Yes, the 2010 QMJHL draft has started and yes, I still care. It is just that I am trying to write a PhD thesis here and eventually getting a real job with real pay is slightly (just slightly) more important than blogging about one of the world's most disappointing Jr hockey teams during their (VERY EXTENDED) offseason.
So today Cam Russell pulled the trigger on his first move of the trade period and swapped my beloved Jessyko Bernard to the Rouyn Noranda Huskies for a 5th round pick in 2011. Basically, Jessyko has less value to Cam than a used jock strap stuffed with old banana skins. I (and, like, everyone else on the planet) always got the feeling that Cam was not fond of Jessyko.
BUT I WAS.
My "real" boyfriend tried to put it into terms to make me have a slightly reduced case of the sads after I whined "Why do my feelings not matter?"
He said "... but Jessyko never liked you back".
Pure lies. I am sure of it. I am so crazy it is nothing but absolutely adorable. Right Jessyko?
I would wear a 50 pound beard of bees for that boy...
So the Mooseheads lost 4-1 (empty netter) to the dirty, flea infested Screagles... but who cares. Today I saw Jessyko Bernard modeling a striking pair of lederhosen.
Admittedly, I have missed blogging about the past two Mooseheads games which took place on the road in Rimouski. The first was a 9-6 loss and the second a 2-1 loss. Travis Randell had a hattie in the 9-6 loss, hence why he got cookies, while all of Delmas, Bernard, Gelinas and Amyot sustained serious injuries and did not even have cold cookies which they could use as ice packs. So sad!
Poor crippled and broken boys trapped alone with nothing to hump on them over the "weekend of love" except their road roomie.
Cookies for the Valentines day game go to Corbeil - because he is my #1 QMJHL boyfriend, because it was valentines AND because he allowed only 2 goals in 31 shots despite playing with a somewhat injured knee. I am beginning to believe that he grows his hair all 'up and out' so that he can be a peacock for me. It's just his way of bringin' his shine.
So last weekend was a bit of a bust. While I was hoping at least for an infinite number of over-time games - that just won't be happening. I never get what I want anyway, so I should be used to this by now. I am a pessimist so I don't hope for wins - that would be too much to ask for. All I really want now is for the boys to be able to bring it into overtime.
*sigh*
There is some good news in Mooseworld, however. Pascal Amyot was nominated as the Mooseheads candidate for the Marcel Robert Smartypants Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence...or something like that. Good for him. He should be proud of being smarter than the other hockey players (sometimes it doesn't take much - oh, snap!).
Travis Randell was also the team's scholastic player of the month. This is AFTER he told us in last Month's Faces magazine that he was sucking out in school last term (in so many words).
Speaking of Faces Magazine (which I absolutely hate because it is a frivolous piece of fluff) - there is a profile on My Beloved Jessyko Bernard in the February issue. They also have the "best of" voting going on right now - so you can vote for your favorite Moosehead. Last year Yeti won....and we all know how awesome his life is right now (double snap). It's OK though because he has his faces magazine "Favorite Moosehead" prize and his " 2009 Director's Choice" award to keep him warm.
Is that mean?
Good! I have every right to be a miserable bitch sometimes! Sometimes you try to be nice and it gets you nowhere, which is why I am just going to be the bitch 'someone' always thought I would be. Eventually everybody is just trash to be thrown out and feasted upon by freegans. Right? Fuckin' garbage eating hippies.
Can you tell that I am in a hideous mood? I have been for a while now. I am angry. I am fighting angry! I am explosively angry! If I had atomic bomb capabilities like Sylar on Season 1 of Heroes I would probably try to take the whole world down with me. I WANT to sink to whole new lows... but I am not a complete asshole. Not even when scorned.
I have been listening to far too much Fiona Apple and while it does not make me miserable, in and of itself, she does basically manage to touch on all of my recent emotional states. She's my kindred spirit (the OTHER one who is not Alex Lemieux).
I can't seem to take pride in all the awesome things I have done in the past month - like get my paper published in a prestigious science journal and whiddle my waist down by two inches - all I do is dwell on the most miserable things. I kinda don't want to write the blog because my sense of humour has gone out the door with my...whatever else it is that I have lost (Joie du vivre?). What's the point if I can't deliver the goods?
Q-girl can't seal the deal! I am so sorry for that. I hate to disappoint people. If you have read my profile you will notice that I even hate to disappoint my i-pod. I am a bit of a mierenneuker. I want perfection from myself and lately I just can't produce.
Tonight the Moose take on the #1 ranked Saint John Sea Dogs. How will they do? Will I be willing to blog about it in a witty and insightful manner or will I just slump home and proceed to dig myself deeper into my pit of misery? Stay tuned.
Big props go out to Peter Delmas who has been awarded the CHL goaltender of the week. There is no evidence of this yet from the CHL but the Q-files twitter feed tells me so.
Finally. The Proof.
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“I told myself I had to pick it up and give whatever I’ve got, skate harder, finish checks, do whatever I can,” he said.
The Mooseheads told their players in the off-season they wanted them in better physical shape, but Bernard didn’t impress them in that department upon arrival at camp.
After being benched, the six-foot-two Moncton native realized he needed to shape up or he’d be shipped out.
He’s hoping to finish strong and certainly doesn’t have any plans of being yanked out of the lineup down the stretch.
“That’s always in the back of my mind,” Bernard said.
“I don’t want to be a healthy scratch again because it’s not fun. I have to give everything I’ve got every night.”
So what does it all mean? Well it means that by being "off" over Christmas my imaginary forward boyfriend did not have to buy me an imaginary X-mas gift or an imaginary birthday gift. Lucky him. To make it up to me he has to play his ass off every game from now until mid-April March*. So yeah, he gets to get away with being cheap but I am an easy girl to please.
There are two upcoming games against local teams PEI and Bathurst this weekend. These are not unwinnable games. All I want is for the boys to put their balls on the line.
*April pfffft. I am so bad with dates. I meant mid-March. If the team were playing until mid-april it would mean they signed over their souls to Satan.
Yeah, sorry about that. At first I swore I would not blog until I had dealt with pressing real-life issues. Those were dealt with by last Wednesday so I really have no excuse for not blogging about the last two games in a timely manner. Needless to say, not having to write anything for a whole week was like a dreamy dream. Fuck the English language.
So, I guess I should get to it.
Mooseheads vs Montreal Jr (Moose lose 4-1)
Well, the first period was exciting. When the team allowed 4 goals in the second period I gave up on life. Sitting through the third period just felt like torture because of the sense of complete helplessness. It must be how my cat feels when I force her to cuddle me. I never want to experience that again. Can you do that for me my sweet, darling mooselets?
Cookies to Grant for the only goal in what felt like the longest stretch of goallessness in the history of hockey. Cookies are for eating, not for hiding in your underware.
