Dogs Pound Oceanic

FINAL: Rimouski 2, Saint John 8

SAINT JOHN – Charles-Olivier Roussel made an immediate impact for the Saint John Sea Dogs.

Roussel scored what would prove to be the game-winner in the Sea Dogs’ 8-2 thumping of the Rimouski Oceanic on Saturday night at Harbour Station. Roussel, acquired in a trade from the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada earlier this week, also had two assists and was a +2.

The 20-year old defenseman wasn’t the only Sea Dog to have a big night Saturday. Stephen MacAulay and Danick Gauthier both had a pair of goals while Zack Phillips, Tomas Jurco and Scott Oke added singles.

Jonathan Huberdeau, making his Quebec Major Junior Hockey league 2011-12 debut, and Nathan Beaulieu each had two assists. Ryan Tesink had four helpers.

Mathieu Corbeil rebounded from his rough start on Saturday in Victoriaville, stopping 19 shots in the win.

It was a solid game by Saint John who were 3-for-8 on the man advantage. With most of the team back, the Sea Dogs looked a lot like the squad that dominated the league a year ago.

Alex Belzile and Jerome Gauthier-Leduc had the Rimouski goals. Jacob Chouinard allowed eight goals on 39 shots before getting yanked in the third period. Carl Hozjan stopped all five shots he faced in relief.

The Sea Dogs put forth a solid first period even though it started off on a sour note. Huberdeau was called for high-sticking just 17 seconds in to give Rimouski a power play opportunity. The Oceanic had some decent pressure on but could not score.

At 5:04, Saint John got on the board. Ryan Tesink led a two-on-one, skating down the wing with the puck. He then centered for a streaking Danick Gauthier who fired a hard shot past Chouinard to give the Dogs a 1-0 lead.

The Oceanic had a good opportunity soon after the goal but was beautifully broken up by Charles-Olivier Roussel.

The Sea Dogs doubled their lead at 8:47. A Jason Seed point shot was tipped off the post. The rebound went to MacAulay who outwaited Chouinard to give Saint John a 2-0 advantage.

The Sea Dogs had plenty of pressure later in the period as the top line of Huberdeau – Phillips – Jurco clicked like a clock.

Gauthier headed to the box at 18:06 to give the visitors another man advantage. But Alex Belzile committed an infraction at 19:23 to create some four-on-four action that would carry over into the second stanza.

Saint John outshot Rimouski 18-6 in the opening frame.

1:39 into the second frame, Roussel scored his first as a Sea Dog on a shot that appeared to graze by the post and stay out. Play continued for a few minutes until a review took place. It was then ruled a goal after a several minute review.

On a power play at 8:27, Phillips was down low and snipped the puck top corner to give Saint John a 4-0 advantage.

Rimouski then had a good chance as the puck was in the crease, forcing Corbeil to lay across the line and keep it out.

At 8:47, Jason Cameron and Ian Saab both headed off to serve different penalties. On the five-on-three advantage, Belzile ripped the puck from just under the Telus ad and hit Corbeil’s water bottle to make it a 4-1 contest.

On a man advantage at 16:23, Tesink was behind the goal line and sent it out to an open Gauthier. The 20-year old forward ripped the puck top corner blocker side past Chouinard to make it a 5-1 game.

Late in the frame at 19:53 on yet another man advantage, Tesink centered the puck through the crease with MacAulay tipping it in to make it 6-1 Saint John.

Shots were 12-10 in favour of Saint John in the middle frame.

The Sea Dogs made it a 7-1 affair just 36 seconds into the third. Nathan Beaulieu sent a long pass down low to Jurco who was parked at the side of the goal to poke it in.

Not long after at 3:27, Leduc scored for Rimouski to make it a 7-2 contest.

The Sea Dogs struck again at 10:48 as Oke went in alone and beat Chouinard to give the Dogs an 8-2 advantage. Carl Hozjan replaced Chouinard in the Oceanic net after the marker.

Late in the game, Oliver Cooper had a breakaway but was denied by Hozjan. MacAulay got the puck on the rebound but was robbed by the Rimouski ‘tender.

Shots were 14-5 Saint John in the final frame.

LETTERS: Kevin Gagne was Sea Dogs' captain once again. Stephen MacAulay, Danick Gauthier and Pierre Durepos all wore an ‘A’ on their sweaters.

OUT OF ACTION: Stanislav Galiev missed the contest with a broken wrist. He is expected to be out for a few weeks with the injury.

We received a tweet during the game that an usher gave him some grief for not having a ticket. Poor guy.

HIGHLIGHTS: Here are the SeaDogsTV highlights.

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs host the Victoriaville Tigres tomorrow afternoon at 3pm at Harbour Station.