NCAA season begins tonight

Photo - NCAA Hockey Facebook

This is not a post that I thought I would ever write but with the rule change back in 2024 that players who skated in the Canadian Hockey League could continue their careers in the NCAA, that is where we are. 

It is disappointing that these young men are not staying in Canada to play university hockey especially since as a fan, I would like to see them after they leave the Q however I understand. There are a handful of former Halifax Mooseheads players who will suit up for teams in the United States. 

Jacob Steinman - Bowling Green State Falcons (CCHL)

Mathis Rousseau - Maine Black Bears (Hockey East)

Brady Schultz - Quinnipiac Bobcats (ECAC Hockey)

Markus Vidicek - Quinnipiac Bobcats (ECAC Hockey)

Stephane Huard - Sacred Heart Pioneers (AHA)

Alex Carr - New Hampshire Wildcats (Hockey East)

This is the first full season that CHL players are able to play NCAA hockey. Markus Vidicek, Brady Schultz and Quinnipiac will visit Boston College to start the season on Friday. Also happening this evening, Alex Carr and New Hampshire are set to host Mathis Rousseau and Maine. Sacred Heart and Bowling Green begin their season on Saturday. 

Good luck to these guys during the season. 

Game Day 5: vs Drakkar

PREVIEW - Our Halifax Mooseheads welcome the last place Baie-Comeau Drakkar for the first student night of the season. This is also the first game against a Quebec province based team in 2025-26. Halifax will look to get back in the win column and end their four game home stand on a high note. Baie-Comeau is on a seven game road trip because their arena is getting renovated but have not gotten a victory yet. The Drakkar were close on Saturday though, losing 2-1 in a shootout and are last place as well in goals scored. It'll be important to get points in games like this before the holiday break for Halifax as it'll probably determine whether or not the Mooseheads make the playoffs. So grab some friends and take advantage of the $10 student tickets along with deals on alcohol tonight, if you are of age of course. 

Coverage
TV: FloHockey | Radio: News 95.7 | Live: @MC_MooseCountry

Overall records
Drakkar: 0-3-0-1 = 1 point (6th in East division, 18th overall)
Mooseheads: 2-2-0-0 = 4 points (5th in Maritimes division, 12th overall)

Leading scorers
HAL: Oleg Kulebyakin 4pts (2G & 2A), Shawn Carrier 3pts (2G & 1A), Quinn Kennedy 3pts (2G & 1A)
BAC: Charles-Louis Plourde 4pts (0G & 4A), Justin Gendron 2pts (1G & 1A), Alexis Michaud 2pts (1G & 1A)

Head-to-head
This is the first match of the season series between these two teams. Halifax had a 0-1-0-1 record against the Drakkar last season while Baie-Comeau went 2-0-0-0 versus the Mooseheads. Anthony Lavoie had a goal and an assist to propel the Drakkar to a 4-3 shootout victory in their last meeting on January 30. 

Out of town
Eagles vs. Sagueneens - 7:00 p.m.
Olympiques vs. Islanders - 8:00 p.m.

After the buzzer
Halifax will hit the road for a match up against the Moncton Wildcats at the Avenir Centre on October 5. Puck drops at 3:00 p.m. 

STATS SUNDAY: September

Games played: 4
Record: 2-2-0-0, 4pts
Goals for/against: 12/16
Powerplay: 19.1%
Penalty kill: 75.0%
Shutouts: None

Top 5 leading scorers
Points: Oleg Kulebiakin 4, Shawn Carrier 3, Quinn Kennedy 3, Jasu Mensonen 2, Will Bent 2
Goals: Oleg Kulebiakin 2, Shawn Carrier 2, Quinn Kennedy 2, Will Bent 1, Patrick McNab 1
Assists: Oleg Kulebiakin 2, Amelio Santini 2, Shawn Carrier 1, Quinn Kennedy 1, Will Bent 1
Penalty minutes: Daniel Walters 8, Eddy Doyle 6, Mathieu Taillefer 6, Oleg Kulebiakin 4, Quinn Kennedy 4
Plus/minus: Malik L'Italien +1, Patrick McNab +1, Junior Gualberto +1, Amelio Santini E, Justin Chiras E
Rookie scoring: Oleg Kulebiakin 4pts, Jasu Mensonen 2pts, Malik L'Italien 1pt

Goaltender stats
Owen Bresson     2-1-0-0     3.57 GAA     0.857 SAV%
Nicolas Cirka     0-1-0-0     4.17 GAA     0.846 SAV%