Mooseheads vs Screagles (Moose lose 2-0)
Despite the fact that the team were shutout, this game was decidedly less painful. Games against the Screagles are always delightful and scrappy...even when there is no actual scrapping. Cookies are to be shared between Bety and Bernard for coming out in this game with full force, and new goalie Delmas for decreasing my sense of hopelessness with his >0.9% sv%. There is a chance for you yet Delmas, but remember: cookies are for eating, not for hiding down your pants.
PS J.Bernard. We are soooo back on. I was going to give you a choice about it but then I realized we never talked...so how could you let me know? You can't!!! I have made an executive decision for us. If I catch you sexy dancing for Alex MacDonald I will rip his mullet weave out...unless, of course, I can have you both.
Mooseheads vs Wildcats (Moose lose 3-0)
In a homage to the loss of Baby LBD I did not pay attention to this game. How dare LBD leave me to go to Quebec? The only benefit of this move was our acquisition of Delmas...Oh, and the fact that LBD gets to work with Roy. I just don't think he was taking my feeling into consideration. ...and to think that I cooed for his wearing of white belts and shoes (yes, gentle readers, he goes all Frenchy style on us too).
Twenty-five shots on goal and yet, nothing. I blame Nicola Riopel. He probably shouldn't be in this league.
Cookies go to me because I have a tendency to drown my sorrows in food.
Mooseheads vs Sagueneens (Moose win 5-1)
Ah now that is more like it. Randall's one timer was a thing of pure beauty. Who knew that anybody on this team could 'one-time' it. Sometimes, as a group of intelligent, deep thinking and gentle boys, my moosies spend far too much time coddling the puck with their stick and contemplating their next move. Pucks are for shooting, not for coddling... and definitely not for putting down your pants in an attempt to look like you have a bigger schlong.
Pucks were getting all up in the Sags' net. The Mooseheads had 5 goals (Randell, Bernard, Gelinas, MacDonald and Andrews) in 40 shots and boys were driving the net to get those rebounds. Amazeballs. Why can't they do this every night?
It's as easy as that!
With the Sags came a return to winning and the second coming of Alexis Piette (the first, of course, being his visit with the Lewiston Maineiacs before being traded to the Sags at X-mas). At some point Alexis played an excellent game of keep-away, scooting around the entire perimeter of our zone with the puck, and at that moment I desperately wanted him back. It's not just for the eyebrows.
Cookies go to MacDonald and Bernard. MacDonald had his first goal as a Moosehead, which is always something to be celebrated with abundant overeating and a few beer. Of course I am terribly selfish and I demand more goals. Immediately if possible. Yes Jessyko, cookies are for storing in your pants but only if I can...
Mooseheads vs Voltigeurs (Moose win 2-1)
Bitches. The Volts stole Delmas' shutout with just over 3 minutes left in the game. Peter Delmas stopped 35 shots on his way to a win over the league powerhouse Drummondville Voltigeurs (33-13-0-2). It was brilliant.
Abeltshauser (big slapshot from the point) and Amyot both got their goals on the powerplay. Knotek, Bernard, Gelinas and Andrews had assists.
Jake Allen was in nets for the Volts, playing what was his 3rd game in a row. Why they felt the need to play him against one of the worst teams in the league is beyond me? I was tempted to throw Allan off his game by holding up a big sign that just said "SILVER" on it, but I had no bristle board and I had not thought of this in advance of the game. It turns out that it was not necessary to be so mean and the Mooseheads could defeat the Volts without my help.
To say that the final three minutes was stressful is an understatement. The Moose had lost their 2 goal cushion and spent the last minute playing 6-4 after taking a penalty for too many men on the ice. The defensive effort was staggering and I was desperately hoping one of the boys could thoroughly crush the Volts' spirits with an empty net goal but everyone knows that empty net goals are really not part of the Mooseheads' skill set.
Dear Peter Delmas,
Congratulations on your QMJHL defensive player of the week award. In two games you recorded two wins and had a 1.0 GAA and a 0.964 sv%. I would lick cookie crumbs off your taint for that. Please, don't tell your mother I offered... and for God's* sake don't tell my mother either. What do you mean, you don't read my blog? You should get on that boy!
xxxooo
Q-girl
Well, the first miracle was Cam making Garrett Clarke a healthy scratch. So now guys have to sit out for playing irresponsibly and taking a bazillion unnecessary penalties? Since when? Scratch that theory. Clarke was out with a groin injury.
The second miracle - the Halifax Mooseheads (8-25-1-2) defeated the Saint John Sea Dogs (30-6-1-0) in their barn by a score of 4-2. Jessyko Bernard had the game winning goal and Mathieu Corbeil made 33 saves for the win. My 3 boyfriends were rocking tonight. Even my defenceman boyfriend Sawyer Hannay had an assist and a team best +2 for the game.What would it be called if I had 3 boys in my bed at once (for snuggling)? Foursome is just too boring. Let's call it a tetra pack! One person for every goal. Cookies in bed?
Halifax was 2-4 on the powerplay and had 4 goals on 24 shots. Amyot, Bety and Gelinas had the other goals for the Mooseheads.
Other amazing things:
Grant had 2 assists and is now on an 8 game point streak, currently tied with Danick Paquette (Remparts) for the longest current streak in the league.
Travis Randell won 13 of 20 faceoffs and is now some sort of faceoff ninja
Gillard is injured. I would ask if he wants me to kiss him better where it hurts, but he is a Newfie and thus I know he would suggest something naughty. Damn Newfies and their boy bits...always causing trouble.
New behbeh defencemen Trey Lewis and Jamie Bishop were playing and Bishop had a point and was awarded with the 3rd star of the game.
Desjardins, Gelinas, Dimitruk and Lemieux also had assists.
Now, some shitty Sea Dogs fans may chalk up their loss to their team playing like shit as opposed to the Mooseheads playing well. But I like to give credit where credit is due, and this time hard work and desire managed to finally pay off.
I am crazy busy. No time for anything but a stream of conscious rant about how the Moose lost 4-2 to the mutherfuckin Bathurst Titan. Besides, every thing that need be said has probably already been said by the newspapers (which I haven't even had a chance to read yet):
May I recommend the following promotion - Turnover night. A vast amount of turnovers contributed to the Mooseheads loss. During the next "turnover night" we, the fans, can express our disappointment in a most appropriate way - by throwing turnovers on the ice whenever one of our defenceman turns over the puck in our zone. This is a punishment that is both embarrassing and delicious.
Metcalfe and Hannay are sleeping on the sofa this week...and after I designed Matcalfe that fancy "hitman" shirt. Let it be known, however, that they are not the only Moose players who deserve to be beaned upside the head with a bakery good.
Less than 24 hours after playing the stacked Quebec Remparts hard in a 4-2 loss, the Mooseheads lost some of their edge on Sunday. They didn’t have the same intensity as the night before and it was their undoing in a game that seemed to set up well for a win.
