Rousseau Sensational in Hometown Win
October 26, 2022 – Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) – Halifax Mooseheads News Release
It was a homecoming to remember for Mooseheads goalie Mathis Rousseau who was the First Star in a 3-2 Halifax win on the road against Blainville-Boisbriand on Wednesday night. The netminder made 35 saves in his front of friends and family in his hometown to secure the win in a game that otherwise could have been a much different result for the Herd.
Rousseau was on top of his game from the early goings when he had to stop Alexis Brisson on a breakaway just 21 seconds into the action. He stood on his head as the opening period came to a close with the Armada firing away on the power play and continued to stymie his opponents all night.
From the “what else is new” files, sniper Jordan Dumais continued his torrid scoring streak to begin the season by adding another two goals, while linemate Markus Vidicek’s own hot streak stayed alive by earning assists on all three of the Mooseheads goals. Dumais has 24 points through 10 games to not only place him second in the QMHL scoring race but second in all of the Canadian Hockey League. Vidicek is not far off with 21 points and is tied with Regina’s Connor Bedard and two others for third in the CHL’s scoring department.
Mathieu Cataford opened the scoring for the Herd when he ripped in a short side shot off the rush 4:12 into the game. Vidicek and Owen Phillips grabbed the helpers on the goal which tied Cataford for the QMJHL lead in the first goals category with three. Dumais added to the lead on the power play just over three minutes later with Vidicek and Cam Whynot picking up the assists. Blainville-Boisbriand got on the board later in the period on a nice play in front of Rousseau that saw Alexis Gendron finish with finesse for his 10th goal of the season.
The Mooseheads got their final goal midway through the second period on a great play behind the net by Vidicek before he put the perfect pass on the tape of Dumais in front and the Blue Jackets prospect buried the shot. That was the sixth goals in two games for Dumais. Mathis Rousseau was nearly unbeatable the rest of the way, making several spectacular saves with only a late power play goal by Bible Hill, Nova Scotia’s Brayden Schmidt getting by him.
The two points from Dumais helped him surpass both Timo Meier and Rane Carnegie for 22nd in career points in franchise history with 162. He’s one back of Marty Frk for 21st and has several other alumni players in his sights this season. He and Vidicek have been a dynamic duo with a combined 45 points in 10 games to help the Mooseheads get off to a 7-1-1-1 start to the year.
Jake Todd served the first game of a two-game suspension for a staged fight on Sunday afternoon at Scotiabank Centre so Head Coach Sylvain Favreau went with 11 forwards and seven defenceman in the game. Call-up Dylan Chisholm was the seventh d-man and made his presence felt by jumping in to support Dumais after Armada forward Alexey Kulikov took a run at the Halifax star. Chisholm dropped the gloves with Kulikov and had the easy decision in the fight.
The road trip continues for the Mooseheads on Friday night in Val d’Or before finishing on Saturday night in Rouyn-Noranda. Both games begin at 8pm ADT. The next home game for the Mooseheads is Thursday, November 3rd at 7pm when Halifax hosts Baie-Comeau for Student Night at Scotiabank Centre. Tickets are just $10 for fans with valid Student ID. Tickets are on sale now at TicketAtlantic.com.
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