EP.142.0 09-08-2011 QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs VS Moncton Wildcats Highlights

Audio Provided by Tim Roszell of News 88.9

YOUNG SEA DOGS LINEUP FALLS SHORT IN HOME OPENER

With 10 players away at NHL camps, a young Saint John Sea Dogs team dropped a 3-1 decision to the Moncton Wildcats in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League season opener Thursday.

Missing several key veterans, Saint John iced a lineup featuring four affiliate players that turned in a solid effort but fell short on the scoreboard. Alexandre Beauregard scored the lone goal, with assists from fellow 20-year-old Danick Gauthier, and rookie Stephen Anderson, who recorded his first QMJHL point. Charlie Millen took the loss in his Sea Dogs debut, stopping 23 of 26 shots.

Alex Saulnier scored two goals for Moncton, his brother Allain picked up two assists and Devon MacAusland also scored. Roman Will made 33 saves for the win.

Sea Dogs Chairman and CEO Scott McCain gave a pre-game speech at centre ice, and the MasterCard Memorial Cup and President's Cup were displayed for a final time in recognition of last year's championship season. The evening was sponsored by founding partners Irving Oil and Alpine Lager, and the 4,550 fans in attendance received an oversize Mike Thomas hockey card, featuring the former captain hoisting the Memorial Cup, compliments of the Sea Dogs and Irving Oil.

The game also marked the opener of the Brunswick News Rivalry Cup, with Moncton recording three points for the win and Saint John picking up one for drawing more than 4,000 fans.

Alex Saulnier opened the scoring on a 4-on-3 power play at 7:03 of the first period, then made it 2-0 thanks to a deflection off a Saint John player at 8:05 of the second.

Beauregard got the crowd back into it at 15:35 of the middle frame. Gauthier, wearing the captain's C for the opener, fed Beauregard a backhand centering pass from the right wing corner, which the winger deftly redirected.

But the Sea Dogs were unable to find another marker, and MacAusland restored the two-goal lead at the 10-minute mark of the final frame.

Saint John had an opportunity to get back into it late with a two-man advantage, then pulled the goalie with just over two minutes to go to set up a 6-on-4. But Will made several solid saves to maintain the two-goal cushion and secure the win for the Wildcats.

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