Non-Call Loses Moose the Game

A non-call in the overtime period was the deciding factor in the Halifax Mooseheads game against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada on Sunday evening. Less than a minute into extra time, Anthony Poulin put a rebound into a partial empty net to get the win for the away team seconds after the referees decided not to call a penalty for too many men on Blainville. The Armada had control of the puck while they were about to change players which the whole Mooseheads bench were screaming was too many men and while it was initially called a penalty by linesman Chris Ivanko, the other black & white stripes overturned his call. Arnaud Durandeau got the home team on the board first, a little over 9 minutes into the 1st period scoring a goal on the power play. Two minutes later Blainville tied it up on the power play. It was back and fourth in the second period and Durandeau put the good guys in front again close to the end of the frame. In the third it was an exciting period with lots of chances, pretty good saves and five goals.

FINAL: Armada 5 at Mooseheads 4OT
Stars: 3. Joel Bishop HAL | 2. Joel Teasdale BLB | 1. Arnaud Durandeau HAL
Attendance: 5,007
MC's Top Herd: Arnaud Durandeau

GAME LOG
First period
9:25 HAL Arnaud Durandeau (3), PP | A: Zadina & Groulx
11:4 BLB Anthony Poulin (3), PP | A: Paquette-Bisson & Hladonik

Second period
16:16 HAL Arnaud Durandeau (4) | A: Crossley & Kyte

Third period
1:34 BLB Joel Teasdale (3) | A: Bramwell
4:46 BLB Thomas Ethier (2) | A; Poulin
9:33 HAL Xavier Parent (2) | A: Bishop & McIsaac
12:33 HAL Benoit-Olivier Groulx (4) | A: Fortier & Durandeau
12:49 BLB Joel Teasdale (4) | A: Crete-Belzile & DaSilva

Overtime
0:57 BLB Anthony Poulin | A: Katerinakis & Crete-Belzile

Powerplay: BLB - 2-for-4, HAL - 1-for-5
Shots: 30-29 in favour for Blainville

MISSING IN ACTION - Walter Flower, Otto Somppi and Jordan Lepage were out with injuries

SCORES
Quebec 0 at Acadie-Bathurst 3
Cape Breton 4 at Drummondville 5
Moncton 3 at Rimouski 4 OT
Victoriaville 5 at Sherbrooke 4
Val-d'Or 3 at Gatineau 5
Chicoutimi 5 at Shawinigan 0

UP NEXT: Halifax will go on the road now for a matchup against the Wildcats in Moncton on Wednesday. Puck drops at 7pm.

GAMEDAY #7: vs. Blainville-Boisbriand

GAME PREVIEW

HALIFAX MOOSEHEADS VS BLAINVILLE-BOISBRIAND ARMADA
Puck drops at 7pm
TV: Webcast | Radio: News 95.7 | Live: @MC_MooseCountry
Scotiabank Centre (10,595) ~ Halifax, NS

It's fridge magnet day in Moose Country. The first 4000 fans will receive a customized Mooseheads schedule magnet. It expects to be an entertaining game with the two teams very close in the standings along with getting the first and only look at the Armada for the season until the Mooseheads travel to Blainville at the end of the month. As we saw on Friday night with the tight play from both teams it is something that you would expect again today as all teams are expected to be very close this year. After the hard fought battle on Friday night it showed the team that they can play with the top dogs in the league and it is going to be a fun year in Moose Country. Come out and support the Herd before you go and have your Thanksgiving feasts as they finish up this four game home stand.

OVERALL RECORDS
Armada: 4-1-0-0 = 8 points (2nd in West division, 5th overall)
Mooseheads: 4-1-1-0 = 9 points (2nd in Maritimes division, 4th overall)

LEADING SCORERS
HAL: Maxime Fortier 9pts (5G & 4A), Filip Zadina 9pts (4G & 5A), Arnaud Durandeau 6pts (2G & 4A)
BLB: Anthony Poulin 6pts (2G & 4A), Alexandre Alain 5pts (3G & 2A), Alexander Katerinakis 5pts (2G & 3A)

PREVIOUS GAMES
Blainville-Boisbriand is coming off of an 8-1 win over the Saint John Sea Dogs last night at Harbour Station. Alexander Katerinakis scored two goals and added two assists to lead the Armada. Emile Samson stopped 27 of 28 shots faced.