Game Day 3 & 4: vs Sea Dogs

PREVIEW - It's back to back home games for our Halifax Mooseheads against the Saint John Sea Dogs this weekend. The Sea Dogs updated their logo and jerseys before the start of the season in a move that the team is calling the #NextWave. Both teams are amidst a rebuild with Saint John winning the first overall pick at the 2025 draft where they selected forward Alexis Joseph. The rookie has yet to record his first point in the Q but we are only one weekend into the season. Halifax's rookie Jasu Mensonen will look to continue his good start after picking up a goal in both games against Charlottetown last week. I expect this will be another tight series between these two clubs, after they each won 4 out of eight games played in 2024-25. The Mooseheads should get some help in the scoring department as Liam Kilfoil, who led Halifax in scoring for most of last year, was released by the Detroit Red Wings from his tryout contract earlier this week. Not only do the Sea Dogs have the same records as well as goals for/against numbers but the teams are both led by first year players heading into tonight's match. 

Fans in Moose Country will get a rematch tomorrow night as Halifax hosts their first ever (I think) Country Night. I'm not sure what it is planned for the evening but it still should be a good way to spend a Saturday night. 

Coverage
TV: Eastlink | Radio: News 95.7 | Live: @MC_MooseCountry

Overall records
Sea Dogs: 1-1-0-0 = 2 points (3rd in Maritimes division, 8th overall)
Mooseheads: 1-1-0-0 = 2 points (5th in Maritimes division, 13th overall)

Leading scorers
HAL: Jasu Mensonen 2pts (2G & 0A), Shawn Carrier 2pts (1G & 1A), William Bent 1pt (1G & 1A)
SNB: Olivers Murnieks 3pts (0G & 3A), Elliot Dube 2pts (2G & 0A), Zachary Morin 2pts (1G & 1A)

Head-to-head
This is the first match of the season series between these two teams. Halifax had a 4-3-1-0 record versus the Sea Dogs in 2024-25 while Saint John went 4-4-0-0 against the Mooseheads. Their last match on March 8 saw our Herd lose 3-1 on home ice with Halifax goaltender Jacob Steinman earning 1st star honours after stopping 31 of the 33 Sea Dogs' shots. 

Out of town
Eagles vs. Wildcats - 7:00 p.m.
Huskies vs. Remparts - 8:00 p.m.
Olympiques vs. Drakkar - 8:00 p.m.
Armada vs. Cataractes - 8:00 p.m.
Phoenix vs. Voltigeurs - 8:00 p.m.

After the buzzer
Halifax's fifth game of the season will see the Baie-Comeau Drakkar coming to town for student night on October 2. Puck drops at 7 p.m.

Mensonen helps Herd get SO win

Rookie forward Jasu Mensonen has only played two matches but is showing that the North American game has not phased him. After scoring the lone goal in the season opener, the Imatra, Finland native got our Halifax Mooseheads on the board first in front of the fans at the Scotiabank Centre. He also scored the game winner to help the home team to a 5-4 shootout victory on Saturday night over the Charlottetown Islanders. It seemed like the Islanders were chasing the game but a two men advantage around the mid point of the first period gave the away team some life with Jude Herron scoring a PP goal and overage  forward Nathan Leek tied the natch up at 2 a few minutes later. Early in the middle frame, Quinn Kennedy gave Halifax back the lead. The Mooseheads looked to be in pretty control, outshooting Charlottetown 24-14 through 40 minutes. A short-handed goal by the Isles in the third tied the game again. Not very often do we see an extra frame in the home opener but we did tonight. A tripping penalty by rookie Oleg Kulebyakin had all the momentum in the overtime on the Islanders side as they outshot Halifax 6-0 but goaltender Owen Bresson stopped them all to send the match to a shootout. Mensonen was sent out as the second shooter and put it in while Kennedy also scored to secure the win for the good guys. 

