Gauthier Nets Three In Win

FINAL: Saint John 9, Rouyn-Noranda 4

ROUYN-NORANDA – Danick Gauthier is having quite a first-quarter in his 20-year old season with the Saint John Sea Dogs.

Gauthier scored three goals for Saint John in their 9-4 win over the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies Friday, giving him a total of 10 on the season. The forward only had 11 goals in 65 games last year and 29 total in his career entering this season.

Aidan Kelly had a pair of goals for the Sea Dogs on Friday night in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action while Zack Phillips, Jonathan Huberdeau, Ryan Tesink and Oliver Cooper added singles.

Goaltender Sebastien Auger made 22 saves on the net, picking up his second win in his third career start.

Saint John came out flat on Wednesday night in Gatineau, a performance that did not please Head Coach Gerard Gallant. On Friday, it was evident early in the game that the Sea Dogs received the message

The Sea Dogs played fairly well in the first period, heading into intermission with a 3-1 lead. In the second they blew it open, scoring four times to lead 7-1. Rouyn-Noranda tried to make a comeback in the final stanza, scoring three quick goals. But Saint John would add two more and extinguish any chances of a comeback, taking the contest 9-4.

With Iamgold Arena undergoing massive renovations, the Huskies were forced to host the Sea Dogs at the smaller Jacques Laperriere Arena. It was the Huskies’ home opener after starting the season with 12 straight games on the road.

But the Huskies disappointed their home fans, falling behind early to Saint John and were not able to respond in time. Denis Kamaev had two goals while Mathieu Brisebois and Antoine Quevillon also scored.

Goaltenders Robin Gusse and Jeffery Noonan both played in the loss.

Phillips opened the scoring in the first period with a power play marker 25 seconds in following an odd bounce off the backboards. Huberdeau setup Kelly at 10:25 to score a shorthanded goal and give the Dogs a 2-0 edge. After Rouyn-Noranda had made it a 2-1 contest, Tesink fed Gauthier with a cross-crease pass to give Saint John a 3-1 lead after one.

In the second, MacAulay sprung Gauthier on a breakaway to score his second of the night and make it 4-1. Gauthier completed the hat trick at 10:43. Cooper and Kelly both scored later in the stanza to give the visitors a commanding 7-1 lead after two.

In the third, Rouyn-Noranda scored three quick goals to make things a little interesting. But Huberdeau and Tesink both scored later in the frame to give Saint John a 9-4 road victory.

NOTES: More on the game tomorrow when, hopefully, the Q site is fixed.

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs finish their Quebec road swing tomorrow night at 8pm in Val-d’Or.