Mooseheads on Golden Puck Awards Nominees

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League announced the nominees for their annual awards at the Golden Puck Gala. There are two Halifax Mooseheads among the players nominated. Otto Somppi and Filip Zadina will represent the Mooseheads at the awards.

Here are the nominees for the awards that will be passed out on April 4th.
*via QMJHL

Jacques-Plante Trophy — Best goals-against average

• Samuel Harvey — Rouyn-Noranda Huskies

Rookie of the Year

• Colten Ellis – Rimouski Océanic
• Alexis Lafrenière – Rimouski Océanic

Ron-Lapointe Trophy – Coach of the Year

• Serge Beausoleil – Rimouski Océanic
• Joël Bouchard – Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
• Dominique Ducharme – Drummondville Voltigeurs

Marcel-Robert Trophy – Scholastic Player of the Year

• Alexandre Alain – Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
• Matthew Welsh – Charlottetown Islanders
• Antoine Samuel – Quebec Remparts

Émile «Butch» Bouchard Trophy – Best Defenseman

• Charle-Édouard D’Astous – Rimouski Océanic
• Noah Dobson – Acadie-Bathurst Titan
• Olivier Galipeau – Acadie-Bathurst Titan

Frank-J.-Selke Trophy – Sportsman of the Year

• Jakob Pelletier – Moncton Wildcats
• Otto Somppi – Halifax Mooseheads
• Joël Teasdale – Blainville-Boisbriand Armada

 Humanitarian and Community Involvement Trophy

• Thomas Grégoire – Sherbrooke Phoenix
• Charle-Édouard D’Astous – Rimouski Océanic
• Vincent Tremblay-Lapalme – Chicoutimi Saguenéens

Maurice-Filion Trophy – General Manager of the Year

• Serge Beausoleil – Rimouski Océanic
• Joël Bouchard – Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
• Dominique Ducharme – Drummondville Voltigeurs

Jean-Béliveau Trophy – Top Scorer

• Alex Barré-Boulet – Blainville-Boisbriand Armada

Michael-Bossy Trophy – Top Professional Prospect

• Noah Dobson – Acadie-Bathurst Titan
• Joe Veleno – Drummondville Voltigeurs
• Filip Zadina – Halifax Mooseheads

Paul-Dumont Trophy – Personality of the Year

• Drake Batherson – Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
• Dominique Ducharme – Drummondville Voltigeurs
• Alexis Lafrenière – Rimouski Océanic

Michel-Brière Trophy – Most Valuable Player

• Vitalii Abramov – Victoriaville Tigres
• Alex Barré-Boulet – Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
• Samuel Harvey – Rouyn-Noranda Huskies

Please note that the following trophies have been awarded in special pre-game ceremonies held last week: Guy-Carbonneau (Best Defensive Forward), Kevin-Lowe (Best Defensive Defenseman), Robert-Lebel (Best goals-against-average – Team), Jean-Rougeau (Regular Season Champions), Luc-Robitaille (Best Offensive Team), Michel-Bergeron (Offensive Rookie of the Year) and Raymond-Lagacé (Defensive Rookie of the year).

Here are the nominees:
Guy-Carbonneau – Best Defensive Forward

• Samuel Dove-McFalls – Rimouski Océanic
• Maxime Comtois – Victoriaville Tigres
• Otto Sompi – Saint John Sea Dogs

Kevin Lowe – Best Defensive Defenseman

• Noah Dobson – Titan d’Acadie-Bathurst
• Tobbie Paquette-Bisson – Armada de Blainville-Boisbriand
• Charle-Édouard D’Astous – Océanic de Rimouski

Michel-Bergeron Trophy – Offensive Rookie of the Year

• Alexis Lafrenière – Rimouski Océanic
• Jakob Pelletier – Moncton Wildcats
• Filip Zadina – Halifax Mooseheads

Raymond-Lagacé Trophy – Defensive Rookie of the Year

• Justin Barron – Mooseheads d’Halifax
• Colten Ellis – Océanic de Rimouski
• Radim Salda – Sea Dogs de Saint John


Robert-Lebel – Best goals-against-average – Team

• Rimouski Océanic

Jean-Rougeau – Regular Season Champions

• Blainville-Boisbriand Armada

Luc Robitaille – Best Offensive Team

• Drummondville Voltigeurs

Mooseheads Win Nasty Battle

Game Two Recap
HAL leads series 2-0
Stars: 3. Groulx HAL | 2. Zadina HAL | 1. Bishop HAL
Attendance: 7,550