"I think that’s our problem a little bit, we play good against good teams and not the same against bad teams," Knotek said. "I don’t want to say that Bathurst is not good but they’re obviously not as good as Quebec so we should play better against a team like that."
Then there is Jessyko! I don't know how to deal. We break up, and after the initial gorging on ice cream and the self-loathing induced consumption of ketchup chips (why?), he rebounds like a lady. How do we do it? We pick up our socks, go shopping for a new dress, buy some new lipstick, change our hair, and have frequent martini nights. Now Jessyko is looking fucking great. Suddenly he is all obvious on the ice. Just imagine if that backwards backhanded shot on net had made it in. What would I do then?
Do I just let him be free and totally amazing or do I try to win him back? I clearly still have feelings. Has he not noticed the amazing Bernard shirt I designed? Look at how the 23 dots the i.
Cookies to Alex Lemieux for his intense and aggressive forecheck. Sure Randell and Amyot got the goals, Grant had two assists, and Randell walked away with stars... but ohhhhh Lemieux just kinda turned my crank.
PS. Yes dear Moose, you are cold again.
PPS. New Bety shirt at the Zazzle store.
That game against Victoriaville last weekend never happened. I never wrote about it and thus it never happened. No cookies for anyone because it never happened.
Bullshit! I am nothing if not totally on the ball!
Last night the Mooseheads took on the Quebec Remparts at the Halifax Metro Centre and were defeated by a score of 4-2. The Moose had the Remparts on a tight leash until the third period when Stefanovich and Paquette were able to put two pucks past Corbeil to bring the score to 4-1. Jessyko Bernard scored for the Moose with less than 5 minutes left in the game but the Moose were unable to rally back to for a win...or less of a loss.
Points of order:
0/5 on the power play.WTF? It felt like the Moose were on a PP all night. Booo on the MF powerplay. The Remparts got one PP opportunity and they were able to take full advantage of it.
Brunet was wearing 3. That #3 jersey is the biggest slut. It has been making its rounds through the team. It doesn't even have a nameplate...so no one knows its name. I see lots of (what look to be) little wanna-be hos at the Mooseheads game, but the # 3 jersey takes the cake. Look out Hannay, it appears to be targeting defencemen.
I sat there and watched boys dawdle with the puck before shooting it on net. There was a failure with the quick release. Now, normally girls don't like quick release, but there are always exceptions, of which hockey is one. Jessyko displayed quick release skills on his onetimer. It got him a goal. It may also have gotten him more ice time in the last 5 minutes. Will he be stuck back on the 4th line tonight?
Hannay is so calm and smooth and dreamy and calm and smooth and dreamy and calm. You can call it slow, I will call it calm. I like how he smiles when he is punching people in the face. You can call it sadistic, I will call it zen. Sadly, he didn't punch anyone on the face last night. Read this story.
Lemieux fought Savoie. Unlike Jessyko's goal it was the unsatisfying kind of quick.
Some Quebec pussy refused to fight Metcalfe.
Carl Gelinas was the 3rd star with a goal and an assist. Lemieux brought the puck to the net and Gelinas managed to lift it up and over Gagnon amidst a flurry of chaos.
Corbeil flashed the leather and flashed the leather and flashed the leather. Props to trapper. Rawr. He is also taking more risks to corral the puck and stop the rebounds.
Desi fanned and fanned and fanned. Poor Desjardins.
Knotek won 15 of 23 faceoffs. Pelletier won 6 of 7.
I saw Garrett Clarke standing all alone, be-mohawked, be-suited and friendless. I wanted to keep him company (and fix his hair).
Dimitruk and I had a moment in the first period when he cleared the puck out of the Moose zone, and despite resistance from the Remparts, managed to get it all the way into their zone. No one else gave me a moment like that moment (well, maybe Gillard with some defensive plays and Jessyko in the third period for coming back and looking like Jessyko and actually being visible out there) and so - cookies to Dimitruk...even though he was on the ice for that Paquette goal. Please share with Jessyko.
The Halifax Mooseheads face off against the Moncton Wildcats tonight at 7:00pm. My possible future goalie husband Baby LBD will be there. Not that I am currently seeking a replacement for Martin Brodeur, because Marty rocks and the Devils rock and everyone said the Devils would fail to rock this year and yet there they are - still rocking. It's kinda like how the Earth revolves around the sun. But anyway, I was talking about LBD...I'm just saying Marty can't play forever and the door is always open should he break into the NHL someday.
The Moose are rearing to go.Everyone is back to healthy, everyone of course being Jessyko Bernard (flu) and Alexandre Brunet (groin). There may be some issue with Cam Russell wanting to re-ice last weekend's winning team...a team which was lacking in guys named Jessyko Bernard and Alexandre Brunet. I say that while it is nice to reward players for doing well it is somewhat cruel to punish a player for being injured.
I personally would like to see if Jessyko has changed. Did the flu leave him with superpowers? Did he fight of the flu Lucic style. Was he pugnacious with the flu or did he just lay there and let the flu do him like a pretty lady. Furthermore, will he be a monster on the ice (Lucic style)? This is a question best answered 'in game'.
Is he still handsome? Is he still stylish? These are questioned better answered while wearing a suit and tie and wandering the concourse.
I am torn! Which Jessyko do I want?I think that Jessyko can play 'tougher' than he has been playing lately. Not Clarke and Metcalfe tough...just tougher than his last few games. I think that toughness and sensitive actually can exist in the same man - like Hugh Jackman.Fancy dancing can be held to intermissions and pre-game warm ups,and sexy-dancing (Lucic Style) can take place mid-game.
For now I want toughness. Can Jessyko be ridiculed into pulling out his balls and placing them firmly on the chins of the Moncton Wildcats?
Victim #2: Jessyko Bernard
What? You are my boyfriend and you thought you were going to get away without kisses and hearts? What kind of woman do you think I am?
Listen dude, just because we are on a break it doesn't mean that I can't still want to laugh at your dancing and get all jealous when I see some other girl wearing a game worn Bernard jersey. I was going to bid on your Vees jersey last year but I did not. You should ask your ex-goalie about all the things I did NOT spend that money on. I think it eventually went towards the purchase of some shoes.
Anyholygiganticpuppy, you are aware that when you hit people you should be leaving little corpses in your wake, right? I had considered the possibility of putting butterflies in your wake (I have been seeing more of those lately) but went with a more optimistic outcome. Flying corpses it is!
Saint Bernard! It has a 'Boondock Saints' kinda ring to it. You could be a mutherfuckin' gangsta on the ice...but lately you have been more puppy than beast. A puppy is great for cuddling but I am pretty sure that the other teams (like most women) want to be ravaged. If you can't score take their limbs as a reward - their limbs or their women.
