Mooseheads on Players to Watch List

Photo - The Chronicle Herald

A few current Halifax Mooseheads players have been listed on the Central Scouting Services players to watch list that was announced today. The list is made up of players that are eligible for the 2017 National Hockey League entry draft and is only a preliminary ranking. This is the most amount of players the Herd have had on the CSS list. Six current members and two prospects are on the radars of NHL scouts this season.

Mooseheads 2016 CHL import draft pick Nico Hischier was given an 'A' ranking by the CSS, meaning scouts think he will go in the first round. Hischier has 3 assists in his 4 games played so far this season and has been very impressive. The 17 year old is one of 2 QMJHL players to get an 'A' rating. The Naters, Switzerland native was also apart of Sportsnet's top 31 prospect rankings at number 9.

Sophomore Jocktan Chainey was ranked to go in the 2nd or 3rd round of the draft and was one of five Q players to get a 'B' ranking. Chainey doesn't have any points yet but he's coming off off-season surgery. The following players were given a 'C' ranking; Mathieu Charlebois, Barrett Dachyshyn, Arnaud Durandeau and Walter Flower as well as prospects Shawn Kennedy (Carleton Place, CCHL) and Jack Rathbone (Dexter School, High MA).

Congratulations to all players and good luck the rest of the season, go out and impress those scouts. We'll keep you updated all year long until the 2017 NHL draft which will be held in Chicago, IL on June 23 & 24.

Battle of NS Round 1 Goes to Halifax

Connor scoring his goal

The first round of the battle of Nova Scotia during the 2016-17 regular season went to the Halifax Mooseheads who gritted out a 6-4 victory over their provincial rival Cape Breton Screaming Eagles on Saturday night. Despite there being quite a few new faces on both teams, there was a lot of animosity between the two teams already this year. Calls that were missed didn't help and neither did a few of the Cape Breton players going after Benoit-Olivier Groulx and Nico Hischier most of the evening. The 17 year old Swiss forward actually was cross checked into the boards from behind with less than a minute to go in the second period which gave Halifax a 5 minute powerplay. Hischier left for the dressing room but was back on the ice during the ensuing man advantage in the final period. The Herd need to work on their PP as they could not convert on in that long extra man advantage or the other three times. Newcomer Keigan Goetz was a welcome addition in the physicality area of the game but it did get him in trouble once. He even scored his first QMJHL goal less than 8 minutes in.

FINAL: Screaming Eagles 4 at Mooseheads 6
Stars: 3. Bradley Kennedy HAL | 2. Jordan Ty Fournier CAP | 1. Keigan Goetz HAL
Attendance: 6,977
MC's Top Herd: Keigan Goetz

GAME LOG
First period
7:48 HAL Brett Crossley (1) | A: none
9:18 CAP Tyler Hylland (2) | A: Gawanke & Fournier
9:48 CAP Drake Batherson (1) | A: Hylland & Glotov
12:10 HAL Keigan Goetz (1) | A: Sorrentino & Groulx
19:53 HAL Taylor Ford (1) | A: Kennedy & Dachyshyn

Second period
8:09 HAL Connor Moynihan (1) | A: Flower & Crossley
9:26 CAP Jordan Ty Fournier (5) | A: Smith & Bertrand
13:17 CAP Drake Batherson (2) | A: Leblanc & Baillargeon

Third period
9:37 HAL Maxime Fortier (3) | A: HIschier
19:52 HAL Maxime Fortier (4) | A: Durandeau

Powerplay: CAP - 0-for-3, HAL - 0-for-4
Shots: 34-29 in favour of Halifax

SCORES
Rouyn-Noranda 5 at Gatineau 1
Moncton 0 at Saint John 5
Val-d'Or 5 at Victoriaville 7

UP NEXT: Halifax will now travel to Charlottetown to take on the Islanders Sunday afternoon. Puck drops at 3pm.

GAMEDAY #3: vs. Cape Breton

GAME PREVIEW
HALIFAX MOOSEHEADS VS CAPE BRETON SCREAMING
Puck drops at 7:00pm
TV: Eastlink | Radio: News 95.7 | Live: @MC_MooseCountry
Scotiabank Centre (10,595) ~ Halifax, NS

Battle of Nova Scotia. There are always entertaining games between these two provincial rivals and I'm sure this year will be no different. Halifax has had a week off and are most likely still high off their win during the team's home opener last weekend. Cape Breton on the other hand is playing their third game in 3 nights and are looking to rebound after losing to the Saint John Sea Dogs last night. The Mooseheads will have a complete team this evening with sophomore Otto Somppi has returned from Tampa Bay training camp, rookie Jordan Lepage is coming off his suspension, defenseman Jocktan Chainey is healthy and recent signee Ontario forward Keigan Goetz suiting up for the Herd for the first time. How will the new guys impact the team? We'll have to wait and see but Goetz should add physicality while the other three will more than likely add some scoring.