FINAL: Islanders 4 at Mooseheads 5 SO
Stars: 3. Carlos Handel HAL | 2. Anthony Flanagan CHA | 1. Shawn Carrier HAL
Attendance: 8,205
MC's Top Herd: Quinn Kennedy

GAME LOG
First period
3:25 HAL Jasu Mensonen (2), PP | A: None
5:50 HAL William Bent (1) | A: None
10:01 CHA Jude Herron (1), PP | A: Chen & Watroba
13:41 CHA Nathan Leek (2) | A: Herron

Second period

0:59 HAL Quinn Kennedy (1) | A: Carrier & Kulebyakin

Third period
4:28 CHA Anthony Flanagan (1), SH | A: B. Peddle
14:34 HAL Shawn Carrier (1) | A: Doyle
15:09 CHA Anthony Flanagan (2) | A: Watroba 

Overtime
None

Shootout
HAL Bent        MISS           
CHA Flanagan         MISS
HAL Mensonen         GOAL       
CHA Campbell        MISS
HAL Kennedy       GOAL

Powerplay: CHA - 1-for-7; HAL 1-for-7
Shots: 41-26 in favour of Halifax

Did not play - Alec Nesreddine (healthy), Liam Kilfoil (NHL camp), Lincoln Waugh (injured), Junior Gualberto (healthy)

Next game
Halifax will welcome first overall pick Alexis Joseph and the Saint John Sea Dogs on Friday night. Puck drops at 7 p.m. 

Game Day 1: at Charlottetown

PREVIEW - The 2025-26 regular season begins tonight for our Halifax Mooseheads as they visit the Charlottetown Islanders. It will be the Islanders home opener at the Eastlink Centre, you can watch the game on Eastlink's Friday Night Hockey or the QMJHL's new webcast provider; FloHockey. Halifax was near the bottom of the age range last year and once again find themselves there, though they are somehow even younger this season than the 2024-25 season. Despite that, they do come in to the new season with more experience especially in the playoffs where the Mooseheads defeated one of the top teams as the 16th seed. They'll look to improve their record and I can't imagine them not doing so. Charlottetown had the upper hand last season but are going to be without captain Marcus Kearsey and Owen Conrad because of NHL camps this weekend so if the Herd want to get an advantage, now is the time. However, Halifax will also be without a player as Liam Kilfoil is participating in Detroit Red Wings camp. Get excited Moose Country, it's time for the games that matter. 

Coverage
TV: Eastlink | Radio: News 95.7 | Live: @HFXMooseheads

Overall records
Mooseheads: 0-0-0-0 = 0 points 
Islanders: 0-0-0-0 = 0 points

Leading scorers
CHA: n/a
HAL: n/a

Head-to-head
This is the first match of the season series between these two teams. Halifax had a 3-4-0-1 record versus the Islanders in 2024-25 while Charlottetown went 5-2-0-1 against the Mooseheads. Their last battle was on March 22 where the Charlottetown Islanders defeated the home Mooseheads 3-2 in a shootout in Halifax. 

Out of town
Regiment vs. Wildcats - 6:30 p.m. 
Sea Dogs vs. Eagles - 7:00 p.m.
Oceanic vs. Drakkar - 8:00 p.m.
Huskies vs. Armada - 8:00 p.m.
Foreurs vs. Olympiques - 8:00 p.m.
Cataractes vs. Tigres - 8:00 p.m.
Voltigeurs vs. Sagueneens - 8:00 p.m.
Phoenix vs. Remparts - 8:00 p.m.

After the buzzer
Halifax will play their home opener on Saturday night in a rematch against the Charlottetown Islanders. Puck drops at 7:00 p.m.

Several alumni at NHL main camps

There are a number of young men on NHL teams main camp rosters that have suited up for the Halifax Mooseheads sometime in their career. Out of the two current Herd players that were invited to rookie camps last weekend, Kilfoil made the main camp. 

Justin Barron - Nashville Predators
Mathieu Cataford - Vegas Golden Knights
Elliot Desnoyers - Minnesota Wild
Jonathan Drouin - New York Islanders
Jordan Dumais - Columbus Blue Jackets
Nikolaj Ehlers - Carolina Hurricanes
Cavan Fitzgerald - Chicago Blackhawks
Martin Frk - Calgary Flames
Jake Furlong - San Jose Sharks
Benoit-Olivier Groulx - Toronto Maple Leafs
Nico Hischier - New Jersey Devils
Liam Kilfoil - Detroit Red Wings
Zachary L'Heureux - Nashville Predators
Raphael Lavoie - Vegas Golden Knights
Nathan MacKinnon - Colorado Avalanche
Brad Marchand - Florida Panthers
Timo Meier - New Jersey Devils
Xavier Parent - New Jersey Devils
Mackenzie Weegar - Calgary Flames

Check out each club's social media accounts for updates throughout the next few weeks. I will make a post of where alumni have landed this season late next month. Good luck to all the players at their respective training camps.