HALIFAX - It's starting out to be a nasty and, if you ask the Mooseheads fans, a one sided series but the home team has been able to get two victories despite the nastiness. Filip Zadina scored his first playoff goal a little over 6 minutes into the game to give Halifax a 1-0 lead. Around the 9 minute mark, Jared McIsaac laid out a big hit on Samuel Dickner in centre ice which Baie-Comeau didn't like so Antoine Girard decided to pull him away by the collar, leading Connor Moynihan to come in defense of his teammate and fight Girard. It was Moynihan's second fight in as many nights. Captain Max Fortier scored another nice goal seconds later to give the Herd a 2-0 lead. Younger brother Gabriel Fortier scored less than three minutes later to get the Drakkar on the board. Max technically scored two goals in tonight's game but only one counted on the score sheet because he put the puck in his own net while Alexis Gravel was on the bench from a delayed penalty call which tied the game at two. More hits happened through out the match while the fans in attendance were once again unhappy with calls that were made and ones that weren't. In the third the boys in red were able to get a few more goals and some more timely saves by Gravel to pick up a 5-3 victory on Saturday evening.

FINAL: Drakkar 3 at Mooseheads 5

Point getters: BAC Fortier, Chekhovich & Girard 1G each, Joly 2A, Bouchard & Lalonde 1A each; HAL Bishop 3 (1G & 2A), Fortier & Zadina 2 each (1G & 1A), Groulx & Parent 1G each, Lavoie, Durandeau, McIsaac, Ryczek & Higgins 1A each

Goaltenders: Gravel HAL | Leclerc BAC

Shots 1st: 16-8 HAL | 2nd: 9-8 HAL | 3rd: 14-13 HAL

Powerplay HAL 0/5, BAC 0/2

DID NOT PLAY - Otto Somppi is out injured while Ryan Barbosa and Barrett Dachyshyn were healthy scratches

OUT OF TOWN
Charlottetown 6 at Quebec 2
Moncton 1 at Rimouski 2 OT
Chicoutimi 4 at Acadie-Bathurst 0
Cape Breton at Drummondville
Gatineau 2 at Victoriaville 3
Sherbrooke 2 at Rouyn-Noranda 6

PLAYOFF GAMEDAY #1: vs. Baie-Comeau

GAMEDAY

ROUYN-NORANDA HUSKIES vs. HALIFAX MOOSEHEADS

March 23, 2018 at 7:00pm

Series tied 0-0

TV: Webcast | Radio: News 95.7 | Live: @MC_MooseCountry

Scotiabank Centre (10,595) ~ Halifax, NS

It’s the best time of the year. Well probably the toughest and funnest part of a hockey season. The 2018 playoffs began last night across the Canadian Hockey League and it will begin tonight for your Halifax Mooseheads. Despite just losing out on winning the division title, Halifax will need everyone to step up their game this weekend to get the two wins at home in front of their fans. Halifax will get a boost on the blue line with rookie Patty Kyte coming back into the line up after being out since February 16th. Can the Mooseheads make a big splash in the series and getting a big boost from the fans? We’ll have to wait and see. Playoffs are a whole different ball game. Go Moose Go!

SEASON SERIES
Baie-Comeau and Halifax split the season series.

November 9, 2017 – Baie-Comeau def. Halifax 3-2
March 3, 2018 – Halifax def. Baie-Comeau 5-4

NOT PLAYING – Ryan Barbosa, Kyle Petten, and Cooper Jones will most likely not be in the lineup

NOTES

• Herdwell Herald makes their predictions
• The Chronicle Herald breaks down the series with the Drakkar 
• Check out the QMJHL’s road to the Presidents Cup for the Mooseheads
• Don’t forget that this series is 2-3-2 with three straight in Baie-Comeau next week

TONIGHT’S GAMES
Sagueneens at Titan - 7:00pm
Olympique at Tigre - 8:00pm
Foreurs at Armada - 8:30pm
Screaming Eagles at Voltigeurs - 8:30pm
Wildcats at Oceanic - 8:30pm
Phoenix at Huskies - 8:30pm

NEXT GAME
The two teams will meet again tomorrow night for Game 2 here in Halifax. Puck drops at 7pm.

Around the CHL ~ volume #2 season edition #9

We’re at the end of the regular season in major junior hockey so I thought I would recap who ended on top for different statistic categories. These are the final leaders for each of the three leagues. The 2018 Presidents Cup playoffs are just around the corner. Your Halifax Mooseheads will look to make some noise this year after finishing 4th in the Q. GO Moose GO!

