I must give Mario some credit. Picking up Lacerte looks like a solid move.
How did Frk look? It sounded like his line created lots of chances when they were out there.

[dt281]

Just wanted to add, I thought Kyle Moore did a pretty good job in his first game.

[Hat Trick Swayze's]

Agreed minus him Calling Hertz...Hartsburg..... lol

[Deer]

Watched on Eastlink, great effort - that's what I'm talkin about. Young Eagles were gritty, in-your-face, lots of hitting and forechecking, didn't look nervous in front of the big crowd in the first game. For the first time in over two seasons, it actually felt good beating Halifax!

Ellis looked like a 25-year-old man among boys, first star in my books. Lacerte was our next best player - great game in his first start as an Eagle. Loved his celebration at the buzzer - LOL.

The forwards were speedy and aggressive on the forecheck, and the defence was much more solid than the potential adventure I'd envisioned. I thought Hrabarenka had a great Eagle debut - looks like a guy with very good raw potential. He was physical, and poised in both ends (looked fine on the 2nd PP unit). Woodworth saw a lot of ice and played well. I noticed Herrett more as the game went on. Not a single goal against 5-on-5, as someone else pointed out. Ellis was so good down low with the pokecheck, took away so many scoring chances in tight. Loved that sequence late in the game where he crushed two Moose in a matter of seconds. Metcalfe was solid, although his penalty caused their first goal, and I liked a few early signs of leadership - patting the goalie on the head after saves etc.

Forward lines:

Horyl-MacDougall-Hertzberg = Looked like a legit top line instead of a top line that fell into place by default just because they're the only proven scoring threats we returned, which is what many feared. Beauty feed by Hertzberg on MacDougall's one-time goal, which proved to be the winner. Boy did Hertzberg own Garrett Clarke on that goal too, blowing by him at the blueline! By far the best line in the game on either side.

Dion-Cuzner-Shaw = Lots of energy from this bunch, Cuzner being the straw that stirred the drink. Great goal through a screen to make it 2-1 us. Almost post-and-in blocker side. He may have only scored a handful of goals last year, but most of them were goal scorer's goals - so don't be surprised to see more snipes like the one we saw tonight. Shaw did a very good job creating traffic on that play, screening Delmas. Cuzner also had a fight - close to the Gordie Howe hat trick.

Jodoin-Plouffe-MacIntosh = MacIntosh was possibly our unsung hero, buzzing all night, giving and taking hits. Plouffe and Jodoin looked fine in their Q debuts, created a couple of chances each and showed patience in the offensive zone - not looking nervous.

W Carrier-Parker-A Carrier = Who'd have thought 16-year-old William Carrier would notch our first goal of the season? Reminds me of 04-05, when a 16-year-old Chris Culligan (also a mid-round pick that was far from a lock to make the team) scored our first of the year. Noticed the Carriers a few times, Alex did very well in his scrap with Lemieux! Nick Parker quietly had a good game, his speed seems to be his strength as the announcers said. He has a smooth way about his game. Love that our 4th line hit the scoresheet, first goal of the game, and just 18 seconds after we got scored on - so important how they answered right away.

Lacerte made several key stops early in the 2nd, the one part of the game where I found our D got a bit unraveled and we spent some extended periods in our own zone. He was left to fend for himself a couple of times, and answered the bell confidently. Great debut.


Overall a very enjoyable game to watch for a season opener. Most September games are honestly brutal, but that one was gritty, reasonably physical, and had more emotion than any CB-Hali game the past two years. A lot of passes in feet and stuff like that, but it's the first game with new linemates for so many guys. Even a few fights! And all of them sparked from the actual emotion of the game, nothing lame or staged. Overall the most I've enjoyed a season opener in several years.

On the Halifax side, Frk was their best player - great debut for a European in his first game. Assisted on both their goals, including a beauty set-up on the first one. Seems to enjoy the physical game, great passer, as Hali fans said he could shoot more but that'll come. They've got a good one.

Grant also had a good game, offensive threat all night. And that Ashley kid is very good - I kept assuming #17 was a veteran. He and Frk could be a real good combo this year.

Hali had more scoring chances than us I found, but couldn't put it in. They seem to have a lot of guys who do a lot of things well, but just can't finish. Their powerplay looked good, lots of sustained pressure and creative enough passing.