This is the first matchup between the two teams this season. Last year, Halifax was 3-5-1-0 against the Screaming Eagles while Cape Breton had a 6-2-1-0 record versus the Mooseheads. The last matchup in the 2015-16 season was March 5. Kelly Bent scored both goals for Halifax in a 7-2 loss in Cape Breton while Maxim Lazarev led the Eagles with 2 goals and 4 points.

OVERALL RECORDS
Eagles: 1-3-0-0 = 2 points (3rd in Maritimes division, 11th overall)
Mooseheads: 1-1-0-0 = 2 points (4th in Maritimes division, 12th overall)

LEADING SCORERS
HAL: Maxime Fortier 4pts (2G & 2A), Arnaud Durandeau 2pts (2G), Beniot-Olivier Groulx 2pts (2G)
CAP: Jordan Ty Fournier 4pts (4G), Tyler Hylland 3pts (1G & 2A), Declan Smith 3pts (3A)

PREVIOUS GAMES
Cape Breton is coming off a 3-2 defeat to the Sea Dogs on Friday night. New captain Olivier Leblanc scored to tie the game at 1 for the Eagles while rookie Kevin Mandolese made 41 saves to take the loss in Saint John.

Halifax is coming off a 4-3 victory in their home opener against Saint John. Rookie Benoit-Olivier Groulx scored his first two career goals to lead the Mooseheads while Kevin Resop took the win stopping 33 of the Sea Dogs 36 shots last Saturday.

NOT DRESSED- n/a

ALUM ON EAGLES - none

HEAD-TO-HEAD
October 1  Cape Breton at Halifax - 7pm
October 28  Halifax at Cape Breton - 7pm
October 29  Cape Breton at Halifax - 7pm
December 10  Halifax at Cape Breton - 7pm
December 30  Halifax at Cape Breton - 7pm
December 31  Cape Breton at Halifax - 2pm
January 17  Halifax at Cape Breton - 7pm
March 3  Halifax at Cape Breton - 7pm
March 17  Cape Breton at Halifax - 7pm

OUT OF TOWN
Olympiques vs. Huskies   5:00pm
Sea Dogs vs. Wildcats   7:00pm
Tigres vs. Foreurs   8:00pm

AFTER THE BUZZER
Halifax will now travel to Charlottetown for their first matchup against the Islanders on Sunday afternoon. Puck drops at 3pm.

Marchand Scores for Canada in WCH Victory

Former Halifax Mooseheads forward Brad Marchand scored the game winner on Thursday night to give Team Canada the trophy at the World Cup of Hockey.

As no surprise to anyone, the Canadians won the tournament but it wasn't as easy as people thought they would win. The team, packed with many stars including Sidney Crosby, Carey Price, Steven Stamkos and Brent Burns, swept the preliminary round to win their group and secure a spot in the semi-finals. In the semis Canada took on the Russians where Marchand scored twice during the match (both being assisted by fellow Scotian Sidney Crosby and fellow Bruin Patrice Bergeron) on to a 5-3 victory. The win moved the Canadians to the finals against Team Europe.

Team Europe was made of players from the other European countries that weren't already in the tournament. The countries included in this team were Latvia, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland. Many were surprised that Team Europe made it to the finals. Their lone loss during the preliminaries was to Canada. In the semis they defeated Sweden in overtime on the back of Tomas Tatar's two goals.

The final was a best of 3 games, meaning a team had to win two out of three games in the last round to win the trophy. Canada came out pretty good with Marchand scoring less than 3 minutes into the first game. The 28 year old than assisted on the last goal of the game on Tuesday night as the red and white won 3-1. On Thursday night Canada got out to a somewhat slow start letting in the first goal of the game and were held scoreless until the last 3 minutes of the game. That's when Bergeron scored to tie the game and the Air Canada Centre erupted with joy. With 44 seconds left in the game Marchand scored a nice wrister in the slot to put Canada up 2-1.

Congratulations to Brad Marchand and Team Canada for proving that hockey is Canada's game and winning the World Cup of Hockey 2016 trophy. Below is a team photo.

