Around the CHL ~ volume #1 preview edition #8

The Canadian Hockey League regular season begins in two days so to get you ready I thought I would recap how last season went. Check back all year long for more stories about the CHL and your Mooseheads. 

here are last year's leaders:
Division champions 2018-19
WHL - Prince Albert Raiders (East) 68 games played, 54-10-2-2 record, 112 points, 307 goals for/112 goals against; Vancouver Giants (B.C.) 68 games played, 48-15-3-2 record, 101 points, 228 goals for/162 goals against; Everett Silvertips (U.S.) 68 games played, 47-18-2-3 record, 99 points, 223 goals for/130 goals against; Edmonton Oil Kings (Central) 68 games played, 42-18-4-4 record, 92 points, 259 goals for/198 goals against
OHL - Ottawa 67's (East) 68 games played, 50-2-4-2 record, 106 points, 296 goals for/183 goals against; London Knights (Midwest) 68 games played, 46-15-6-1 record, 99 points, 299 goals for/211 goals against; Saginaw Spirit (West) 68 games played, 45-17-3-3 record, 96 points, 294 goals for/218 goals against; Niagara IceDogs (Central) 68 games played, 44-17-7-0 record, 95 points, 326 goals for/209 goals against
QMJHL - Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (West) 68 games played, 59-8-0-1 record, 119 points, 320 goals for/138 goals against; Drummondville Voltiguers (Central) 68 games, 52-13-2-1 record, 107 points, 338 goals for/173 goals against; Halifax Mooseheads (Maritimes) 68 games played, 49-15-2-2 record, 102 points, 300 goals for/164 goals against; Baie-Comeau Drakkar (East) 68 games played, 49-15-2-2 record, 102 points, 306 goals for/189 goals against

League championships 2019
President's Cup - Rouyn-Noranda Huskies vs. Halifax Mooseheads  (Huskies won series 4 games to 2 games)
J. Ross Robertson Cup - Ottawa 67's vs. Guelph Storm (Storm won series 4 games to 2 games)
Ed Chynoweth Cup - Prince Albert Raiders vs. Vancouver Giants (Raiders won series 4 games to 3 games)

Memorial Cup 2019
Teams - Guelph (OHL champion), Halifax (hosts), Prince Albert (WHL champion), Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL champion)

Final May 26, 2019 Halifax vs. Rouyn-Noranda 4-2

ROUYN-NORANDA HUSKIES WIN 2019 MEMORIAL CUP!!!


Team changes
The Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League were relocated to Manitoba and named the Winnipeg Ice. The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles were renamed the Cape Breton Eagles. 

Rouyn-Noranda will look to repeat as Memorial Cup champions. This year the Memorial Cup will be held in Kelowna, home of the Kelowna Rockets who will be in the tournament no matter what. Prospects will look to continue impressing scouts as some will be eligible to be invited to World Junior camps in early December, which might include a few Halifax Mooseheads. The 2020 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects game will be hosted by the Hamilton Bulldogs on January 16.

#Our18: Halifax Mooseheads

The QMJHL has been doing some previews of each of their 18 clubs this month and today was finally our Halifax Mooseheads turn. The biggest headline for this year's team is that they are now out of the spotlight of being Memorial Cup hosts but should still be competitive and they have a new head coach.

From QMJHL.ca

The Halifax Mooseheads captivated the national junior hockey stage last spring. After coming within two games of a President Cup title and two periods of a Memorial Cup championship, the current edition of the club should remain competitive while taking the first steps towards reaching those lofty heights once again.

Last year saw the Moose capture the Eastern Conference crown on the final day of the regular season thanks to a 49-win, 102-point campaign. Though a veteran-laden squad, no less than a dozen players from that roster will make their way back to Halifax to start the year.

Up front, this includes Anaheim Ducks prospect and former first-overall QMJHL selection Benoit-Olivier Groulx. He’ll be joined by 2019 Edmonton Oilers draftee Raphael Lavoie and overager Maxim Trepanier. 2018 QMJHL first rounder Samuel Dube will embark on his first full season in the “Q” while Belgian Senna Peeters makes his debut after being selected in the 2019 CHL Import Draft.

