Titan Double Eagles 6-3 on Saturday Night in Bathurst
October 8, 2022 – Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) – Cape Breton Eagles News Release
BATHURST- The Eagles and Titan traded chances throughout the night but a Jacob Melanson hat trick was the difference in a 6-3 Bathurst win on Saturday night.
Despite both teams earning quality chances, it was a scoreless game at the 15-minute mark- then both teams hit the back of the net before the first buzzer. Cameron MacLean finished a pass from Dominik Godin to put the home side on the scoresheet, and it was countered when William Shields put a shot through a screen. Late in the period, it appeared Justin Bergeron had broken up a two on one but the puck to came to Melanson and he gave the home team the lead.
Just as was the case in the opening period, it took time for a goal to come in the second period- Riley Kidney making it 3-1 Bathurst at the 11:17 mark. (This came after a number of high-quality chances, including Cape Breton’s Olivier Houde wiring a shot off the crossbar.) Cam Squires had been denied multiple times by Jan Bednar, but eventually found the back of the net to make it a one goal game.
The Titan were looking to add to the lead on the power play when Charles Boutin earned a shorthanded breakaway. Markas Samenas chopped down Boutin, who was given a penalty shot. Bendar came up with the save, and the Titan remained on the power play. Bathurst thought they scored on a sequence of the same man advantage- a video review ruled they did not, but they were given a five on three power play when Jordan Côté was assessed a delay of game for pushing the net off its moorings.
The Eagles killed off the five on three portion, and Kidney took a penalty to kill off the power play and create a four-on-four situation. There would be even more four on four at the beginning of the third period when Cam Squires took a penalty at the end of the middle stanza. Neither team could score with the open ice.
Godin restored the two-goal cushion for Bathurst, converting a pass from behind the net from Nolan Forster to score his first goal in the QMJHL. Less than two minutes later the Eagles hoped to pull closer on a power play but Melanson put the puck over Ruccia for a shorthanded marker. The Titan had another big chance on the same penalty kill when Ben Allison wired a shot off the post.
Bathurst held the three-goal advantage for ten minutes when the Eagles would make one final push. Angelo Fullerton potted his first career goal from the left side of the net to make it a 5-3 game. The Eagles could get no closer though, as 66 seconds later Melanson finished his hat trick to make the final score 6-3.
There were some fireworks towards the end of the game when Cameron MacLean took exception to a hit by Jordan Côté on Jospeh Henneberry. Côté and MacLean engaged in a short but spirited scrap and MacLean was assessed the instigator penalty.
Bednar picked up the win in goal, stopping 34 of 37 shots. Ruccia stopped 38 of 44 in the loss.
The Eagles will now head home to Sydney for their long-awaited home opener! The Eagles host the Charlottetown Islanders Thursday night Centre 200 at 7 PM. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.ticketmaster.ca/cape-breton-eagles-tickets/artist/891825. 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 Melanson (Bathurst) 3 goals, 6 shots
2. Riley Kidney (Bathurst) 1 goal, 2 assists
3. Dominik Godin (Bathurst) 1 goal, 1 assist
Scratches For Cape Breton: FJ Buteau (upper body injury), Jérémy Langlois (lower body injury), Peter Repcik
Scratches For Bathurst: Drew Maddigan (upper body injury), Peteris Bulans, Mason Chitaroni, Philippe Collette
Final Shots On Goal: 44-37 in favour of Bathurst
Cape Breton Power Play: 0/5
Bathurst Power Play: 0/6
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