PLAYOFF GAME #10: at Moncton

PREVIEW

MONCTON WILDCATS VS HALIFAX MOOSEHEADS

Game Three of Round Two

Avenir Centre (8,800) ~ Moncton, NB

Halifax leads series 2-0

MONCTON - What a series this has been so far! With two games done, your Halifax Mooseheads have a 2-0 series lead heading to Moncton for Game 3 which will be played tonight. For the most part, the Herd have played well defensively in the first couple of matches at home but they will have to continue that and come out strong this evening if they want to get a victory. Francis Leclerc has been great for the Wildcats and they'll be looking to him to help force a Game 5. A bit of news came out late last night as it was made official that Alexander Khovanov was suspended for one game after a cross-check on Joel Bishop after the final buzzer had gone in Saturday evening's match which caused a scrum before the Mooseheads could celebrate their win. Moncton's defenceman Gabriel Sylvestre was also suspended for inappropriate gestures made towards the Moose Country fans. So it is a great opportunity for Halifax to put a offensive game together and take a 3 to nothing series lead. Either way, it should be an interesting one tonight as there has been quite a bit of hatred in every game played between these two clubs. If you head to New Brunswick, cheer loud and proud for those of us who can not. Go Moose Go!

PLAYOFF SERIES
Game 1  Apr 5  Wildcats 3 at Mooseheads 5
Game 2  Apr 6 Wildcats 2 at Mooseheads 3
Game 3  Apr 9  Mooseheads at Wildcats
Game 4  Apr 10  Mooseheads at Wildcats
*Game 5  Apr 12  Wildcats at Mooseheads
*Game 6  Apr 14  Mooseheads at Wildcats
*Game 7  Apr 16  Wildcats at Mooseheads

NOT DRESSED - Benoit-Olivier Groulx (sick), Cole Stewart (injured)

NOTES

• Francis Leclerc has the 4th best save percentage in the league
• Halifax will have a number of healthy scratches
• Raphael Lavoie leads the league in scoring with 18 points and was named the player of the week in the Q

OUT OF TOWN
Cape Breton vs. Rimouski - 7:00pm
Victoriaville vs. Rouyn-Norand - 8:00pm

NEXT GAME - The two teams will meet again tomorrow night in Moncton for Game 4. Puck drops at 7pm.

Lavoie Scores Two in Game 2

Game Two Recap

HAL leads series 2-0

Our Halifax Mooseheads seem to have found their groove and lead their round two series 2-0 after a 3-2 victory over the Moncton Wildcats on Saturday night. Raphael Lavoie kept his hot hand going as he scored his 10th of the post-season just 6:44 into the match. Less than 7 minutes later, the 6-foot-4 forward added another to give the home team a 2-0 lead after the first period. The teams traded goals in the middle frame as Mika Cyr scored his 5th in the playoffs with 12:40 to go in the second to make it 3-1 on a short handed opportunity. You could tell these two clubs don't like each other and Alexander Khavanov was a pest like he always is. Alexis Anttalainen made the almost nine thousand nervous when he got a wobbly puck over Alex Gravel to close the gap to a goal with less than 3 minutes to go. Khavanov caused some trouble at the buzzer by slashing a Moosehead player and received a 5 minute major and a game misconduct. Should be a couple of good games in Moncton. If you go up cheer for our boys loud!

FINAL: Wildcats 2 at Mooseheads 3

Stars: 3. Aleksi Anttalainen MON | 2. Jocktan Chainey HAL | 1. Raphael Lavoie HAL

Attendance: 8,902

GAME LOG
First period
6:44 HAL Raphael Lavoie (10) | A: Asselin
13:26 HAL Raphael Lavoie (11) | A: Morand

Second period 
2:10 HAL Jocktan Chainey (2) | A: Trepanier & Durandeau
7:20 MON Mika Cyr (5), SH | A: Sylvestre

Third period
17:13 MON Aleksi Anttalainen (1) | A: None

Powerplay: MON - 0-for-2; HAL - 0-for-4
Shots: 30-29 in favour of Moncton

SCORES
Voltigeurs 7 vs. Phoenix 1
Huskies 3 vs. Tigres 1

UP NEXT - The two teams will meet in Moncton on Tuesday night for Game 3. Puck drops at 7pm.

