MOOSEHEADS THUMP KNIGHTS
SASKATOON, SK – The Halifax Mooseheads have booked their spot in at least the semi-final of the 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup with a convincing 9-2 win over the London Knights in Game 5 of the round robin on Tuesday night at Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon, SK.
The victory leaves the QMJHL Champion Mooseheads with a 2-1 record, while the OHL Champion Knights’ loss puts them at 1-2, meaning they will have to play in the tiebreaker game on Thursday.
Martin Frk scored a hat trick, Darcy Ashley chipped in a pair of goals, and Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin each picked up three assists in a dominant offensive display for Halifax, which has scored 18 goals over their three games so far.
It was a dream start for the Halifax side and a nightmarish opening for the Knights as the Mooseheads bombarded their way to a 5-0 lead in in the opening period.
“That was the start we were looking for,” said Ashley of the Mooseheads’ tremendous first period. “It was kind of similar to the first game (versus Portland) where we had our opportunities and capitalized on them…tonight we were focused and ready to go.”
Halifax head coach Dominique Ducharme credits the play of his top line and elite stars for their effort.
“Those guys skated hard, and they were rewarded with opportunities tonight,” said Ducharme. “When you do good things, good things will happen for you…it’s not luck, it’s not just because they have skill, they compete hard and they play hard.”
Tuesday’s thumping was the second loss in as many nights for London, who dropped a 6-3 decision to Portland on Monday night. Goaltender Jake Patterson was bombarded for five goals on 11 shots in the first period while Anthony Stolarz made 22 saves on 26 shots the rest of the way.
“It was really embarrassing,” said Knights’ forward Seth Griffith. “We haven’t got beat like that in a long time. We just left (Patterson) out to dry on the first couple goals, and it just got worse from there.
“But, the sun will come up tomorrow, and we have to be ready to play,” said Griffith, who scored one of his team’s two second-period goals.
Knights’ head coach Dale Hunter put the drubbing in perspective.
“It happens,” said Hunter. “I’ve been on much bigger playing fields than this, and a few times things like this have happened…it happens in hockey and it will happen again in hockey.”
Stefan Fournier, with the game’s opening goal, Brent Andrews, Ryan Falkenham and Luca Ciampini also scored for the Mooseheads in the victory. Matt Rupert scored London’s other marker in the loss
Zachary Fucale made 26 saves on 28 shots he faced to pick up the win.
Round robin play at the 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup wraps up on Wednesday with the host Saskatoon Blades taking on the WHL Champion Portland Winterhawks.
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