Vuic, Mooseheads edge Sea Dogs 3-2
by Scott MacIntosh
Brandon Vuic has picked up in the preseason where he left off at training camp. The hulking forward, who scored three times in three games at camp, electrified the crowd at the Dartmouth Sportsplex Saturday night with a Gordie Howe “Hat Trick” in the Mooseheads victory over the Saint John Sea Dogs.
Vuic set up 16-year-old Brett Crossley for the game’s opening goal at 8:05 of the first period and then banged home a rebound off an Andrew Shewfelt shot on the power play at 12:55.
The Watertown, Ontario native then dropped the gloves with Alex McQuaid late in the second period to finish off the feat.
“I didn’t go out there and try to complete it you know it just sort of happened, it was chippy out there all night,” he said following the game.
Teammates and fans gave him a rousing ovation when he returned from the penalty box in the 3rd period.
“Yeah the crowd and the boys really got me going there. I think just being a little bit older and having more ice time kind of helps with the confidence level for sure.”
For rookie Brett Crossley, who’s trying to crack the Mooseheads lineup at age 16, his goal couldn’t have come at a better time.
“I mean your first shot first goal you can’t really ask for more than that, but full credit goes to Vuic who really set that up and all I had to do was open my blade to that angle and deflect it up and into the net,” Crossley said.
The other Mooseheads goal came from second year defenseman Jacob Jacques, who slipped one past Sea Dogs goalie Tommy Viboux in the second period with assists going to Sam Leblanc and Max Fortier.
Kevin Resop made the start in goal for Halifax and stopped all eight shots he faced, while Kevin Martin entered the game at the 11:21 mark of the second period and saved seven of nine shots.
Steffano Pezzetta was credited with both Saint John goals, although the second tally came off the stick of Taylor Ford, who’s clearing attempt to a bad bounce and wound up in the Mooseheads net.
Halifax outshot the Sea Dogs 35-17 in the game which featured a combined 66 penalty minutes.
Crossley was playing in his hometown with plenty of family in the stands and said he was happy with the outcome, both personally and for the club.
“They made the first cuts so it’s kind of getting down to the make it or die situation and that gave me a little extra motivation out there tonight.”
The Mooseheads are on the road Sunday afternoon at 4pm against the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles and will face the Sea Dogs once again next Saturday at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre in Truro. Tickets are available at Antlers Store, at the RECC and online at ticketpro.ca.