League leaders
Goals – Jayden Halbgewachs 70 goals (WHL Moose Jaw Warriors), Alex Barre-Boulet 53 goals (QMJHL Blainville-Boisbriand Armada), Aaron Luchuk 50 goals (OHL Barrie Colts),
Assists – Aleksi Heponiemi 90 assists (WHL Swift Current Broncos), Jordan Kyrou 70 points (OHL Sarnia Sting), Alex Barre-Boulet 63 assists (QMJHL Blainville-Boisbriand Armada),
Points – Jayden Halbgewachs 129 points (WHL Moose Jaw Warriors), Alex Barre-Boulet 116 points (QMJHL Blainville-Boisbriand Armada), Aaron Luchuk 115 points (OHL Barrie Colts)
Defenceman points – David Quenneville 80 points (WHL Medicine Hat Tigers), Olivier Galipeau 74 points (QMJHL Acadie-Bathurst Titan), Evan Bouchard 62 points (OHL London Knights),
Rookie points – Filip Zadina 82 points (QMJHL Halifax Mooseheads), Andrei Svechnikov 72 points (OHL Barrie Colts), Peyton Krebs 54 points (WHL Kitchener Rangers)
Goalie wins – Matthew Villalta 40 wins (OHL Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds), Logan Flodell 38 points (WHL Lethbridge Hurricanes), Colten Ellis 33 wins (QMJHL Rimouski Oceanic),
Save percentage – Justin Fazio 0.918 SAV% (OHL Sarnia Sting), Samuel Harvey 0.930 SAV% (QMJHL Rouyn-Noranda Huskies), Carter Hart 0.947 SAV% (WHL Everett Silvertips)
Goals against average – Carter Hart 1.60 GAA (WHL Everett Silvertips), Samuel Harvey 2.10 GAA (QMJHL Rouyn-Noranda Huskies), Matthew Villalta 2.58 GAA (OHL Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)

Division leaders
WHL – Moose Jaw Warriors 109 points/points/52 wins (East division), Everett Silvertips 99 points/47 wins (U.S. division), Kelowna Rockets 93 points/43 wins (B.C. division), Medicine Hat Tigers 80 points/36 wins (Central division)
OHL – Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 116 points/55 wins (West division), Hamilton Bulldogs 93 points/43 wins (East division), Kitchener Rangers 90 points/43 wins (Midwest division), Barrie Colts 89 points/42 wins (Central division)
QMJHL – Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 107 points/50 wins (TELUS West division), Acadie-Bathurst Titan 96 points/43 wins (Maritimes division), Rimouski Oceanic 93 points/42 wins (TELUS East division)

BMO CHL top ten ~ week 26
1. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds {55-7-3-3} week 25 #1
2. Moose Jaw Warriors {52-15-2-3} week 25 #2
3. Blainville-Boisbriand Armada {50-11-4-3} week 25 #3
4. Swift Current Broncos {48-17-5-2} week 25 #4
5. Sarnia Sting {46-17-4-1} week 25 #5
6. Acadie-Bathurst Titan {43-15-8-2} week 25 #7
7. Everett Silvertips {47-20-2-3} week 25 #9
8. Hamilton Bulldogs {43-18-4-3} week 25 #10
9. Halifax Mooseheads {43-18-6-1} week 25 #8
10. Kitchener Rangers {43-21-3-1} week 25 #6
Honorable mentions: Rimouski Oceanic {42-17-6-3 n/a}, Portland Winterhawks {44-22-1-5 n/a}, Barrie Colts {42-21-4-1 n/a}

Poll #19

Well another season is over for your Halifax Mooseheads which means so are my picks for the Top Herd during each regular season game. I have normally determined each game’s top herd by their overall play not just how many points they had that game which is way you have seen some defense and goaltenders (even when we loose) on the list.

So cast your vote. You have until the end of March to do so.

1. Benoit-Olivier Groulx
2. Arnaud Durandeau
3. Blade Mann-Dixon
4. Otto Somppi
5. Alexis Gravel
6. Other

Season series versus each team

Below you will find the records of your Halifax Mooseheads versus each of the other seventeen teams in the Q plus the monthly records for the teams this season. (note: Halifax's score is listed first)

TELUS West division
Blainville-Boisbraind 2 games 1-0-1-0 {4-5OT, 4-2}
Drummondville 2 games 0-1-1-0 {1-2OT, 1-7}
Gatineau 2 games 2-0-0-0 {7-5, 4-1}
Rouyn-Noranda 2 games 1-1-0-0 {6-2, 2-7}
Sherbrooke 2 games 2-0-0-0 {3-1, 3-2OT}
Val-d’Or 2 games 2-0-0-0 {4-2, 2-1SO}