What? You think no one besides me cares that you have been playing like this. It might start to cost you games. Dude, the world now knows. This is a word visitor map of the last 100 hits to my blog as of 8:00 pm last Tuesday night. Yes, they know.
Mooseheads defenceman Alex 'coop' MacDonald has been sent down to the Jr. A Dieppe Commandos for an indefinate period of time. Indefinite in this case meaning, of course, infinite. Apparently, I don't even have to break up with my Mooseheads boyfriends because GM/coach Cam Russell can do that for me.
Randy Chisholm* has been called up to replace an ill Joel (insert umlauts above e) Grondin. This basically means that Chisholm will be sitting on a bench wearing a Mooseheads jersey.
In an attempt to get to me the flu has also attacked my (soon to be ex -) boyfriend Jessyko 'coop' Bernard (?). Must resist his charms.
What did I tell you about the flu? It is picking them off as I would. Look out Corbeil and Gillard - you might be next.
*sometimes, especially when I have been drinking, I make mistakes. Mistakes like calling Randy Chisholm by the name of Justin Collier. Shit happens...especially when you have had 3 glasses of wine ...and when you kinda hope for the statistically better goalie.
Excuse my lateness. My internet has been shittier than my hockey team's win/loss record.
Halifax vs Montreal Thurs Oct 29
Coming into this game the Montreal Jr were on a 6 game losing streak and were missing Star Goaltender Jake Allen. They were, what was considered by many, ripe for the picking. Apparently not so.
The Mooseheads lost by a score of 6-2 and possibly made me fall asleep. In my dreams Matt Stoddard sometimes looked like he was doing fancy things on the ice. You know the world has turned upside down when Stoddard starts to look like the fanciest boy on the ice for brief bouts.
Players worth mentioning include, and may be limited to: Tomas Knotek, who had both of the Mooseheads goals and who played an excellent game all by himself…starting midway through the game. Well hey…at least someone was able to turn it up...eventually.
Mathieu Corbeil got the start in nets but was pulled after allowing 4 goals in 28 shots, including one 24 seconds into the game. Upon being pulled Mat threw a bit of a tantrum and smashed his stick on the boards. Someone has an angry side. I like it.I expect every goalie to lose their shit at least once, and he who loses it the most fantastically with all the bells, whistles and fireworks is the one I heart the most. I like a guy with a nasty side.
Grondin came on in replacement and was solid, allowing goals only on a penalty shot and on a David Stich breakaway. This is where the horror begins. Now let me explain the penalty shot: Montreal’s Brenton was on a breakaway, he drove the net and he got his shot off. The shot was stopped by Grondin and then Brenton was touched by a Moosehead player…or at least that is what it looked like. Well apparently getting your shot off is not good enough for the refs because they gave him a total BS penalty shot on which he scored.
Fine! Now if that were not bad enough, a couple of minutes later a Moosehead gets hauled down in the offensive zone and David Stich gets a breakaway on the non–call. This also results in a goal. Coach Cam Russel proceeded to lose his shit by grabbing one of the boys sticks and breaking it over the bench. He did not look as good throwing a fit because he was not wearing goalie gear. Needless to say - Bench minor.
When all is said and done Montreal had 42 shots on net while the Moose had a meager 24 with 10 dangerous shots. The Moose went 0/4 on the PP while allowing 2 goals on 7 PP opportunities for Montreal.
Tomas Knotek walks away with 2 goals, a game star, and cookies; while Linden Bahm had an assist and Abeltshauser had 2 assists to ease the pain of his still crippled wrist. Spencer Metcalfe revealed that he likes Scott Stevens but I think he is just saying this to butter me up.
More nap time. Halifax lost to the Screagles by a score of 4-1. The Moose got their first and only goal when Hannay directed a wide shot on net which Linden Bahm was able to redirect…right past Olivier Roy. Hzaaa.
One goal, now it is time to relax, right?
One Moose goal was followed by 4 unanswered goals for the Screagels and yet another Mooseheads loss.
The Eagles had 2 goals on 5 power play opportunities and the Mooseheads were a dismal 0/6 on their own PP. Special teams are going right down the toilet lately. They also lost in the faceoff circle. I am beginning to believe that this team doesn’t even want to win…or they want to get someone fired. In the meantime we all suffer.
Other teams are beginning to realize that if they are on a losing streak (such as the Eagles inability to win at home) the Moose will help them break it. The Mooseheads are currently on an 11 game losing streak and are 1-17-0-1. It is also beginning to look as if they are losing momentum.
Positives: Linden Bahm has two points in his last two games. Way to step it up. I am looking for an upper-tier forward boyfriend. Are you available?
Cookies go to Sawyer Hannay who went toe-to-toe with that asshat Ashton Bernard and was not taken down. He got a couple of really great punches on Bernard and I always get excited whenever bad things happen to Ashton Bernard’s face (even though he is a Devils prospect). Whenever Hannay gets to play he moves higher and higher in the boyfriend rankings. I like him: he is tall, he can fight, his nose is not wonky (yet) and he appears to be well groomed. If this gets serious enough I might even consider getting a puppy with him.
Grondin played a pretty good game and made a number of big saves despite allowing 4 goals on 29 shots. He also looks likes his reaction time is getting a bit faster. At least the boy can corral pucks. I have learned, unfortunately, that Grondin did let the animals out of his proverbial 'forbidden petting zoo'. The goats were running about unleashed and got themselves into trouble.* They aren't ever coming home.
We need to talk. I don’t think this is working out, you and I. I am not the kinda girl to give ultimatums but I also am not the kinda girl to make spurious decisions – I just don’t know how I feel about you right now.Maybe we should take a break and see how this works out for us. Please don’t cry.
Q-girl
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* I don't want to have to follow through on my threat.
It was probably the best game I have seen all season (I was also the most drunk I have been all season). The game had hits galore, fights galore, and action galore. It was missing pussy galore but I am sure, as hockey players, the boys get enough of that.
Seeing Gabe O'Connor made me really miss Gabe O'Connor. Even in a Huskies jersey he remains totally studmuffinly. I have yet to apply the term studmuffin to any of our new defencemen...or old defencemen. Is the problem mine or theirs?
For real hockey analysis see the links at the end of the page. Gillard was the boy thrown out to the press wolves, so if you want more Gillard in your life then click the damn links.
So about today's post - well I was drunk last night - so I don't remember many details. I remember feelings. Feelings and goal videos. My overall mood was happiness with a side of friskiness (and we can't blame any Mooseheads for that, it was totally due to my boyfriend's pre-game actions).
Goals: Gerrrad Grant had the first goal of the game. I love goals by boys at home because they mean I get as-of-yet-unseen goal videos. I should have recorded Grant's goal video - it is a classic.