On the back end, four players from last year’s squad will be in the lineup. Detroit Red Wings prospect Jared McIsaac, still recovering from off-season shoulder surgery, will likely miss much of the first half of the season. On opening night, 2020 NHL Draft prospect Justin Barron and 20-year-olds Walter Flower and Patrick Kyte should be ready to go. Joining them will be Jason Horvath, acquired from the Shawinigan Cataractes during training camp, as well as Cameron Whynot, picked up from Sherbrooke in the off-season after being drafted 9^thoverall by the Phoenix at the 2019 QMJHL Draft. Between the pipes, the tandem of Alexis Gravel and Cole McLaren is back to hold down the fort for a second consecutive year after allowing just 164 regular season goals in 2018-19. 

Overseeing all of this is a new head coach, the franchise’s fifth in as many years. Former NHL defenseman and QMJHL Hall of Famer Jean-Jacques Daigneault will be tasked with guiding this transitioning Mooseheads squad.

Although the spotlight will not shine quite as bright on the Mooseheads this season, make no mistake; this year’s edition should be more than capable of holding its own against the rest of the league.

2018-2019 Mooseheads Stats:
Team Record               49-15-2-2 - 102 points
Division Ranking        1st Maritimes
Conference Ranking   1st Eastern
League Ranking          3rd
Home Record              25-5-2-2
Away Record               24-10-0-0
GF                               300
GA                              164
PP (Overall)                (69/246) 28.0%
PK (Overall)               (39/270) 85.6%
Leading Rookie (Pts)  Barinka (7-11-18)
Leading Scorers (Pts)  Asselin (48-38-86)
                                     Groulx (31-49-80)
                                     Durandeau (38-35-73)
                                     Lavoie (32-41-73)
                                     Morand (22-48-70)
2019 Playoffs              *Lost in final (2-4 vs. ROU)



Forward Benoit-Olivier Groulx, rookie defenceman Cameron Whynot and head coach Jean-Jacques Daigneault preview the upcoming season.

Top 5 Plays of 2018-2019

STATS SUNDAY: Pre-season

Games Played: 6
Record: 3-3-0-0, 6pts
Scores*: 1-3, 2-4, 4-3, 4-2, 5-3, 3-4
Goals for/against: 19 / 19
Powerplay: 25.8%
Penalty kill: 80.6%
Shutouts: none

Top 3 leading scorers
Points: Senna Peeters (8pts), Marcel Barinka (8pts), Samuel Dube (4pts)
Goals: Senna Peeters (6G), Samuel Dube (2G), Patrick Kyte (2G)
Assists: Marcel Barinka (7A), Justin Barron (3A), Said Abi-Faycal (3A)
Penalty Minutes: Jason Horvath (15 mins), Kyle Petten (11 mins), Joel Bishop (10 mins)
Plus/Minus: Patrick Kyte (+5), Cole Foston (+4), Justin Barron (+2)
Rookie Scoring: Senna Peeters (8pts), Said Abi-Faycal (4pts), Jeffrey Burridge (2pts)

Goaltending Stats:
Jonathan Pickrem: 0-0-0-0   2.07 GAA%   0.926 SAV%
Cole McLaren: 2-2-0-0   3.44 GAA%   0.914 SAV%

*Mooseheads score is first

Pre-season Game vs. Moncton

Opponent: Moncton Wildcats
Where: Halifax Forum
When: September 13, 2019
Time: 7:00pm
Tickets: $11.00

Moncton Wildcats
Preseason record: 1-5-0-0, 2pts
Goals for: 18
Goals against: 27
Head coach: John Torchetti
Scoring leader: Dominic Leblanc (3G&2A)
Leading goaltender: Giovacchino DiMattia (0.964 SAV%)

Halifax Mooseheads
Preseason record: 3-2-0-0, 6pts
Goals for: 16
Goals against: 15
Head coach: J.J. Daigneault
Scoring leader: Senna Peeters (4G&2A)
Leading goaltender: Cole McLaren (0.927 SAV%)

Notes

• Halifax announced that they have signed free agent Brendan Tomilson. He will be in the lineup tonight 
• Walter Flower is the lone player returning to the club from NHL camps meaning that the Mooseheads have had to make some call-ups 
• This is the final pre-season game for both teams and the second game of a home & home 

10 Games You Got To See

We are just a week away from the start of the 2019-20 regular season so I thought I would let you know the ten Halifax Mooseheads games I think you should see.