TELUS East division 
Baie-Comeau 2 games 1-1-0-0 {2-3, 5-4}
Chicoutimi 2 games 0-1-1-0 {3-4OT, 2-4}
Quebec 2 games 0-1-1-0 {2-3OT, 2-3}
Rimouski 2 games 2-0-0-0 {6-5OT, 3-1}
Shawinigan 2 games 1-0-0-1 {2-3SO, 6-1}
Victoriaville 2 games 0-2-0-0 {0-2, 2-8} 

Maritimes division
Acadie-Bathurst 9 games 4-5-0-0 {3-5, 4-3, 4-5, 5-2, 6-5, 1-11, 3-1, 2-3, 4-5}
Cape Breton 9 games 8-1-0-0 {3-4, 9-5, 4-3, 6-5SO, 5-2, 4-2, 5-2, 4-1, 5-4OT}
Charlottetown 9 games 7-1-1-0 {3-2, 3-0, 6-2, 2-3OT, 0-2, 6-3, 3-2OT, 6-2, 3-2OT}
Moncton 9 games  6-2-1-0 {2-3, 5-1, 6-5, 4-3OT, 4-3OT, 3-4OT, 1-5, 12-5, 7-4}
Saint John 8 games 6-2-0-0 {4-1, 2-7, 7-1, 5-4OT, 5-2, 8-2, 3-6, 7-3}

Monthly records
September 4 games ~ 3-1-0-0 record overall, 1-0-0-0 home, 2-1-0-0 away
October 12 games ~ 7-3-2-0 record overall, 4-0-2-0 home, 3-3-0-0 away
November 11 games ~ 5-4-2-0 record overall, 3-2-0-0 home, 2-2-2-0 away
December 11 games ~ 8-2-0-1 record overall, 5-1-0-0 home, 3-1-0-1 away
January 11 games ~ 9-1-1-0 record overall, 4-0-1-0 home, 5-1-0-0 away
February 12 games ~ 7-4-1-0 record overall, 5-2-1-0 home, 2-2-0-0 away
March 7 games ~ 4-3-0-0 record overall, 2-1-0-0 home, 2-2-0-0 away

Overtime/shootout records
OT ~ eight overtime win-six overtime loss
SO ~ two shootout win-one shootout loss

Schedule Announced for Round 1

PLAYOFFS

#4 Halifax Mooseheads vs #13 Baie-Comeau Drakkar

1st round

The Halifax Mooseheads released their first round schedule for the 2018 playoffs along with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar.

HALIFAX - It's playoff time! A year can change a whole lot in junior hockey. After finishing fifteenth in the league last season, the Mooseheads almost won the division title this year but a loss in the last game gave the Acadie-Bathurst Titan the division. With home ice advantage for this round, Halifax will host the Baie-Comeau Drakkar when the playoff series begins on Friday. These two teams are old foes in the playoffs having played each other in three different playoff series, including a very entertaining 5 game series back in 2013 where Halifax won the club's first President's Cup. Should be an exciting series.

BATTLE OF BROTHERS - One story line going into this series is that this will be the first and only battle in the post-season between the Fortier brothers, Max and Gabriel. The younger brother, Gabe is in his second year with the Drakkar and had a pretty good season with the club recording 59 points, good enough for 4th on the team.

HEAD-TO-HEAD ~ all-time: 62 games 30-21-5-3-3; this season: 2 games 1-1-0-0; playoffs: 12 games 12-6-0-0

LAST GAME - Halifax is coming off a 5-4 loss to Acadie-Bathurst Titan to end the regular season while Baie-Comeau finished the year with a defeat as well, losing to the Victoriaville Tigres 3-1.

Playoff tickets for both games in Moose Country this weekend have already gone on sale at the Ticket Atlantic Box Office. You can buy them there, at the Mooseheads Shop in Scotia Square, select Superstores, www.ticketatlantic.com and by calling (902) 451-1221

Game #1
Friday March 23 @ 7:00pm at Scotiabank Centre ~ Halifax, NS
Game #2
Saturday March 24 @ 7:00pm at Scotiabank Centre ~ Halifax, NS
Game #3 
Tuesday March 27 @ 8:30pm at Centre Henry-Leonard ~ Baie-Comeau, QC
Game #4
Wednesday March 28 @ 8:30pm at Centre Henry-Leonard ~ Baie-Comeau, QC
Game #5*
Friday March 30 @ 8:30pm at Centre Henry-Leonard ~ Baie-Comeau, QC
Game #6*
Monday April 2 @ 7:00pm at Scotiabank Centre ~ Halifax, NS
Game #7*
Tuesday April 3 @ 7:00pm at Scotiabank Centre ~ Halifax, NS

*if necessary