I found Delmas looked uncomfortable in the Moose net - I was actually kind of fearing him heading into the game, thought a five-year vet might win it by himself in a game with so many rookies. Our first goal was weak, a rebound short side that was just a matter of not hugging the post. He was shaky on several other routine plays that happened not to end up in the net. I don't know if his hip is still bothering him or if it was just an off night....... he didn't lose the game on them or anything, but I found he looked off.

Whether or not the Eagles win many games this season, they'll be a lot more fun to watch than last year's team if they keep coming up with gritty efforts like that! Great start to the season.

[canbeer]

I liked the potential of Hrabarenka... big, big Dman who played well when he wasn't running around. Ellis obviously played well. I feel for a rebuilding team you guys seem a bit old on D but it might just be a way to easy the young guys in in the first half of the season. Add Fournier, Woodworth and Metcalfe and you seem like you have 5 guys that should be playing in the top 4. Metcalfe I didn't think had a very good game but he got better in Hali as time went on.

Your top line looked pretty solid as expected. They were definitely the vet presence out there and much older then any other line on the ice for either team. I was a bit shocked the Moose held them to only 3-4 shots but they did score a goal. They'll need to be the ones bringing the offense on most nights.

What Moose fans have seen from Lacerte so far this season he could be a the big brightspot for CB.

[brec7]

Great rundown by the Deer above and good to get perspective from Halifax fans who saw the game in person. I agree that it was a pretty entertaining opener, somewhat chippy between two teams who in a way played a similar style which led to some scuffles. Neither team was backing down, that's for sure, and I'm sure it made fans on both sides happy.

It's promising that 3 different lines scored tonight for the Eagles. I was impressed with the chemistry from the top line in pre-season (even though, like Deer, I was worried it was a bit 'thrown together') . Hopefully Cuzner's goal is the start of a bit of a breakout season for him- he definitely looked like a seasoned veteran with that sniper. The Carrier goal was HUGE- it says a lot that a team with so many youngsters could play so well in the first game in front of a big crowd, and for a young team to rebound so quickly like that.

I said in an earlier post that Ellis's max potential would be a dominant, elite dman in this league and that Woodworth would be as a top 4 guy (in terms of what they can do this year.) Tonight, both looked the part- but it obviously comes with tempered optimism as it was against a Halifax team that at best is midpack, and was missing some guys (where as CB wasn't missing anyone.) I love the "C" on Ellis though, and even the scruff on his face... makes him look the part of a seasoned veteran.

Tonight was a really good debut for Hrabreanka in his own end. I didn't see much from him on the offensive end but he looked to be a stable presence back there, should be a solid top 4 guy based on what I saw tonight. Metcalfe was a bit of adventure, some good and some bad... I can definitely see the leadership qualities, he'll do his best to keep opposing players honest.

I was surprised not to see more of Fournier- maybe I just didn't notice him? That's not a bad thing for a defenseman!

Had to love Lacerte's celebration at game's end! Great night for him, he seems to enjoy playing in Halifax based on his pre-season effort there. Hopefully there's some irony there with his first Eagle win coming at the HMC- it's well documented the success stories the Moose have had with older reclamation goaltenders (Dallaire, Lavallee, Duchesne).

You can certainly see the skill that Halifax is building. Last year they were a team with some young talent and good work ethic that just couldn't finish a lot of the team. It could be much more of the same this year, but a lot of players who will be finishing those chances in the next year. Frk & Ashley were impressive.

I'm pretty certain Delmas was told he was being traded- I'm pretty sure that's the first time I've seen a goaltender START a season while wearing another team's logo on his mask. ;D

Happy to hear that Kyle Moore's debut seemed to be a success, hopefuly I'll catch some of the game tomorrow night.

Entertaining season opener, lots of encouraging signs for the future and most importantly 2 points for the Eagles!

[Murph]

Sept 11, 2010 0:31:31 GMT -4 brec7 said:

I'm pretty certain Delmas was told he was being traded- I'm pretty sure that's the first time I've seen a goaltender START a season while wearing another team's logo on his mask. ;D

Wasn't Lacerte wearing another team's mask as well?