Schedule for Round 2

The Halifax Mooseheads and Moncton Wildcats will renew their rivalry when they hit the ice for round two starting tomorrow night.

The QMJHL announced the full schedule for the second round yesterday. Moncton played the upset role in the opening round, defeating the Eastern Conference 2nd place Baie-Comeau Drakkar in seven games. Halifax had a hard time despersing the Quebec Remparts, winning also in 7. This will most likely end up being another tight series and really could go either way. Since the two teams are only 3 hours away, we'll have the normal 2-2-1-1-1 series format.

Find the schedule of the Wildcats-Mooseheads series below:

Game 1  Friday April 5 @ 7:00pm at Scotiabank Centre
Game 2  Saturday April 6 @ 7:00pm at Scotiabank Centre
Game 3  Tuesday April 9 @ 7:00pm at Avenir Centre
Game 4  Wednesday April 10 @ 7:00pm at Avenir Centre
*Game 5  Friday April 12 @ 7:00pm at Scotiabank Centre
*Game 6  Sunday April 14 @ 4:00pm at Avenir Centre
*Game 7  Tuesday April 16 @ 7:00pm at Scotiabank Centre

*if necessary

Single game tickets for Games 1 and 2 went on sale this morning and can be purchased at select Superstore outlets, Ticket Atlantic Box Office or charge by phone 902-451-1221.

Mooseheads Hold On For Series Win

Game 7 victory celebration
Photo - Ashley Hennigar

We're off to round two baby! It shouldn't have taken seven games but your Halifax Mooseheads officially eliminated the Quebec Remparts on Tuesday evening with a 3-1 victory. After losing the first two matches on home ice, the Mooseheads won 4 of the next five to get the series victory. Right from the opening puck drop, the over 8,000 fans in attendance were taunting Remparts head coach Patrick Roy, who has been very unhappy with goal calls seemingly being biased to the Herd and is just generally an interesting bench boss, with PATRICK chants. Quebec had the puck more often in the first 10 minutes and were able to get on the board first with a marker from Sam Dunn. The 20-year-old was a thorn in Arnaud Durandeau's back later in the third period, holding him and cross checking him but the referees just let the two teams play. Maxim Trepanier has been dominate since he returned from injury and he picked up his third goal of the post-season with just under 6 minutes remaining in the first to square the score. Jocktan Chainey broke the even game with a nice goal which was the second one of the match that Roy asked to be reviewed. Halifax played a pretty good defensive game in the final frame to hold the Remparts off the score sheet but there were a few minutes were the away team had some good pressure, especially during their power play in the third period. The Herd extended their lead late in the game and with 30 seconds left, the Moose Country faithful knew that it was over and stood cheering for the final moments plus the team celebration and handshakes.

FINAL: Remparts 1 at Mooseheads 3
Stars: 3. Sam Dunn QUE | 2. Jocktan Chainey HAL | 1. Alex Gravel HALAttendance: 8,168

GAME LOG
First period
8:27 QUE Sam Dunn (2) | A: Verrette & St- Laurent
14:09 HAL Maxim Trepainer (3), PP | A: Ryczek & Parent

Second period
4:41 HAL Jocktan Chainey (1) | A: Getson & Durandeau

Third period
17:13 HAL Keith Getson (3) | A: Kyte & Lavoie

Powerplay: QUE - 0-for-2; HAL - 1-for-2
Shots: 31-27 in favour of Halifax

DID NOT PLAY- Cole Stewart (injured), Sam Dube (healthy), Alexis Sansfacon (healthy), Benoit-Olivier Groulx (sick) and Marcel Barinka (healthy)

SCORES
Tigres 4 vs. Foreurs 3 OT
Drakkar 2 vs. Wildcats 3

UP NEXT- Halifax will open the second round of the playoffs where they will take on the Moncton Wildcats. Puck drops at 7pm.

