Eagles Blank Sags In Jacob Newcombe’s Return To Action
NOTES FROM THE GAME
– The Cape Breton Eagles shut out the Chicoutimi Saguenéens 3-0 on Hockey Fights Cancer night at the Nest as Eagles forward Jacob Newcombe, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in July, made his season debut after having finished his chemotherapy. Newcombe is now cancer free, and had family in attendance for the game- prior to puckup, his mother Stephanie Gray Newcombe spoke to the team and read out the starting lineup in the dressing room.
– The Eagles scored once in each period in recording the victory, with the goals coming from Antoine Roy, Lucas Romeo, and Charles-Antoine Lavallée. By assisting on the opening goal, Eagles defenseman Brayden Schmitt extended his point streak to seven games.
– Nicolas Ruccia picked up the shutout, stopping all 29 Chicoutimi shots. Former Eagle Rémi Delafontaine took the loss, stopping 22 of 25. With the shutout, the Eagles have set a team record with eight shutouts as a team in a season, with five from Ruccia and three by Jakob Milota.
– In honour of the Hockey Fights Cancer night, the Eagles wore specially designed purple jerseys in support of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation & the Tom MacNeil Cancer Patient Care Fund. The jerseys were raffled off to fans who purchased tickets.
Roy’s goal came off of a rebound at the 10:20 mark of the opening period, the only marker in a first frame that saw the Eagles outshoot the Sags 13-8. Chicoutimi carried the play in the second, but once again, it was the home team that hit the scoresheet when Romeo finished a three way passing play in front of the goal. (Earlier in the period, a would be power play marker for Cape Breton’s Emile Ricard was disallowed after a review determined the play was offside.)
Lavallée’s goal early in the third frame capped off a two point night for the big Eagles forward, as the Romeo/Roy/Lavallée line was on the ice for all three Cape Breton goals. Chicoutimi pressed for the shutout- pulling the goaltender with 4:35 to go- but couldn’t find the back of the net.
The Eagles’ home stand continues Saturday as the Eagles take on the Saint John Sea Dogs, featuring NHL drafted players Matteo Mann (Philadelphia) & Tyler Peddle (Columbus), along with Sydney native Darien Reynolds. It’s Student Saturday at the Nest, as tickets are $7 for those 18 and under! Puck drop is at 7 PM. Tickets can be purchased at https://shorturl.at/abAFV. They are also available for purchase in person at the Centre 200 box office and by the phone during box office hours at 902-564-2200
THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Jacob Newcombe (Cape Breton) 2 shots, 2/2 on faceoffs, 1 hit
2. Nicolas Ruccia (Cape Breton) 29
3. Charles-Antoine Lavallée (Cape Breton) 1 goal, 1 assist, +3
Scratches For Cape Breton: Conor Shortall (upper body injury), Zach Biggar (upper body injury)<Angelo Fullerton (illness)
Scratches For Chicoutimi: Jacob Lafontaine (injury), Colby Train, Christophe Berthelot
Final Shots On Goal: 29-25 in favour of Chicoutimi
Cape Breton Power Play: 0/4
Chicoutimi Power Play: 0/2