Halifax is coming off of a 3-2 OT loss to the Quebec Remparts on home ice Friday night. Filip Zadina and Max Fortier scored for the Moose as well as Blade Mann-Dixon stopped 22 of 25 shots faced.

NOT DRESSED – Walter Flower, Jordan Lepage and Otto Somppi are out with injuries.

ALUM ON ARMADA
None

HEAD-TO-HEAD
October 8  Blainville at Halifax - 3pm
October 20  Halifax at Blainville - 8:30pm

OUT OF TOWN
Remparts at Titan    3:00pm
Screaming Eagles at Voltigeurs    4:00pm
Wildcats at Oceanic    4:00pm
Tigres at Pheonix    4:00pm
Foreurs at Olympiques    5:00pm
Sagueneens at Cataractes    5:00pm

AFTER THE BUZZER
The Mooseheads will travel to Moncton to take in the Wildcats for the first matchup of the season.

Moose Lose Close One to Remparts

Photo - Mooseheads website

It was t-shirt night in Moose Country where the first 3,000 fans received a commemorative shirt. Along with that, it promised to be a very good game with high intensity, it showed to be a playoff-like atmosphere with the two teams. The first period ended in a scoreless tie which saw your moose outshooting the Rempart. In the second the young moose came out and outplayed the Rempart and about midway through the second Filip Zadina puts the home team on top by one, but before the period ends Quebec storms back and ties it up to take it to intermission knotted at one. In the third captain, Max Fortier brought the 7000 plus fans to their feet as he scores to give the moose the 2-1 lead, but as happened in the second the Rempart stormed back to tie it up to take the game to overtime. In overtime, there were plenty of chances on each side but it eventually ended with 1:10 remaining in the OT period Jesse Sutton of the Rempart scored to give the visitors the win. Even in the loss the team played a really hard game and showed that they can play with the top dogs.

FINAL: Remparts 3 at Mooseheads 2
Stars: 3. Barrett Dachyshyn HAL | 2. Maxime Fortier HAL | 1. Jesse Sutton QUE
Attendance: 7,005
MC’s Top Herd: Blade Mann-Dixon 

GAME LOG
First period
None

Second period
3:38 HAL Filip Zadina (4) | A: Fortier & Durandeau
16:59 QUE Olivier Mathieu (2) | A: Coxhead

Third period
7:27 HAL Maxime Fortier (5) | A: Barbosa & Groulx
14:47 QUE Louis-Philipe Cote (1) | A: Boucher & Gagne

Overtime
3:48 QUE Jesse Sutton (1) | A: Boucher & Verrette

Powerplay: QUE – 0-for-6, HAL – 0-for-3
Shots: 33-25 in favour of Halifax

MISSING IN ACTION – Walter Flower (injured), Otto Somppi (injured), Jordan Lepage (injured)

UP NEXT: Halifax will host the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada on Sunday afternoon. Puck drops at 3pm.

 

9 Alum on NHL Opening Rosters

Hockey is back in case you didn't know. The National Hockey League began on Wednesday and there are nine players who have played for the Mooseheads in the past on opening night rosters. Some affiliate clubs have announced their rosters while the lowest tier in the professional leagues are still doing training camps but most will most likely make the teams anyways. Below you will find a list of where the alumni are playing this season in North America and Europe.