Complete Game 6 Win

Photo - Myles Dennis

In what was a do or die match for our Halifax Mooseheads, the boys came out to play on Monday night in Game 6 at the Scotiabank Centre, defeating the Quebec Remparts 6-1. Halifax began the series down 0-2 going to Quebec for three road games, which the Mooseheads picked up victories in the first two before losing Game 5 4-2 on Saturday. The Herd needed a really good complete disciplined game tonight and they accomplished that goal to tie the best-of-seven series at 3 games a piece. The good guys controlled the play for the the first half of the 1st period as it took 9:31 minutes for Quebec to get a shot. A lose puck that Carmine-Anthony Pagliarulo couldn't get his glove on to get a whistle was taken by Samuel Asselin who passed it to Raphael Lavoie. Number 50 was able to put it in past Pagliarulo on the far side and give the home team a 1-0 lead 4:58 into the opening frame. Samuel Dickner tied the match for the Remparts with 9:33 remaining in the period on a weak shot that went off Alex Gravel and into the net but that would be the only rubber that would get past the home goaltender. The teams would go into the intermission with the score 1-1. The second period was a key 20 minutes for Halifax, who have been shaky in the middle frame all season, and they played their best hockey I would say. Quebec was outshot 20-7 in the 2nd while Antoine Morand and Keith Getson gave the Mooseheads some breathing room in the last two minutes. Samuel Asselin scored to make it 4-1 just twenty-six seconds into the third period which chased Pagliarulo and force Kyle Jessiman to come in for the away team. Patrick Roy has always been one to buck the trend and he did something tonight that I don't think I've ever seen before. With 9:13 to go in the final frame, down three goals, Roy sat Jessiman on the bench to get an extra player on the ice. That lasted 53 seconds before he was back in the net but with 7:06 left, the Remparts were playing with 6 players on the ice again. Lavoie got his second goal of the game in the empty net to extend the Mooseheads lead to 5-1. So with the victory, we'll have a Game 7 tomorrow night at the Scotiabank Centre.

FINAL: Remparts 1 at Mooseheads 6
Stars: 3. Alexis Gravel HAL | 2. Raphael Lavoie HAL | 1. Keith Getston HAL
Attendance: 7,623

GAME LOG
First period
4:58 HAL Raphael Lavoie (6) | A: Asselin & Chainey
10:27 QUE Samuel Dickner (1) | A: St-Laurent & Savoie

Second period
18:05 HAL Antoine Morand (3) | A: Lavoie & Ryczek
19:08 HAL Keith Getson (1) | A: Durandeau & Trepanier

Third period
0:26 HAL Samuel Asselin (2) | A: Barron
13:40 HAL Raphael Lavoie (7), EN | A: Flower
17:13 HAL Keith Getson (2), PP | A: Barron & Safin

Powerplay: QUE - 0-for-2; HAL - 1-for-4
Shots: 41-24 in favour of Halifax

DID NOT PLAY - Cole Stewart (healthy), Jared McIsaac (suspended), Alexis Sansfacon (healthy), Benoit-Olivier Groulx (sick) and Marcel Barinka (healthy)

SCORES
Huskies 8 vs. Cataractes 2
Tigres 6 vs. Foreurs 2
Drakkar 1 vs. Wildcats 3

UP NEXT - Halifax and Quebec will meet in Moose Country on Tuesday night for Game 7. Puck drops at 7pm.

Golden Puck Nominees Announced

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League announced the nominees for their annual awards at the Golden Puck Gala. The Halifax Mooseheads lone nominated player is Raphael Lavoie.

Here are the nominees for the awards that will be passed out on April 3rd.

*via QMJHL

Rookie of the Year

• Hendrix Lapierre – Chicoutimi Sagueneens
• Jordan Spence – Moncton Wildcats

Marcel-Robert Trophy – Scholastic Player of the Year

• Jérôme Gravel – Victoriaville Tigres
• Matthew Welsh – Charlottetown Islanders
• Rafaël Harvey-Pinard – Rouyn-Noranda Huskies

Émile «Butch» Bouchard Trophy – Best Defenseman

• Charle-Édouard D’Astous –Rimouski Océanic
• Nicolas Beaudin – Drummondville Voltigeurs
• Noah Dobson – Rouyn-Noranda Huskies

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

• Gabriel Fortier – Baie-Comeau Drakkar
• Mitchell Balmas – Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
• Peter Abbandonato – Rouyn-Noranda Huskies

