Herd Word

Photo - Q twitter

GRAVEL
Veteran goaltender Alexis Gravel had a great week and the QMJHL plus CHL have recognized his success this past weekend. Gravel was named the player of the week for the week ending October 15. The 18 year old started in two of the 3 games the Mosoeheads had last week and had a 2-0 record including a 5-0 shutout win on Sunday against Bathurst. He now has a 2.51 goals against average on the season which is good enough for 6th in the league. On Tuesday, the Asbestos, QC native was also named the Canadian Hockey League Goaltender of the Week.

TEAM OF THE WEEK
The QMJHL also announced the team of the week on Monday which included Gravel and defenceman Jared McIsaac. Congrats to both boys. Halifax has had a strong start to the season and with the return of McIsaac, the club seems to have figured out the defense allowed just 2 goals in the last week. Jared played it's first game of the season on Thursday and has a goal and three assists in three games.

CAPTAIN
On Wednesday, the Herd finally announced their leadership group. I'm not sure what took so long but it will be nice to see a C on someone when the team takes on the Moncton Wildcats tonight. Cam Russell, Eric Veilleux and the brass have named veteran Antoine Morand captain for the 2018-19 season. The 19-year-old was traded by the Acadie-Bathurst Titan back in June to Halifax after winning the Memorial Cup with the Titan.

Morand will be joined by Samuel Asselin, Jared McIsaac, Benoit-Olivier Groulx and Joel Bishop who were all named alternate captains and will split duties between road and home games. Asselin has scored quite a bit this season after being acquired a few days into the regular season from Bathurst and is 5th in team scoring. Benoit-Olivier Groulx is just above Samuel in team scoring with 11 points and I'm sure is hoping to have a good season after getting drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in June. Bishop has played just one game so far this year before going down with an injury but it sounds like he will be back in the lineup tonight in Moncton.

Congrats guys.

CANADA RUSSIA SERIES
More news came from the league offices on Wednesday morning as the QMJHL announced its roster for the Canada/Russia series that will be played next month. A total of five current Mooseheads were named to the roster. Benoit-Olivier Groulx, Justin Barron, Raphael Lavoie, Jared McIsaac and Antoine Morand will represent Halifax when Team QMJHL takes on Russia in the final two games on Tuesday November 13 in Sherbrooke, QC and Thursday November 15 in Drummondville, QC. According to the team's press release, this is the second time that McIsaac and Groulx have participated in this event and the third time for Morand after representing Bathurst in 2016 & 2017. For Lavoie and Barron, who both have yet to be drafted into the NHL, it is their first time. This event, which will be held in four other cities before coming to Quebec, is another step on the way to Hockey Canada selecting who will represent the maple leaf at the 2019 World Juniors. Below is the full roster.

Photo - Q website

TOP 10
Your Halifax Mooseheads stayed at number 3 in this week's KIA CHL Top 10 rankings despite a 3-0 record over the last 7 days. The Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL took over first spot, displacing the Baie-Comeau Drakkar who fell to #7.

Week 5 rankings:
1. Prince Albert Raiders {11-1-0-0}   last week: 2
2. Rouyn-Noranda Huskies {9-1-0-0}   last week: 6
3. Halifax Mooseheads {8-2-0-0}   last week: 3
4. Victoria Royals {7-1-0-0}   last week: 4
5. Peterborough Petes {8-2-0-0}   last week: n/a
6. Vancouver Giants {9-1-1-0}   last week: 7
7. Baie Comeau Drakkar {8-2-0-1}   last week: 1
8. Ottawa 67's {8-3-0-0}   last week: n/a
9. Saginaw Spirit {6-2-1-0}   last week: n/a
10. Guelph Storm {6-2-1-0}   last week: 9
Honourable mention: Seattle Thunderbirds {6-1-1-0}, Moncton Wildcats {6-3-1-0}, Mississauga Steelheads {6-2-1-0}