Konrad Abeltshauser	EHC Munchen, DEL
Brent Andrews	UPEI Panthers, CIS
Darcy Ashley	UPEI Panthers, CIS
Frederic Aube	McGill Redmen, CIS
Pierre-Olivier Beaulieu	Trois-Rivieres Draveurs, LNAH
Brandon Benefdict	Belfest Giants, EIHL
Kelly Bent	Dalhousie Tigers, CIS
Jessyko Bernard	Pensacola Ice Flyers, SPHL
Marc-Andre Bernier	Sorel-Tracy Eperviers, LNAH
Dominik Blain-Dupuis	Gatineau Flames, QJAAAHL
Andrew Bodnarchuk	Texas Stars, AHL
Matthew Boudreau	Jonquiere Marquis, LNAH
Jonathan Boutin	Augsburger Panther, DEL
Eric Brassard	Saint Mary's Huskies, CIS
David Brine	Medvescak Zagreb, EBEL
Lester Brown	Watertown Wolves, FHL
Frederik Cabana	Bietigheim Stellers, DEL2
Mathieu Charlebois	Gatineau Olympiques, QMJHL
Garrett Clarke	Indy Fuel, ECHL
Mathieu Corbeil	HK SKP Poprad, Slovakia
Jake Coughler	Saint Mary's Huskies, CIS
Cameron Critchlow	Jacksonville IceMen, ECHL
Brad Cuzner	Karhu HT, Suomi-sarja
Marc-Olivier Daigle	Grant MacEwan College Grffins, CCAA
Gabriel Desjardins	Fort Wayne Komets, ECHL
Simon Desmarais	Saint-Georges COOL-FM, LNAH
Cody Donaghey	Brampton Beast, ECHL
Jonathan Drouin	Montreal Canadiens, NHL
Nikolaj Ehlers	Winnipeg Jets, NHL
Cavan Fitzgerald	San Jose Barracuda, AHL
Taylor Ford	Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, QMJHL
Stefan Fournier	Brampton Beast, ECHL
Martin Frk	Detroit Red Wings, NHL
Zachary Fucale	Laval Rocket, AHL
Philippe Gadoury	Brampton Beast, ECHL
Randy Gazzola	UNB Varsity Reds, CIS
Nicholas Gibson	Royal Military College Paladins, CIS
Stephen Gillard	Saint Mary's Huskies, CIS
Keigan Goetz	Waterloo Warriors, CIS
Gerrad Grant	Wichita Thunder, ECHL
Alexandre Grenier	Springfield Thunderbirds, AHL
Austyn Hardie	Saint Mary's Huskies, CIS
Nico Hischier	New Jersey Devils, NHL
Milan Jurcina	Nurnberg Ice Tigers, DEL
Bradley Kennedy	Mount Royal Cougars, CIS
Jordan King	Amherst Ramblers, MJAHL
Tomas Knotek	BK Mlada Boleslav, Czech
Trey Lewis	UNB Varsity Reds, CIS
Max Lindsay	Toronto Varsity Blues, CIS
Brian Lovell	Waterloo Maroons, LHSAAAQ
Jesse Lussier	Dalhousie Tigers, CIS
Ben MacAskill	South China Sharks, CIHL HK
Stephen MacAulay	Chicago Wolves, AHL
Bradley MacDonald	Laurentian Voyageurs, CIS
Nathan MacKinnon	Colorado Avalanche, NHL
Logan MacMillan	ASC Corona Brasov, Erste Liga
Brad Marchand	Boston Bruins, NHL
Timo Meier	San Jose Sharks, NHL
Spencer Metcalfe	Cincinnati Cyclones, ECHL
Daniel Moynihan	Utica Comets, AHL
Matt Murphy	UNB Varsity Reds, CIS
Ladislav Nagy	HC Kosice, Slovakia
Morgan Nauss	Chicoutimi Sagueneens, QMJHL
Adam Nolan	Valley Wildcats, MJAHL
Gabriel O'Connor	Caen, France2
Shawn O'Donnell	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, AHL
Makail Parker	Valley Wildcats, MJAHL
Pier-Olivier Pelletier	Sorel-Tracy Eperviers, LNAH
Alexandre Picard	Dusseldorfer EG, DEL
Frederic Piche	Jonquiere Marquis, LNAH
Ilya Putintsev	Altay Ust-Kamenogorsk, MHL
Kevin Resop	Truro Bearcats, MJAHL
Caleb Rich	Amherst Ramblers, MJAHL
Giulio Scandella	Asiago, AlpsHL
Jimmy Sharrow	Grizzlys Wolfsburg, DEL
Andrew Shewfelt	Dalhousie Tigers, CIS
Anthony Sorrentino	Wilfred Laurier Golden Hawks, CIS
Daniel Sparre	Adler Mannheim, DEL
Jan Steber	MH Automatyka Gdansk, Poland
Jan Stransky	Bill Tygri Liberec, Czech
Bryce Swan	Riviere-du-Loup 3L, LNAH
Jean-Sebastien Taillefer	Concordia Stingers, CIS
Zachary Taylor	Dalhousie Tigers, CIS
Jakub Voracek	Philadelphia Flyers, NHL
Petr Vrana	HC Sparta Praha, Czech
Mackenzie Weegar	Florida Panthers, NHL