September 27 vs. Charlottetown Islanders - Our Halifax Mooseheads will kick off a new quarter century when they host the Islanders in the 2019-20 home opener.
October 10 vs. Saint John Sea Dogs - It's the first time Moose Country will get to see the first overall pick in the most recent QMJHL draft; Joshua Roy live. Plus games against the Sea Dogs have been entertaining the last number of seasons.
October 19 vs. Cape Breton Eagles - The annual Pink in the Rink event will hit Scotiabank Centre on this day when provincial rivals come in to town, bring some cash to get raffle tickets. We'll also see the Eagles' new uniforms.
November 8 vs. Drummondville Voltigeurs - Come make the men and women who fight for our country feel appreciated on DND appreciation night as the team wears special themed Navy jerseys. 
December 13 vs. Charlottetown Islanders - The annual Teddy Bear Toss game is a great way to donate stuffed animals to kids who are not as fortunate. 
December 28 vs. Cape Breton Eagles - Halifax will host the opening game of the Hurley Cup.

January 10 vs. Chicoutimi Sagueneens - Gatineau, QC native Hendrix Lapierre, who is projected to go in the top 3 at the 2020 NHL draft will make his lone visit to Moose Country on this date.
February 9 vs. Sherbrooke Phoenix - Former Herd forward Xavier Parent makes his return to Scotiabank Centre after getting traded to Sherbrooke during the summer and will hope to help his new team beat his old one.
February 22 vs. Rouyn-Noranda Huskies - The 2019 QMJHL President's Cup final was one for the ages and the two clubs that were in it will meet for a rematch where it all ended on February 22.
March 21 vs. Moncton Wildcats - It's fan appreciation night. 

Tickets On Sale Tomorrow

The 2019-20 QMJHL regular season is around the corner and tickets for all 34 home games will go on sale to the general public tomorrow (Sept 13) at 11am. 

Fans can buy tickets in different ways, just as in the past; the Scotiabank Centre Box Office, by phone at 902-421-1221, online at www.ticketatlantic.com and select Superstores plus the Mooseheads Shop in Scotia Square. 

The walk-up prices are set up differently than last season. Here are the prices:
                                   Gold              Red           Green
Adults                        $23.00         $20.00         $19.00
Senior*                      $20.00         $17.00         $16.00   
Student                      $14.00         $12.00        $10.00
Youth**                      $12.00         $10.00         $8.00

*Seniors 60 and older
**Youth 12 years and under


All taxes included in prices

There is a service charge when buying tickets by phone, online or at the Superstore.

Halifax starts their season on the road on September 20th at 7pm by visiting the Saint John Sea Dogs.

NHL Rookie Tournaments

Rookie camps for National Hockey League teams will get underway this week with many former and current Halifax Mooseheads players on the rosters.

Photo - Blues website

A few teams host prospect tournaments. One such event is in Traverse City, Michigan which is hosted by the Detroit Red Wings. After being drafted by the Wings in 2017, Jared McIsaac will attend their camp but will be there just to learn and get stronger as he had surgery on his shoulder a few months ago and is still recovering. The Traverse City Prospects Tournament will also see former players Keith Getson (New York Rangers), Maxime Fortier (Columbus Blue Jackets) and Jake Ryczek (Chicago Blackhawks) as well as current players Alexis Gravel (Chicago Blackhawks) and Walter Flower (St. Louis Blues). It will take place September 6-10 with the 8 teams split into two groups.

Other players invited to rookie camps:
Antoine Morand - Anaheim Ducks
Benoit-Olivier Groulx - Anaheim Ducks
Cody Donaghey - Tampa Bay Lightning
Maxim Trepanier - Ottawa Senators
Ostap Safin - Edmonton Oilers
Otto Somppi - Tampa Bay Lightning
Raphael Lavoie - Edmonton Oilers
Samuel Asselin - Boston Bruins


Good luck to all the players! Check back next week to see who has been asked to stay for main training camps.