Photo - NHL

Moose Win Home Opener

For the first time since 2011, your Halifax Mooseheads have won a home opener. With 7 players out of the lineup the Saint John Sea Dogs just didn't have the fire power to get their first win of the season. The Mooseheads on the other hand got scoring from one of their youngest players as rookie and top overall pick Benoit-Olivier Groulx recorded his first two goals of the season. The night began with the usual home opening pre-game ceremony stuff with the team announcement and a nice moment of silence to remember former captain Dean Stock who passed on Friday. Despite both teams being without their agitators (Kelly Bent for Halifax as aged out while Bokondji Imama is at NHL camp), there was still hatred between the two Maritimes division rivals. Halifax got off to a fast start, scoring a goal 53 seconds into the game, and than with 9 minutes gone a fight broke out that shortened the bench by a few players. The last 40 minutes were less penalized and quicker with a flurry of shots in the last 3 minutes by Saint John. Overall it was an interesting game and gave fans a good look at what is to come.

FINAL: Sea Dogs 3 at Mooseheads 4
Stars: 3. Matthew Highmore SNB | 2. Nico Hischier HAL | 1. Benoit-Olivier Groulx HAL
Attendance: 7,010
MC’s Top Herd: Benoit-Olivier Groulx

GAME LOG
First period
0:53 HAL Cooper Jones (1) | A: Moynihan & Sorrentino
12:51  SNB John Warren (1), PP | A: Veleno & Del Paggio
13:10 SNB Gabriel Bettez (1), PP | A: M. Green & Stewart
14:02 HAL Benoit-Oliver Groulx (1), PP | A: Hischer & Fortier

Second period
11:33 HAL Arnaud Duranuad (2) | A: Ford & Flower

Third period13:53 HAL Benoit-Oliver Groulx (2) | A: Bishop
16:58 SNB Matthew Highmore (2), PP | A: Del Paggio & Bernier

Powerplay: SNB - 3-for-9, HAL - 1-for-7
Shots: 36-27 in favour of the Sea Dogs

SCORESDrakkar 1 at Oceanic 2
Cataracts 2 at Sagueneens 3
Screaming Eagles 1 at Titan 3
Foreurs 5 at Phoenix 4

UP NEXT: Halifax will welcome the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles a week from now at the Scotiabank Centre. Puck drops at 7pm.

GAMEDAY #2: vs. Saint John

GAME PREVIEW
HALIFAX MOOSEHEADS VS SAINT JOHN SEA DOGS
Puck drops at 7:00pm
TV: Webcast | Radio: News 95.7 | Live: @MC_MooseCountry
Scotiabank Centre (10,595) ~ Halifax, NS

The countdown to the home opener has no more days, it's just hours. There's been more than 6 months between home games which is the longest off season in team history. But the wait is over Moose Country, your Halifax Mooseheads are back at the Scotiabank Centre this evening for their 2016-17 home opener. The team's rookies played well in their first regular season game but how will they perform in front of the crowd in Halifax? We'll find out tonight and over the next couple weeks as the Moose play the next 5 of 6 matches at home. Saint John is a team that everyone is pegging once again to make it to the President's Cup final but they're starting the season without 7 of their big guns who are at NHL main camps. With back to back games I expect we'll see rookie goaltender Alexis Gravel get his first start at the Scotiabank Centre.

This is the first matchup between the two teams this season. Last year, Halifax was 2-5-1-0 against the Sea Dogs while Saint John had a 6-2-0-0 record versus the Mooseheads. The last matchup in the 2015-16 season was on February 27, the second game of a home and home series with Saint John taking a 5-1 victory in Halifax. Arnaud Durandeau scored the lone goal for the Mooseheads while Eric Brassard picked up the defeat but made 33 saves. 

OVERALL RECORDS
Sea Dogs: 0-1-0-0 = 0 points (6th in Maritimes division,  17th overall)
Mooseheads: 0-1-0-0 = 0 points (4th in Maritimes division, 12th overall)

LEADING SCORERSHAL: Max Fortier 3pts (2G & 1A), Arnaud Durandau 1pt (1G), Joel Bishop 1pt (1A)
SNB: Matthew Highmore 1pt (1G), Samuel Leblanc 1pt (1G), Daniel Delpagio 1pt (1A)

PREVIOUS GAMES
Saint John is coming off a 6-2 loss to the Islanders in their season opener last night. Veteran Matthew Highmore got the Sea Dogs first goal of the year while Alex Bishop picked up the defeat making 19 saves on 24 shots in Charlottetown's home opener.

Halifax is coming off a 4-3 defeat to the Wildcats on Friday evening. Max Fortier had 2 goals and an assist to lead the Mooseheads in scoring while Kevin Resop was credited with the loss, making 29 saves in Moncton.

