Post by dogcatcher on Feb 3, 2008 20:53:46 GMT -4
SEA DOGS DOWN WILDCATS 6-5
Saint John Sets New Franchise Record For Scoring in a Season During Road Win
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Sunday, February 3, 2008
MONCTON, NB --- The 2007-08 Saint John Sea Dogs improved to 4-1 versus the Moncton Wildcats on Sunday afternoon, besting their provincial rivals by a score of 6-5 at the Moncton Coliseum.
First-place Saint John (34-14-1-3) now leads Halifax (32-15-0-5) by three points in the QMJHL East Division standings.
After falling behind 2-0 early, the Sea Dogs registered six unanswered goals to take a 6-2 lead prior to surrendering a pair of power play markers in the third period which made the score 6-4. The Wildcats pulled to within one at the sixteen minute mark of the third on the strength of an even-strength tally by Chris Morehouse, but that would be as close as the home team would get, as Saint John held on to their one-goal advantage in the dying minutes of the contest and escaped with a 6-5 victory at the expense of their divisional adversaries.
Alexandre Picard-Hooper paced Saint John offensively on Sunday, registering 3G-1A-4P to earn First Star of the Game honours. Yann Sauvé, Scott Howes and Alexandre Leduc also scored for the Sea Dogs, while rookie net minder Robert Mayer (23 saves) picked up the win in net.
Moncton goalie Nicola Riopela was extremely busy throughout Sunday’s contest, facing 49 shots - six of which eluded him as he fell to 13-21 on the year in losing the decision. In addition to Morehouse, Adam Bezak, Jesse Biduke (2), and Mark Barberio all scored for Moncton in the loss.
Saint John’s opening goal of the match, off the stick of Picard-Hooper, set a new franchise record for goals in a season, eclipsing the previous high of 209 which was set during the 2006-07 campaign.
The Wildcats earned an early power play opportunity on Sunday, with David Stich being assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for checking from behind in the opening minute of play.
Moncton wasted no time in converting on their lengthy 5-on-4 session, with Adam Bezak and Mark Barbeiro scoring two quick goals to give their team a 2-0 lead just 1:06 into the first period.
After some exciting back-and-forth action, the Sea Dogs nearly cut the Wildcats’ led in half near the midway mark of the opening frame, with Riopela stoning Keven Charland on a one-timer from close range prior to robbing Alexandre Leduc on a semi-breakaway a moment later.
Saint John was able to break through on the power play, with Alexandre Picard-Hooper netting his 15th goal of the season to pull the visitors to within one of the home team’s lead. Alex Grant and Scott Howes both picked up assists on the successful scoring play, which gave the Sea Dogs 210 goals on the year - establishing a new single-season franchise high.
The visiting squad from Port City then tied the match up at two apiece when Alexandre Leduc intercepted a Matt Boyle pass deep in the home team’s zone and wired a low wrist shot through Riopela’s pads to earn his 15th goal of 2007-08 at the 17:58 mark of the first.
The Sea Dogs took their first lead of the afternoon early in the second period, with Alexandre Picard-Hooper scoring in transition to give his team a 3-2 advantage. The overage forward took a pass from Payton Liske deep in the Wildcats’ zone and showed impressive patience in out-waiting Riopel, tucking a forehand shot past the Moncton net minder after faking a backhand attempt and gliding across the crease to create a favourable amount of net space in which to fire the puck.
Scott Howes then gave Saint John a two-goal advantage, banging home a rebound at the 14:32 mark of the middle frame to earn his 31st tally of the year. Another power play goal by the Sea Dogs then made the score 5-2, as Alexandre Picard-Hooper put the finishing touches on his hat trick with 1:11 remaining in the second, knocking in a one-timer from the side of the net to register his third goal of the afternoon.
A power play goal by Yann Sauvé then put Saint John up by four at the 5:20 mark of the third. The 17-year old defenseman fired a loose puck to the back of the Moncton net to bring an end to a lengthy scramble, earning his fifth tally of the season in the process.
Jesse Biduke then scored the third Moncton PPG of the match, beating Mayer with a high shot 8:06 into regulation’s final frame to pull the Wildcats to within three of their geographic neighbours. Another power play goal by Biduke 0:45 later reduced the gap to two, as the 20-year old winger finished off a pretty passing play to tally his 14th goal of the year.
Moncton continued to apply heavy pressure in Saint John’s zone, with Mayer making several spectacular saves prior to surrendering a rebound goal to Chris Morehouse with 4:00 remaining in regulation as the Wildcats pulled to within immediate striking distance of the Sea Dogs.
The host squad was unable to complete their comeback attempt however, as Saint John was able to prevent Moncton from producing the equalizer in the late-going, emerging victorious by a final score of 6-5 as a result.
Up next for Saint John is a three-game tour of Quebec, starting on Friday night in Victoriaville. The Sea Dogs’ next home game is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, February 13, and will see the QMJHL East’s top-ranked squad play host to the Moncton Wildcats in a 7:00pm contest at Harbour Station.