Congrats to Gabe Desjardins on his first goal of the season. Now keep it up. I want more (I know I am selfish). Gabe had a "call me" goal video, and I would indeed accept a call from him, but his goal video was not as swanky as Andrew White's "call me" goal video. I am still waiting on that call from Whitey.
Give cookies to: Jessyko Bernard for his non-power play goal. It would have been a game winner had the huskies not tied it up with 30 seconds remaining and their net empty. Jessyko knows that I keep cookies on the top shelf and he is one of the few boys tall enough to reach them. I heard that ding as the puck bounced off the crossbar and into the net. I love that sound.
Bonus points to Bety for assisting on both the Bernard and Desjardins goals. Jessyko please give one cookie each to Grant, Desjardins and Bety. I would suggest you give a cookie to Knotek but everybody already knows he is good - hence all those stars he has been accumulating.
Monster in the Nets: Thanks for the wink.
Corbeil stopped 36 of 39 shots put on net for a whopping 0.923 sv%. I have requested that Jessyko give Mathieu 45% of his cookies. I decided against giving him cookies because he got one of those golden Macaroni stars which are handed out at the end of the game; he also earned my 'baby Steve Mason award' for hard work and endurance. It includes a digital picture of Baby Steve Mason for motivation...and not much else. I also request that Mathieu share 20 % of his cookies with Baby Steve Mason.
I have lots of boyfriends with the surname MacDonald: Alex MacDonald was a healthy scratch again. This pisses me off more than you would ever know. Why was Alex considered good enough (mmmm safe and steady) last year and a dud this year after he played a whopping 4 games? Last year everyone wanted him to develop and said he would become a good young defenceman and then suddenly he is not even given the chance to play.
He had better be sitting out because he has a severe case of the secret cooties, because we all know that you don't get better sitting in the press box. Technically speaking he is still a young man - only 18, and so he still has time to 'up' his game. I thought the Moose were going to rotate players more this year - they are not. The same boys sit out game after game.
I know you probably think I am being a fool but we all know that I get extremely defensive over my irrationally chosen boyfriends. If I want to defend him because he was the tall, charming boy who handed me my season tickets then so be it.
I also would like to know why when one boy makes a mistake it is OK with the Mooseheads fans but should another boy make the same mistake then it is like he has shot the fucking queen.
Shootouts: Last year Yuri Cheremetiev was 1/8 in the shootout. Knotek was 2/8, Grant was 1/3, Bety was 1/2, Bernard was 1/2, and Desjardins was 0/1. Piette never had a shootout chance (crazy, I know) and now he does not belong to us.
When the shootout came I knew it was going to be Knotek, Grant and a third. This is very easy to predict. I had mentally (and verbally) suggested Gelinas, then magically I had received Gelinas. Knotek - no goal, Grant - no goal, Gelinas - GOAL... and he was the only one to score in the shootout.
Tied 1/1 and going on the 4th shooter. I then would have recommended Bety (or Bernard or Desjardins) but noooooo the motherfucker (Cam, I presume) put in Cheremetiev and he failed to score. He did the same low shot along the ice that he always does when he is trying to deke the goalie. Dude, if I have you figured out don't you think the people who actually play hockey have also figured you out.
NO MORE CHEREMETIEV IN THE SHOOTOUT PLZ. In his QMJHL career he is 2/10. If we know he can't really succeed then try to give someone else a chance. I am tired of watching the same boys try and then fail. Let someone else fail for a change.
EDIT: oh how could I forget - the new Mac Mascot is absolutely hideous. I would have taken old Mac to bed for a quick cuddle but new Mac looks like a total jerk and I wouldn't even give him the privilege of getting a fake phone number from me at the bar. I would just walk away.
I know, I know! I never write, I never call, heck I don't even PM. I leave you at home weeping into your keyboard and wondering if I will ever type the words blow job ever again. For my absence I am sorry. I have a little thing called a job (is a PhD a job?) and it has silly things like deadlines and pressures. Since today is a sunny day and I am involved in a vast conspiracy for slacking off while drinking beers on the rooftop of 'Your Father's Moustache' this afternoon, I figured I could also take a little time to slack in advance.
Moose news? What is that? Admittedly my post draft rants have been slow coming and I never listed all of our new draftees. It is with open arms I welcome following boys into the fold. No, they can't nuzzle into my boobies quite yet. I need to see them in a jersey first.
Round 1( #15) Brent Andrews 1993-01-19 6'1" 183
Round 2 (#19) Jamie Bishop 1993-03-14 6'0" 168
Round 3 (#49) Matthew Boudreau 1993-03-09 5'8" 149
Round 10 (#163) Brett Bernard 1992-02-24 5'11" 170
Round 11 (#181 ) Steve Gillard 1992-02-01 5'10" 184
Round 12 (#197) Kody Orr 1992-10-11 6'0" 170 I know nothing about these boys (except we drafted a lot of guys who want to go NCAA) but on draft weekend Matthew Wuest had a lot of coverage and so I will direct you to him. His pick by pick coverage is excellent except he fails to provide info on who the little hotties are. I suggest you stick with reading his stuff because he is all in the know and likely hasn't offered anyone a blowjob for information recently. This means he is legit. Me? Not so much!
Today you can read a post about our first round pick Brett Andrews. Andrews is still not sure if he wants to report and I am making angry fists in his general direction until he decides to come here.
“We’re not sure yet. We’re in discussions,” Andrews, 16, told the Charlottetown Guardian from his home in Hunter River, P.E.I. “It was a pretty big surprise. I didn’t expect them to pick me that high.”
The Moose are getting with the times: The Mooseheads have also started a twitter feed and it is making me feel all tingly in my nethers. The next step may be a website overhaul. I mean really guys - get on it! They also had game announcer John Moore write about the draft. Maybe they can actually get around to getting him a real blog page like the Wildcats did with Les Stoodley. Not that I want to be pushed to the edge of the Moose blog-o-verse by a bunch of team sanctioned legits. I wish that blogging would get me free season tickets. Wouldn't that be nice?
The Moose used their twitter to show me this: I mean, look at this fancy shnazmatazz (not a word)!!! This is Gabe the 2nd (now, Gabe the only) wearing our new jersey. The team put a picture up on their website but quickly removed it. I have yet to see a picture of the new uniform in full. I just have one complaint. I know Gabe is pretty and all, and he is one of the few boys still around since he is going to school in Halifax, but dearest team - you must use more than one player for promotions.I hope to see more varied and different faces on promotional materials. 4th line players are still Mooseheads, ya' know!I need a little more MacDonald mullett in my life.
Ball hockey: The CBC Play-On Ball Hockey tournament is taking place on the Halifax Commons this weekend. The Mooseheads will be playing a game against the Moncton Wildcats. I wonder if Gabe the 1st (now, Gabe the Huskie) will be playing or if he has been disowned by our ball hockey team as well. Will Brent Andrews lose his NCAA eligibility if he takes Gabe's place on the ball hockey team?