NOT DRESSED - Jocktan Chainey (injury), Otto Somppi (NHL camp) & Jordan Lepage (suspension)

ALUM ON SEA DOGS- none

HEAD-TO-HEADSeptember 24  Saint John at Halifax - 7pm
December 16  Halifax at Saint John - 7pm
January 7  Saint John at Halifax - 7pm
January 8  Halifax at Saint John - 3pm
February 3  Saint John at Halifax - 7pm
February 26  Halifax at Saint John - 3pm
March 11  Halifax at Saint John - 7pm
March 18  Saint John at Halifax - 4pm

OUT OF TOWNDrakkar vs. Oceanic   5:00pm
Cataractes vs. Sagueneens   5:00pm
Screaming Eagles vs. Titan   7:00pm
Foreurs vs. Phoenix   8:00pm

AFTER THE BUZZERThe Mooseheads have a week off when on October 1st they welcome their provincial rivals the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles to town. Puck drops at 7pm

GAMEDAY #1: at Moncton

GAME PREVIEW
MONCTON WILDCATS VS HALIFAX MOOSEHEADS
Puck drops at 7:00pm
TV: Webcast | Radio: News 95.7 | Live: @HFXMooseheads
Moncton Coliseum (6,554) ~ Moncton, NB

Welcome to the 2016-17 season Moose Country! Another season is upon us and after a last place finish last year, the Halifax Mooseheads will have some new faces that should make this season very exciting for fans and a better finish than the previous season. The Herd ended the year in 18th place and were able to nab the 1st and 2nd overall picks at the 2016 draft while also selecting the top goalie prospect. Though Halifax might not have the same scoring power as they did during the 2011-12 season (the last time Halifax had a top 2 pick on the team), production should be more spread out with entertaining rookies and sophomores that have the ability to put pucks in the back of the net. Halifax also has a new coach so tonight's matchup will be the first real test of how the new team will work out. They'll be going against a team in the Moncton Wildcats that looks different too, the main departure being Conor Garland who was a thorn in the side of many players. Garland's scoring won't be entirely missed but I'm sure his ability to get under the other team's skin will. Moncton is also without their starting goaltender, Keven Bouchard, who is in Edmonton Oilers camp so rookie Matthew Waite will get the call tonight. Speaking of goalies, it will be interesting to see who Coach Andre Tourigny chooses to start the season with, especially where the Mooseheads will be playing back-to-back games this weekend.

This is the first matchup between the two teams this season. Last year, Halifax was 3-5-1-0 against the Wildcats while Moncton had a 6-3-0-0 record versus the Mooseheads. The last matchup in the regular season between Halifax and Moncton was March 18 where Max Fortier and Otto Somppi each had a goal and 2 assists to help the Mooseheads pick up a 7-4 victory in Wildcats territory. 

OVERALL RECORDSMooseheads: 0-0-0-0, 0pts (T-1st in Maritimes division, T-2nd in league)
Wildcats: 0-0-0-0, 0pts (T-1st in Maritimes division, T-2nd in league)

LEADING SCORERSMON: n/a
HAL: n/a

PREVIOUS GAMES
Halifax is coming off a 5-1 defeat to Cape Breton in the team's last game of the preseason last Friday night. Newcomer Bradley Kennedy scored the lone goal for the Mooseheads while Kevin Resop allowed 4 goals on 11 Screaming Eagles shots before being pulled in the later part of the first period.

Moncton is coming off a 10-2 loss to the Titan in their preseason finale on September 16. Cameron Askew led the Wildcats with 2 points while Matthew Waite and Dominik Tmej split the goaltending duties on home ice against Acadie-Bathurst.

NOT DRESSED - Jocktan Chainey (injury), Otto Somppi (NHL camp) & Jordan Lepage (suspension)

ALUM ON WILDCATS - forward Ilya Putintsev

HEAD-TO-HEAD
September 23  Halifax at Moncton - 7pm
November 18  Halifax at Moncton - 7pm
November 27  Moncton at Halifax - 3pm
December 17  Moncton at Halifax - 7pm
January 3  Halifax at Moncton - 7pm
January 6  Moncton at Halifax - 7pm
February 5  Halifax at Moncton - 4pm
February 20  Moncton at Halifax - 2pm
February 23  Halifax at Moncton - 7pm

OUT OF TOWN
Screaming Eagles vs. Titan   7:00pm
Islanders vs. Sea Dogs   7:00pm
Remparts vs. Sagueneens   8:00pm
Huskies vs. Phoenix   8:30pm
Olympiques vs. Voltigeurs   8:30pm
Cataractes vs. Tigres   8:30pm
Foreurs vs. Armada   8:30pm
Drakkar vs. Oceanic   8:30pm

AFTER THE BUZZER
The Mooseheads will head to Halifax for the team's home opener and will welcome the Saint John Sea Dogs on Saturday night. Puck drops at 7pm.