Herd Word

EHLERS
Well congratulations are in order for one former Halifax Moosehead. Nikolaj Ehlers, 21, was signed to an extension on Wednesday by the Winnipeg Jets, the team announced. Ehlers is going into his third NHL season with the Jets and this will be the last year in his entry level contract. Over the course of two years in the professional leagues, Nik has 102 points in 154 games played, which includes 40 goals. The Aalborg, Denmark native was awarded a 7 year contract extension worth 42 million dollars.

Nik and the Jets start the 2017-18 season tonight hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs.
https://twitter.com/NHLJets/status/915613944802398216

CSS RATINGS
With the National Hockey League regular season about to begin, the Central Scouting Services announced their players to watch this year. On the list are four Halifax Mooseheads players currently on the team. Each player is given a rating; A is for players projected to go in the first round, while 2nd and 3rd rounders projected players are rated B and C ratings are those young men projected to go in the 4th rounds or later. There are 4 QMJHL players, Joe Veleno of the Saint John Sea Dogs and our own Benoit-Olivier Groulx, Jared McIsaac and Filip Zadina. Herd goaltender Alexis Gravel is among 10 Q players with a B rating.

For the full list click here.

TOP 10 RANKINGS
This evening, the Canadian Hockey League and BMO released the second regular season top 10 rankings. Halifax stayed in the top ten while a few teams made big jumps in the rankings after starting their seasons 4-0-0-0.

Week 2's CHL Top 10
1. Victoriaville Tigres (4-0-0-0) last week: 2
2. Owen Sound Attack (2-0-0-1) last week: 3
3. Moose Jaw Warriors (4-0-0-0) last week: -
4. Quebec Remparts (4-0-0-0) last week: -
5. Victoria Royals (4-0-0-0) last week: -
6. Portland Winterhawks (2-1-0-0) last week: 4
7. Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (2-1-0-0) last week: 5
8. Kelowna Rockets (2-0-0-1) last week: 7
9. Halifax Mooseheads (4-1-0-0) last week: 8
10. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (3-1-1-0) last week: 10

Honourable mention: Flint Firebirds (3-0-0-0), Swift Current Broncos (3-0-0-0), Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (4-1-0-0)

OPENING NIGHT DEBUTS

Photo - Mooseheads website

A few alumni will be making debuts this week. There are 3 former players set to make their opening night debut when the NHL season begins on Wednesday. While all three have already made their NHL debut, none have been on the opening night roster for their respective teams. Timo Meier will start the season tonight when the San Jose Sharks host the Philadelphia Flyers. Meier had the unfortunate situtian last year when he got mono and had to rehab with the AHL's Barracuda. It was also announced earlier this week that Martin Frk and Mackenzie Weegar, who both helped the Moose win a Memorial Cup in 2013, have made their big clubs after spending the majority of 2016-17 in the American Hockey League. Frk had a strong pre-season with the Detroit Red Wings and will open up the season with the Wings on his birthday tomorrow when they host the Minnesota Wild. Weegar will have to wait a little longer to make his opening night debut as the Florida Panthers travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Lightning on Friday. Good luck to all 3 guys this year, Moose Country will be cheering you on hoping you stay in the NHL all year long.