I will be there - but only because I will be acting as cheerleader, fluffer and trainer for my boyfriend...or at least that is what I will tell him. I may skulk over to the Mooseheads game and get my drool on.
Wuests' next big three: Matthew Wuest has also updated his Q-flies to discuss three players that he thinks will have an impact next year. Included on the list are Gerrad "model's body" Grant*, Jessyko "puppy" Bernard, and Pascal "I don't have a nickname for him yet" Amyot.
This is what he has to say about Jessyko:
For a 20-game stretch last year, Bernard was scoring at a point-per-game pace on the top line with Tomas Knotek. Then he disappeared. But at 18, he'll be asked to take on a scoring-line role and has size and hands to rise to the occasion.
Wonderful. We like to blame Jessyko's lost production on a series of injuries/aggravated injuries during the second half. I have huge faith is Jessyko. Why didn't I bid on that Bernard limited edition V's Jersey? Blame the goalie!
Anyway, the point I want to make is not about the praise - it is about the dis below. Why do we let people comment in the newspaper? If they want a voice they can get a blog like me and then people can choose to read it or not to read it.
Newspaper comments bombard me with idiocy - I hate them. Metro reader Sonny says "Bernard would have to be in a lot better shape that he was to have a breakout season, his stamina was very low also he has to lose his hot dog attitude ( as in no more between period interviews, please)"
Sonny is clearly on crack. Jessyko's intermission interviews were the one thing I actually had to look forward to at last year's games. I want to see more singing, more fancy suits, more stylin' glasses, more luxurious mullet growth and the pimpin'est shoes - faux snakeskin perhaps. I wonder if he can dance in his blades? Hmmmmm? I think he should definitely give that a try. Never mind the bollocks, Jessyko.
NHL Draft: I could compile a list of players from the Q who are expected to go in this years draft. If I am feeling like science is bogging me down I might just do it....or I might just opt for what I have been doing during my downtime all week - lapsing into a vegetative state on the sofa. I hope that Simon Despres and Olivier Roy get their just placements in the draft. I think it is about time the Devils drafted a new young goalie with a high pick. I also wish Gabriel O'Connor good luck with the draft and I really really hope that he has caught the eye of at least one NHL team who is willing to give him a chance.
Goalies: Olivier Roy (Cape Breton) and Jake Allen (Montreal) have been invited to the Hockey Canada's national junior development camp in August. Congrats to the boys. I lubs me some goalie. I especially lubs me my Q- goalies. I am glad we will have two goalies reppin' the Q this year.
*Sweetie - I am NEVER going to let you live that down.
According to Willy Palov's latest article Mooseheads lose second game of road trip, we can expect to see Yetman back in nets and Jessyko Bernard may possibly be out with a shoulder injury. Massage? The game is just not complete without Jessyko. He is the sprinkles on my sundae. I added a picture of him to this post just to make it a bit more colorful and tastee. See, he is totally sprinkles.
Also, while we enjoy ourselves some Yeti, I am distressed that I never get to spend quality time with my boyfriend elect MCT. Our relationship is rocky at best because of the time we don't spend together. It could be worse, he could be LBD. LBD has only played 10 games this year, while MCT has been in for 22.
I had some schemes up my sleeve sweet Mat: seduce Yeti...then wear him out, poison him and beat him up. I tried, but he never fell for it. I also don't think I could have gone through with it - he has those sad puppy dog eyes, he plays the puck more and I am fond of his snappy lobster-like glove. Yeti could be getting many more cookies. With the way he has been playing lately he at least deserves to be licking the crumbs off the plate, but I don't go there because I know how much Mat loves cookies; we can't be giving Yeti both the starts and the cookies! Can we?
1) Chad Earle has 6 points (2G, 4A) in 13 games since joining Victoriaville. Photo evidence suggests that he has also gotten more attractive. You may not recognize him...which is good because this slick beautiful Chad Earle is our enemy now. 2) Points wise, Victoriaville are not so fancy. Keep your eyes open for Baby Tanguay (45 pts), Nestracil (43 pts) and Labonte (41 pts). 3) Try to get Labonte worked up. He appears to be prone to taking penalties. There is nothing quite like getting a team's top scorers trapped in a box. 4) Don't let little Brandon Hynes chew on your ankles.
Hey Good Lookins. Nice to see that you have finally woken up. I made you pancakes with raspberry coulis and I put on a big pot of coffee. Get some clothes on those hot little bodies of yours and meet me in the kitchen mmmkay?
God, your 'morning-after' hair is cute. Have a seat at the table; I'll pour you a coffee. What is that music? Oh that is Radiohead.
No, I am not changing the music. I really wouldn't expect you to listen to them. Stupid jock *sighs*. What? No, nothing! I didn't say anything!
Anyway, do you like the pancakes? The raspberries are too sweet? Sorry, I did have a little accident with the sugar, but if I were you I don't think I would be in any position to complain, especially after last night.
Let me explain. I think you are hot* and everything, you get me all riled up, but last night was a little disappointing. When I first saw you I didn't know what to think. I saw two different girls slip their hands between your thighs in under 10 minutes and you did nothing to stop them. I thought you were a total man ho. Every little piece that came your way was all over you. I have no idea how it was that you ended up coming home with me.
Oh yeah. I had fun. It was fun. You look good, you smell good, and you are really really big. What is the average height of your defensive corps again? But the thing is, and I don't want you to be offended or anything, but your technique is sloppy. There were so many times that we got so close. The net was all open for ya baby, all you had to do was go for it, but you panicked. You were just slapping your stick at things and flailing around.
You had me screaming for you, you had me all flustered...but you just didn't have that finish. I was left more than a little disappointed. No it's OK, I'm used to it, but you just need to be calm, you need to use those soft hands. I was told that you are not very skilled, but ummmm, you definitely showed it last night.
The rundown: The game was Halifax's to win and they had, like, so many opportunities to get the puck in the net but they just could not do it. Eight power play opportunities, one power play goal. Ugh. 35 shots on net. Dopud was not overflowing with mad skills, the little bastard was simply lucky that no one could lift that puck up over his tiny body when it was down.
The Oceanic had gotten 2 goals (Cormier, Delisle-Hood) on 4 shots by the end of the first period, slutty slutty five-hole goals that just trickled in through Yetman. Just before we gave up all hope Muttley (from Dick Dastardly) got the puck into the Oceanic net on a sloppy rebound at 19:55.
Then I had ample reason to hate on Gougeon again because as that little douche was heading to the locker room he mocked Jessyko's goal video. I want to gouge out his eyeballs with a spoon and feed them to him... maybe the protein will help him grow.
The Moose showed a moment of skill on the power play when Tomas Knotek faked on a shot (maybe, it is hard to tell if the little fake was there), passed to Desjardins who was on the other side of the slot, and then Desjardins hit it home. Passes that connect, and calm skill...it was nice. No hesitation, no fear, no panic.
