January 15th, 2010
Veronneau posts first ‘Q’ win as Eagles double Sags
SYDNEY — Alex Veronneau posted his first Quebec Major Junior Hockey League victory Wednesday night, a win that was rewarded by a kiss from a really big fan after the game.
“I was pretty excited to have my first start and I think I tried to work hard and give the best I could,” said the 16-year-old puckstopper, who was interrupted by a light-hearted peck on the cheek from teammate Ashton Bernard during a post-game interview with the Cape Breton Post.
“The guys are nice. We have pretty good team spirit. It’s nice to play here in Cape Breton with the fans supporting our team.”
The rookie from Laval, Que., steered aside 21 shots in a 4-2 win over the Chicoutimi Sagueneens at Centre 200. But Veronneau’s teammates, along with showing their netminder some love after the game, did the same on the ice for the first two periods. Cape Breton held Chicoutimi to 10 shots over the first 40 minutes of play and built a comfortable 4-0 cushion heading into the third.
“It’s way faster than in midget ‘AAA’,” said Veronneau, who graduated from the Laval Montreal Rousseau Royal of the Quebec midget ‘AAA’ league. “I’ve had a week to adjust myself and it was my first game, but with the practise and everything, it wasn’t too hard for me. But there’s an adaptation, for sure.”
But the third period was another story. The Sagueneens outshot the Eagles 13-9 in the final frame and scored twice, both goals off the stick of Dominic Jalbert. The effort in the final stanza left a sour taste in the mouth of Eagles head coach and general manager Mario Durocher despite the win.
“It was not a good way to prepare,” he said. “On small details, we were there the first two periods and in the third period, we lost faceoffs, took bad penalties and were second on the puck.
“We played well the first two periods and had the advantage in the score and made a difference in the game. Hopefully, they keep the energy for (tonight), but I’m really pissed about that situation in the third period.”
It didn’t take long for newly-acquired Jacob Lagacé to sting his former team. He struck 45 seconds into the game for his first goal with the Eagles and 31st on the season. Taylor MacDougall followed with his 11th and scored the hard way, taking a point shot from Stephen Woodworth off the visor which ricocheted past Sagueneens netminder Robin Gusse. Jan Piskacek gave Cape Breton a 3-0 advantage with his third of the season, as the Eagles outgunned the Sagueneens 16-4 in the first. Cape Breton continued to pressure in the second frame, with Félix Bergeron netting his first QMJHL goal at 16:43.
Gusse’s record fell to 7-12 on the season after steering aside 29 shots in a losing cause.
The Eagles (26-15-2-3, 57 points) will look for their third-straight win tonight when they host the P.E.I. Rocket at 7 p.m. Sunday, they complete their homestand against the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, a 4 p.m. start.
NOTES: Defenceman Kalin Paul (upper body) could be ready for Sunday, but is listed as day-to-day. He was hurt during his fight with Will Johnson of the Saint John Sea Dogs Friday in Saint John. Forwards Stephen Horyl (upper body) is still listed as day-to-day, while Max Legault (lower body) could be back in the lineup next week. Forward Nick Parker (lower body) has joined the Eagles and is doing rehab with the team. Estimates are two to three weeks to get him back into the lineup.
tjcolello@cbpost.com