UPCOMING GAMES
Your Halifax Mooseheads continue their homestand this weekend when they play their first games against Quebec teams. The undefeated Quebec Remparts come to town on Friday evening for t-shirt night, a match that can also be seen on Eastlink. On Sunday, Halifax will host the Blainville-Boisbraind Armada in another afternoon game. I'll have tweets from both games and be sure to follow on Instagram as well for pictures and videos.

Mann-Dixon Shuts The Door

Blade Mann-Dixon was a brick wall on Sunday afternoon against the Charlottetown Islanders. The 20 year old goaltender made 31 saves to pick up his first shutout of the season and the only one he's had in a Mooseheads jersey. Mann-Dixon and the Herd handed the Islanders it's 4th loss of the year, taking a 3-0 score away from Scotiabank Centre. Just like last night, Halifax got on the board first with a goal by Raphael Lavoie who put a nice wrister past Matthew Welsh. It was a physical game including a few fights involving captain Maxime Fortier and lots of hitting. There was even a brawl pretty late in the third period that will most likely result in some suspensions by the league. Talking about suspensions, Connor Moynihan received a last minute suspension for his hit on Antoine Morand on Saturday evening. No word on how long he'll be out though. The Mooseheads and Isles had a goal not count although the one from Charlottetown didn't actually go in the net while Halifax's was called back because of offside. Not since the championship season have the Mooseheads begun the season with a 4-1-0-0 record.

FINAL: Islanders 0 at Mooseheads 3
Stars: 3. Keith Getson BAT | 2. Xavier Parent HAL | 1. Blade Mann-Dixon HAL
Attendance: 5,438
MC's Top Herd: Blade Mann-Dixon

GAME LOG
First period
13:11 HAL Raphael Lavoie (2) | A: Zadina & Durandeau

Second period
17:52 HAL Joel Bishop (1), PP | A: Chainey & Lavoie

Third period
17:24 HAL Benoit-Olivier Groulx (3), EN | A: Chainey

Powerplay: CHA - 0-for-4; HAL - 1-for-5
Shots: 31-25 in favour of Charlottetown

MISSING IN ACTION- Jordan Lepage (injured), Otto Somppi (injured), Connor Moynihan (suspended), Walter Flower (injured)

SCORES
Saint John 3 at Cape Breton 1
Shawinigan 2 at Rimouski 6
Baie-Comeau 4 at Sherbrooke 3 SO

UP NEXT: Halifax continues their home stand on Friday night when they host the Quebec Remparts. Puck drops at 7pm.

STATS SUNDAY: September

Games played: 4
Record: 3-1-0-0, 6pts
Goals for/against: 14/11
Powerplay*: 40%
Penalty kill*: 90.5%
Shutouts: none

Top 5 leading scorers
Points: Maxime Fortier 7, Filip Zadina 7, Arnaud Durandeau 4, Benoit-Olivier Groulx 3, Raphael Lavoie 3
Goals: Maxime Fortier 4, Filip Zadina 3, Arnaud Durandeau 2, Benoit-Olivier Groulx 2, Xavier Parent 1
Assists: Filip Zadina 4, Maxime Fortier 3, Justin Barron 3, Jared MacIssac 3, Raphael Lavoie 2
Penalty minutes: Connor Moynihan 9, Jocktan Chainey 6, Xavier Parent 6, Jared MacIssac 6, Arnaud Durandeau 6
Plus/minus: Jocktan Chainey +4, Raphael Lavoie +3, Justin Barron +2, Filip Zadina +1, Maxime Fortier E
Rookie scoring: Filip Zadina 7pts, Justin Barron 3pts, Xavier Parent 1pt, Patrick Kyte 1pt, Kyle Petten 0

Goaltending stats*
Blade Mann-Dixon: 1-0-0-0    2.00 GAA     0.939 SAV%
Alexis Gravel: 2-1-0-0    2.68 GAA     0.905 SAV%