But that was it: Delisle-Hood and Caron got two power play goals (2 of 6) for the Oceanic in the late second and mid-third period. Former Moosehead Logan MacMillan had an assist on the Delisle-Hood goal. The refs were being zombocratic...making calls for both sides on things that did not appear to be penalties.
Yetman got it together later in the game and finished the night off with 28 saves on 32 shots, including having shut down a few break-away opportunities for the Oceanic. He may also have received a lecture on water bottle placement.
Piette was once again King of faceoffs having won 12 of 16. Moose dominated the faceoffs, winning 43 of 69.
Randell, I am fond of you, and you know I love a kicky Newf accent, but you are just not Power play material. Please tell your coaches this. In 51 games you have 14 points- 5 goals and 9 assists. You have one power play goal. I think the coaching staff are trying to make you into something you are not. I mean maybe you ARE power play material in practice, but it is just not translating in the real game. I saw you Friday, you had that perfectly clear shooting lane...and you passed. I am not the kind of person who yells shoot all willy nilly... that is for fools, but honey, you should have shot.
So yeah Moose, you were good, you tried hard, it was lots of fun (at least for me), and you are really nice to look at but you just couldn't get it done. Do you want a second try? How about Tuesday?
* I don't care if you are good looking Stransky...you are not allowed to say that you are good looking. Wrong answer. Please see my lecure to Mark " I am good looking" Yetman and Gerrad "I have the body of a model" Grant. You are now officially on my list of boys to mock.
I am sick. Not only because kids have come back to town, dragging along with them their exotic diseases from Ontario and Newfoundland, and I, in usual form, have been licking too many dicks (not true) and doorknobs (possibly true), but I am also sick because the Mooseheads have released two players: 19 year old forwards Chad Earle and Matt Snow.
According to Wuest: The 6-foot-1, 193-pound Earle had seven goals and five assists in 39 games with the Mooseheads, providing offensive hustle and the ability to put the puck on the net.Snow, a speedy 5-foot-10, 180-pounder from Halifax, had three goals and six assists in 25 games.
Sigh. Chad Earle, ye shall be missed.
I am about to be mean now - do not read this Mr Boland.
WHAT THE FUCK? EARLE GOES AND BOLAND STAYS. FUCK YOU PATENAUDE. Earle, 8th in goals on the team - gone- so we can keep Boland's toughness, which basically equals a bunch of lost fights, 1 goal, 2 assists and a bum shoulder. Not only that, but amongst the guys who have played more than 30 games on the team, Earle has one of the better +/- stats, at -8, and a whole lotta hustle. Some would say "Earle is soft", to which I would reply "soft is nice for touching".
This makes Gerrad Grant's, December player of the month award seem so much less bitterness inducing. Grant won player of the month for one goal, an assist an a 0+/-. Earle had 1 goal, one assist and a -2 for the month of December. Matt Snow also had a 1 goal and 1 assist with a 0+/-. One gets a prize, the other two get dropped from the team - because they are 19.
Why do I get attached?
At least I still have puppy, the Moosehead's winner of the RDS mid-season rookie excellence award. Here, from the QMJHL website, is the full list of winners (stupid dolts, they spelled his* name wrong):
I do... just know that. I am sorry that I cursed Patenaude to hell when he drafted my 'new puppy' in the 4th round instead of Noseworthy. How was I to know? I don't follow US prep-school hockey, or MJAHL hockey. Noseworthy had charmed me with his eyebrows. I have an extreme weakness for great eyebrows... and if those eyebrows are on goaltenders, defencemen or checking-line forwards, then all the better.
I was wrong. I now want to pet the puppy.
The game was awesome. It was an orgasmic loss, 6-5, but it was still totally awesome. I was like "Give cookies to"... Earle, no wait... make that Pender, no Piette, puppy?, no Yuri, maybe Gab, no Pender, wait wait... Eric uhhhhh yeah Eric it is.
There was a lot of oohing and ahhhhing and shouting yes yes, then no, then fuck me, then fuck Joey Haddad (never), then fuck Yetman. I say ohhhh (like Oh oh oh ohhhhh) a lot. Sometimes hockey renders me speechless.
The game: Cape Breton opened up the scoring late in the first period, with a break away goal by Gauthier. I have no idea what Yetman was doing to stop him. The only logical explanation I can come up with is that he came out to challenge Gauthier, was beamed up by aliens, they realized this was not the one they want (it was supposed to be Tokarski) so they returned him...on his belly. It happened so fast we didn't even notice that he disappeared, then re-appeared, face down.
Team Canada Aside: If only the aliens had gotten Tokarski... and kept him, maybe probed him or something. Honestly, if you are going to be spending that much time on your knees things should be going in your mouth, not between your legs!!!
Chris Culligan scored only seconds later to bring the Eagles up 2-0. I was starting to get angry feelings toward my goalie.
However, Justin Pender then got the Moose up a goal on the power play, assisted by Piette and Cheremetiev. Pender was playing as a forward last night, on a line with Eric Louis-XVI, as well as playing his usual spot as a defenceman on the point in the PP. We don't have enough forwards: Knotek (World under 20s), Desjardins (under 17s), Stransky (suspension), and O'Brien (illness) are all out.
In the second period things really got rolling. Yuri Cheremetiev (likely not the best dressed guy on the team, meaning that MacDonald has bad taste... prob because he doesn't brush his teeth, it is all circular) tied it up early in the first, with assists by Dick Dastardly and Muttley (good puppy).
Hooray - tied. This will last forever and ever...'till we pull out a last minute win? No, Cape Breton then pulled ahead by two goals, finishing the period up 4-2, with goals by Chouinard and Meilleur. I could have swore I saw Joey Haddad bat in a high bouncing puck, but he gets no credit...so I guess that never happened.
The Moose came back in the third with goals by Dick Dastardly and Muttley. It is almost as if, should one of them be doing well, the other must follow suit. MacAskill and Bahm assisted on the Dastardly goal, and puppy's goal was a beautiful unassisted top shelfer, where he came in to the left of Roy and put it between Roy and the post to hit the top right hand side of the net (I think). Crazy angle. The fact that it was a tying goal made it even sweeter.
Then, in an attempt to ruin my night Gauthier (unassisted) responded for Cape Breton with only 5 minutes remaining in the game. Yeti deserved to be the one getting slapped around - don't ruin this on me boy.
OT solved nothing, so onto the shootout we went. It was arggggggg. Gauthier (what is with that guy?) scored on Yetman, while Cheremetiev got the first shot for the Moose - but nothing was getting past Roy...especially since Cheremetiev hadn't tried any 'moves'. Dick Dastardly was also goal-less in the shootout. Haddad, put one past a sprawling Yetman. Eagles win.