Saint John Sets New Franchise Record For Scoring in a Season During Road Win
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Sunday, February 3, 2008
MONCTON, NB --- The 2007-08 Saint John Sea Dogs improved to 4-1 versus the Moncton Wildcats on Sunday afternoon, besting their provincial rivals by a score of 6-5 at the Moncton Coliseum.
First-place Saint John (34-14-1-3) now leads Halifax (32-15-0-5) by three points in the QMJHL East Division standings.
After falling behind 2-0 early, the Sea Dogs registered six unanswered goals to take a 6-2 lead prior to surrendering a pair of power play markers in the third period which made the score 6-4. The Wildcats pulled to within one at the sixteen minute mark of the third on the strength of an even-strength tally by Chris Morehouse, but that would be as close as the home team would get, as Saint John held on to their one-goal advantage in the dying minutes of the contest and escaped with a 6-5 victory at the expense of their divisional adversaries.
Alexandre Picard-Hooper paced Saint John offensively on Sunday, registering 3G-1A-4P to earn First Star of the Game honours. Yann Sauvé, Scott Howes and Alexandre Leduc also scored for the Sea Dogs, while rookie net minder Robert Mayer (23 saves) picked up the win in net.
Moncton goalie Nicola Riopela was extremely busy throughout Sunday’s contest, facing 49 shots - six of which eluded him as he fell to 13-21 on the year in losing the decision. In addition to Morehouse, Adam Bezak, Jesse Biduke (2), and Mark Barberio all scored for Moncton in the loss.
Saint John’s opening goal of the match, off the stick of Picard-Hooper, set a new franchise record for goals in a season, eclipsing the previous high of 209 which was set during the 2006-07 campaign.
The Wildcats earned an early power play opportunity on Sunday, with David Stich being assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for checking from behind in the opening minute of play.
Moncton wasted no time in converting on their lengthy 5-on-4 session, with Adam Bezak and Mark Barbeiro scoring two quick goals to give their team a 2-0 lead just 1:06 into the first period.
After some exciting back-and-forth action, the Sea Dogs nearly cut the Wildcats’ led in half near the midway mark of the opening frame, with Riopela stoning Keven Charland on a one-timer from close range prior to robbing Alexandre Leduc on a semi-breakaway a moment later.
Saint John was able to break through on the power play, with Alexandre Picard-Hooper netting his 15th goal of the season to pull the visitors to within one of the home team’s lead. Alex Grant and Scott Howes both picked up assists on the successful scoring play, which gave the Sea Dogs 210 goals on the year - establishing a new single-season franchise high.
The visiting squad from Port City then tied the match up at two apiece when Alexandre Leduc intercepted a Matt Boyle pass deep in the home team’s zone and wired a low wrist shot through Riopela’s pads to earn his 15th goal of 2007-08 at the 17:58 mark of the first.
The Sea Dogs took their first lead of the afternoon early in the second period, with Alexandre Picard-Hooper scoring in transition to give his team a 3-2 advantage. The overage forward took a pass from Payton Liske deep in the Wildcats’ zone and showed impressive patience in out-waiting Riopel, tucking a forehand shot past the Moncton net minder after faking a backhand attempt and gliding across the crease to create a favourable amount of net space in which to fire the puck.
Scott Howes then gave Saint John a two-goal advantage, banging home a rebound at the 14:32 mark of the middle frame to earn his 31st tally of the year. Another power play goal by the Sea Dogs then made the score 5-2, as Alexandre Picard-Hooper put the finishing touches on his hat trick with 1:11 remaining in the second, knocking in a one-timer from the side of the net to register his third goal of the afternoon.
A power play goal by Yann Sauvé then put Saint John up by four at the 5:20 mark of the third. The 17-year old defenseman fired a loose puck to the back of the Moncton net to bring an end to a lengthy scramble, earning his fifth tally of the season in the process.
Jesse Biduke then scored the third Moncton PPG of the match, beating Mayer with a high shot 8:06 into regulation’s final frame to pull the Wildcats to within three of their geographic neighbours. Another power play goal by Biduke 0:45 later reduced the gap to two, as the 20-year old winger finished off a pretty passing play to tally his 14th goal of the year.
Moncton continued to apply heavy pressure in Saint John’s zone, with Mayer making several spectacular saves prior to surrendering a rebound goal to Chris Morehouse with 4:00 remaining in regulation as the Wildcats pulled to within immediate striking distance of the Sea Dogs.
The host squad was unable to complete their comeback attempt however, as Saint John was able to prevent Moncton from producing the equalizer in the late-going, emerging victorious by a final score of 6-5 as a result.
Up next for Saint John is a three-game tour of Quebec, starting on Friday night in Victoriaville. The Sea Dogs’ next home game is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, February 13, and will see the QMJHL East’s top-ranked squad play host to the Moncton Wildcats in a 7:00pm contest at Harbour Station.
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