 Humanitarian and Community Involvement Trophy

• Alex-Olivier Voyer –Sherbrooke Phœnix
• Charle-Édouard D’Astous –Rimouski Océanic
• Matthew Welsh – Charlottetown Islanders

Maurice-Filion Trophy – General Manager of the Year

• Mario Pouliot – Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
• Serge Beausoleil – Rimouski Océanic
• Yanick Jean – Chicoutimi Sagueneens

Michael-Bossy Trophy – Top Professional Prospect

• Jakob Pelletier – Moncton Wildcats
• Raphaël Lavoie – Halifax Mooseheads
• Samuel Poulin – Sherbrooke Phœnix

Paul-Dumont Trophy – Personality of the Year

• Alexis Lafrenière – Rimouski Océanic
• Maxime Comtois – Drummondville Voltigeurs
• Noah Dobson – Rouyn-Noranda Huskies

Ron-Lapointe Trophy - Coach of the Year

• Jim Hulton - Charlottetown Islanders
• Mario Pouliot - Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
• Martin Bernard - Baie-Comeau Drakkar

Michel-Briere Trophy - Most Valuable Player

• Alexis Lafreniere - Rimouski Oceanic
• Joseph Veleno - Drummondville Voltigeurs
• Peter Abbandonato - 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 (and winners in bold):

Guy-Carbonneau Trophy – Best Defensive Forward

• Félix Lauzon – Drummondville Voltigeurs
• Rafaël Harvey-Pinard – Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
• Samuel L’Italien – Baie-Comeau Drakkar

Kevin Lowe Trophy – Best Defensive Defenseman

• Charle-Édouard D’Astous – Rimouski Oceanic
• Jacob Neveu – Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
• Michal Ivan – Drummondville Voltigeurs

Michel-Bergeron Trophy – Offensive Rookie of the Year

• Egor Serdyuk – Victoriaville Tigres
• Hendrix Lapierre – Chicoutimi Sagueneens
• Mikhail Abramov – Victoriaville Tigres

Raymond-Lagacé Trophy – Defensive Rookie of the Year

• Artemi Kniazev – Chicoutimi Sagueneens
• Jordan Spence – Moncton Wildcats
• Lukas Cormier – Charlottetown Islanders

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

• Rouyn-Noranda Huskies

Jean-Rougeau Trophy – Regular Season Champions

• Rouyn-Noranda Huskies

Luc Robitaille Trophy – Best Offensive Team

• Drummondville Voltigeurs

PLAYOFF GAME #4: at Quebec

PREVIEW

QUEBEC REMPARTS VS HALIFAX MOOSEHEADS

Game Four of Round One

Centre Videotron (18,259) ~ Quebec City, QC

Quebec leads series 2-1

QUEBEC - We have a series! Our Halifax Mooseheads are still down but they played a better game on Tuesday night and came away with a 3-1 victory in Quebec against the Remparts, who now lead the best-of-seven series 2 games to 1. Halifax will be looking to have the same effort tonight in Game 4 as they hope to force a match back here in Moose Country. After a one game suspension for a check from behind hit, Samuel Asselin returned to the Mooseheads lineup motivated and it seemed to spark the team as well. Raphael Lavoie continued his hot hand, scoring twice on Tuesday while Arnaud Durandeau picked up his 3rd goal of the playoffs. Game 3 was as close to a full healthy line that Halifax has had all season; Benoit-Olivier Groulx is out indefinitely with mononucleosis. It should be a good match once again.

PLAYOFFS SERIES
Game 1  Mar 22  Remparts 3 at Mooseheads 2
Game 2  Mar 23  Remparts 5 at Mooseheads 4 OT
Game 3  Mar 26  Mooseheads 3 at Remparts 1
Game 4  Mar 28  Mooseheads at Remparts
Game 5  Mar 30  Mooseheads at Remparts
*Game 6  Apr 1  Remparts at Mooseheads
*Game 7  Apr 2  Remparts at Mooseheads

NOT DRESSED - Benoit-Olivier Groulx (sick)

NOTES

• Raphael Lavoie leads the team in scoring with 5 points
• The refereeing was much better on Tuesday night
• Halifax will have a number of healthy scratches 

OUT OF TOWN
None

NEXT GAME - The two teams will meet on Saturday night in Quebec for Game 5. Puck drops at 8pm.