Quick notes:
MacAskill made a nice neutral ice hit.
Hits were up, way up. Good= hits = energy= the kinda game I love.
Yuri had a breakaway chance but instead of driving the net he decided to go wide, thus allowing the Eagles defence to catch up to him. Mathematically, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Just go to the net.
Mark Yetman allowed 5 goals on 36 shots.
Olivier Roy allowed 5 on 42 shots
Our PP was meow - 3 in 5.
We dominated the faceoffs. One again Piette was a machine, winning 12 of 16.
I could complain and say why wasn't Greer playing forward intead of sitting, but hey.
Yuri has had 4 shootout chances this year, and no shoot-out goals - time to give someone else a chance. Pender was hot, so I would have gone with Bety, Bernard and Pender. Not that my opinion matters. If I made a team they would just be pretty, good at massaging my feet and willing to fetch me beer.
CB should stop running my goalie
Stars went to Gauthier (#3), Piette (#2), Culligan (#1)
Kevin Cormier was fan favorite #15
What is not cool - Metro Centre shoving the score of the Canada/Russia game down my throat. THAT is not what I want down my throat. I was TIVOing the game asshats. Way to ruin my life.
Clearly my pics are not from last night's game. Black is a good winter colour. I like the all black uniform. Damn they look good.
The Halifax Mooseheads defeated the Bathurst Titan 3-2 in the shootout. The game winning goal was scored by Gerrad Grant. Mark Yetman stopped 22 shots. Well they showed me, didn't they. I missed most of the game but I was saying before the shootout don't put GG in, he misses the net. He proved me wrong. He was all like "in your face stupid bitch". Stupid bitch indeed.
Moose had 41 shots on net, but most were from the outside. Halifax goals were by Piette and Knotek in regulation. Jessyko Bernard and Gerrad Grant got the goals in the 8 round shootout. Yetman made 7 saves in the shootout and received third star honours.
Mah Boo Tomy Joly had both goals for the Titan and was first star of the game. He must learn that the easiest way to my heart is by NOT making my team look like fools. Damn him. I am torn. Bathurst goaltender Nicholas Champion received 2nd star honours for his 39 save performance.
Dear boys, When it goes onto shootout and you are going backhand - GO HIGH. Jessyko is such a good puppy. Do as Jessyko did - it will get you goals. That is, unless you are Pender, in which case you should just stick with the scarey-ass slapshot. Fancy moves ARE NOT your thing. Thanks kisses and cookies Q
Everyone knows that my lust for Travis Fullerton is so strong that I am capable of overlooking the occasional moustache thing he has going on. I may, in fact, even find his moustache kinda sexy. I would lick it.
...and yet my team is currently suffering from a major overdose of hair in the upper lip region. I do not like it. Is it all just a dare? Why is it spreading from face to face? Is it a joke? Goalie mask shadow? Are some of these mistakes from attempted puberty beards gone horribly wrong?
I have not been feeling well this week...in my brain. Sad even, very sad, irrationally bursting into tears while grinding pepper into my supper kind of sad. Drinking alone kind of sad. Hence my slack-ass-ed-ness when it comes to posting. Here is what has been going on in Moose country this week:
Moose lose to the Screaming Eagles 5-2: Yeti looked pretty good in the first period, being pounded by 19 shots and allowing only one goal to start. Then the second period happened. He stopped 34 pucks in the loss. Holden gets the win for Cape Breton. Nick Chouinard got a hat trick for Cape Breton after he potted an empty netter in the last 30 seconds of play.
The rest of the Moose were hobos to start the game. They had to wait until the end for Cape Breton to let up a bit before they could get their game on. Knotek and Bernard had goals for Halifax, both in the third period and both on the Power Play, thus breaking that little PP rut we were in. It was nice to see Knotek off the point and in closer to the net, that is where a guy with soft hands belongs. Ben MacAskill looked really good. Every time something nice would happen I would say to myself "hey who did that?" - and it was Ben. So kudos to Ben.
In other Moose news: The team is giving Ontario free agent, and 18 year old defenceman, Jeremy Dunn a tryout. Dunn was in practice with the herd all week but apparently that was not enough time to evaluate him, so now he is on the road with the team as they do Cape Brenton and Saint John.
Rookie Forward Gabriel Desjardins has made the Quebec under 17 team. Congrats to Gabriel and good luck with all that. Moncton's baby goalie LBD also made the team.
GM Marcel Patenaude talks to the media and Matthew Wuest shows us how we are the second oldest team in the league, with an average age of 18.24, second to only the Remparts. I pointed out way back in October that we were the oldest team in our division. According to Wuest's article on the Oldness of our team:
They’re also tied for the league lead with eight 19-year-olds, at least five of whom won’t be on the roster next season.
So with the Mooseheads second-to-last in the QMJHL standings with seven wins in 25 games, what gives?
Turns out, it’s no picnic digging out from a failed run at a Memorial Cup, particularly when a handful of draft picks went out the door in a trade for Brad Marchand.
“It’s not the best situation,” one rival general manager said, “but it all comes down to the Marchand trade. They tried to please their fans and it was the right thing to do, but it didn’t work out. It’s something they have to live with.”
Some might call it an identity crisis, but it’s fair to say the Mooseheads are both old and rebuilding.
They’ve had to patch some holes with veterans, but they have yet to cut a younger player in favour of an older player. All of their top prospects — except for high draft pick Alex Lemieux, who left on his own volition — are on the roster.
The Mooseheads are also tied for second in the league with 10 rookies. All of them are aged 18 or younger. Mooseheads GM Marcel Patenaude is quick to stress he has “a good base of 16-, 17- and 18-year-olds” to build around.
Truth of the matter is that we actually have more than 10 rookies because we have 19 year old rookies (Snow, Earle) and Greer who played last year as well but he played so few games that he still qualifies as a rookie. Then the young players we did draft, who did make the roster, do not necessarily see ice time. In 26 games this season Ryan Matheson has only seen the ice 4 times. Richie Greer has only graced us with his presence 6 times.
There is praise all around for Jessyko Bernard: Willy Palov has written two bits about Jessyko Bernard and the team youngsters. They even talk to Yeti and the way they quote him makes him seem all smart (literate) and nice. Deft touch gets Bernard Promoted Veterans impressed by youngsters
"I feel really good," said Bernard, who is tied with Cheremetiev for third place in team scoring with 14 points. "Our line is just starting to click right now. We scored a couple of goals up in Quebec and I just think it’s just going to keep getting better and better as time goes by."
At six-foot-two and 200 pounds, Bernard has the type of size NHL scouts covet. If he is able to make some improvement to his foot speed, his combination of skill and size could be enough to catch someone’s eye at the NHL draft in June.
"I try not to think about it," Bernard said. "It kind of throws you off if you do. But if I keep working hard maybe my name will get called in June’s draft. But there’s still a long way to go."
