SAINT JOHN- It may be Prince Edward Island's slogan, but "not the PEI you remember" can be used when talking about the island's junior hockey team. The PEI Rocket pounded the Saint John Sea Dogs 6-1 in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action last night at Harbour Station, handing the Sea Dogs thier first loss of the season.
It was the Rocket's first win at Harbour Station since 2008, a stretch that includes two playoff games, one pre-season game, and four regular season games.
The scoring began early at 18:36 when Josh Currie sent a rebound past Karel St-Laurent to make it 1-0 for PEI.
Jarrad Struthers lifted a floater over top of St-Laurent as the PEI onslaught continued. He pick a rebound up after Lauri Tikoi took a shot from the face-off dot. Jordan Escott also got an assist. That made it 2-0 for the visitors.
That goal was one of four PEI power play goals on the night.
At 13:36 Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Joel Champagne sent a cross ice pass through the crease with Benjamin Casavant banging it home. That made 3-0 Rocket.
Kevin Gagne made a great defensive play to save a goal after St-Laurent went out of his net to play the puck. The Saint John netminder gave away to a PEI forward at the blue line but Gagne slapped the shot down just before it entered the crease area.
Mike Thomas made it known he was back in town and took down Champagne with a big hit. Champagne stayed on the ice for several minutes but was okay to continue.
Steven Anthony took a shot and a made scramble ensued before Tomas Jurco found it and slipped it into the empty cage. Gagne assisted on Jurco's third of the year, continuing the 17 year old's point scoring streak.
Mike Hoffman, making his Saint John Sea Dogs debut, got on the scoring sheet in a way fans didn't expect. Hoffman dropped the gloves with Champagne and got the win in the scrap.
The other Mike as in Thomas also the dropped the gloves coming to Hoffman's defense. "The hammer" was thrown out of the game getting an aggressor penalty, pounding the PEI player as he laid huddled on the ice.
Benjamin Casavant got his second of the game off a Saint John turn over in front of the net to end the first period scoring.
Marco Cousineau made his Rocket debut in fine fashion, making 23 saves on the night.
Former Rocket Marc-Antoine Gelinas came in to replace St-Laurent. He was tested early, making a fabulous cross crease stick save on Branden Street.
Chris Doyle netted his first of the season at 3:31. He blasted home a laser from the point to end the second period.
The Sea Dogs came out to start the third period on a mission. The Dogs fired everything they had but the 2009 Memorial Cup top goaltender Marco Cousineau stood tall in the Rocket net.
With 3:23 remaining in the game, Jordan Escott wristed a shot high glove side to beat Gelinas.
PEI out shot the Sea Dogs 29-24. The Rocket are know tied for first in the Atlantic Division with Saint John. The Sea Dogs fall to a record of 4-1-0-0 while the Rocket improve to 3-0-0-2.
Notes: The attendance was 3,021... PEI was an amazing 4-5 on the power play... Mike Hoffman was held pointless in his first game... former Sea Dogs assistant coach Jim Midgley did colour commentary on News 88.9 FM last night... With Thomas and Hoffman making there season debuts and Pard back from suspension, Scott Oke and Zach Phillips were scratched. Earlier this week, Fredericton's Daily Gleaner called Phillips out for his slow start.
Next Game: Victoriaville Tigres vs Saint John Sea Dogs. Friday, September 25, 2009, at 7:30 pm at Harbour Station. Simon Despres and possibly Yann Sauve will be making there season debuts. This will be the first TGIF-anatical game this season. Victoriaville does not make any appearances at Harbour Station following Friday's game.
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