Recap: Sea Dogs win 6-3

FINAL: Moncton 3, Saint John 6

Andy Campbell/UNB Reds

FREDERICTON - A Carter McCluskey hat trick pushed the Saint John Sea Dogs past the Moncton Wildcats in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League pre-season play on Thursday night at the Aitken Centre.

Vincent Despont, Peter Reynolds and Vince Elie also scored for Saint John. Olivier Brideau allowed two goals on 18 shots in the first half of the game while Ventsislav Shingarov allowed a goal on 17 shots in the second half.

Joachim Matulu, Preston Lounsbury and Thomas Auger scored for Moncton. Kiefer Thompson played the first half of the night and allowed three goals on 14 shots. Robert Forbes allowed a couple goals on 14 shots in the later half.

At times it very much looked like the first pre-season game of the year - but it was far from the worst ever played. There was definitely some physicality on display and you could tell some players were going hard to make a good impression.

The Wildcats opened the scoring on a power play at 11:11 of the opening frame when Matulu fired a low shot from inside the circle that beat Brideau.

Saint John tied the game at 17:00 of the first period. A Hunter Gartley point shot was redirected by McCluskey, making it a 1-1 game.

The Sea Dogs took their first lead of the night at 3:03 of the second. Elliot Simard and McCluskey executed a lovely two-on-one that was finished off by McCluskey. Then at 3:54, a Reynolds shot produced a big rebound that was put in by Despont, making it a 3-1 game.

Moncton got one back at 8:29 of the second. On a power play, Lounsbury deposited the puck on a scramble in the crease, cutting Saint John's lead to one.

With 21 seconds remaining in the frame and the Sea Dogs on a power play, Reynolds ripped a hard shot top corner past Forbes to give Saint John a two-goal lead once again.

Moncton got within a goal at 6:04 of the third when Auger split through the Saint John defense and beat Shingarov with a nice deke to complete the highlight reel goal.

Elie restored the two-goal lead with 11:20 remaining, picking up a loose puck and firing a hard shot past Forbes. McCluskey secured his hat trick with an empty net goal at 18:56, making it a 6-3 final.

LINEUP

MacDonald - Reynolds - Elie
Woods - Savoie - Watt

McCluskey - Gagnon - Simard

O'Blenis - LaForge - Mangala

Drapeau - Grenier

Bilodeau - Despont

Dickie - Stone

Gartley

Brideau

Shingarov

NO RESTRICTIONS: For the first time since March 2020, a junior hockey game was played without any capacity restrictions. Masks still had to be worn - and they were being handed out by UNB staff to any fans without one. Official attendance was 1,173 - so there was plenty of room to stay distanced if you chose to do so.

PEOPLE TRAFFIC: This is different.

Folks I’ve seen some rinks… and I’ve never seen this before. pic.twitter.com/lwlal7SMTP

— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) August 19, 2021

LETTERS: Second-year players Peter Reynolds, Cam MacDonald and Nathan Drapeau each wore an 'A' on their jerseys.

MCCLUSKEY: Carter McCluskey is making some noise. After recording two goals and two assists in the first three scrimmages, the Quispamsis native recorded a hat trick in this game. He had one goal in one pre-season game in 2019 and had a goal in three exhibition games last year.

DESPONT: Vincent Despont was definitely noticeable. He scored his first pre-season goal in the second period and could have very easily had another later on but was robbed by the leg of Robert Forbes. The downside was that he took three minor penalties - which was predictable given the style he plays. It'll take time for him to get used to the QMJHL.

NOTES: Before the game, Fredericton native Peter Reynolds was honoured for being named to the QMJHL's rookie all-star team... Gordie Dwyer worked the Sea Dogs bench with assistant coach Stefan Legein... no trapezoids behind the net at the Aitken Centre... neither team used UNB's dressing room. Both used visitor rooms... Brady Stone had four hits - including a big hip check on Luke McPhee in the neutral zone in the first... this was Saint John's first game at the Aitken Centre since September of 2019... the Sea Dogs are back at the Aitken Centre on Wednesday, hosting the Charlottetown Islanders.

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs and Wildcats meet again Friday night at 7 p.m. at the Superior Propane Centre.