Mooseheads open Quebec road swing with lopsided loss

The Mooseheads began their first Quebec road trip of the season on Friday, taking on the Shawinigan Cataractes at the Centre Gervais Auto. The Herd entered Friday’s game looking to continue the team’s four-game points streak with some good news: Antoine Fontaine would return to the lineup after being sidelined since Oct. 11th with a lower-body injury.

Mathis Rousseau protected the net for the Herd, and Liam Sztuska opposed Rousseau on the other end, tending to the goal for Shawinigan.

Shawinigan drew first blood at 4:10 into the first period. Right winger Félix Lacerte netted his 8th of the year, sending one past Rousseau, assisted by Matvei Gridin and Julien Lanthier.

Cataractes Captain Jordan Tourigny was sent to the box for tripping, giving the Mooseheads a powerplay. The Herd took advantage, as Carlos Handel buried his first in the QMJHL, finding its way through the defence and past Liam Sztuska, assisted by Antoine Fontaine and Liam Kilfoil.

Shawinigan would break the tie as Félix Lacerte deflected a puck to get his second goal of the night 9:33 into the second period—Félix Plamondon’s shot deflecting Lacerte’s skate and into the Mooseheads net. Matvei Gridin was credited with the secondary assist. Vince Elie stretched Shawinigan’s lead to two, knocking Louis-Philippe Fontaine’s shot past Rousseau at the 15:20 mark of the second period.

Jiri Klima kept the momentum going for the Cataractes, scoring on a penalty shot after being hooked by Carlos Handel with just 16 seconds left in the second period. Shawinigan continued the onslaught, Jiri Klima scoring his second goal and chasing Mattis Rousseau from the Mooseheads net, with Jack Milner entering the game for the Herd.

Chad Lygitsakos sent a puck past Milner to increase Shawinigan’s lead to 6-1 past the halfway marker in the third period.

Patrick McNab’s evening ended early after he blindsided Cataractes winger Éli Baillargeon. He was handed a five-minute major and a game misconduct 12:22 into the third.

Jacob Lechance poked on past Milner and into the Moosehead net to make it a 7-1 hockey game. Félix Lacerte earned the hat-trick scoring right after Lachance to extend the lead even further.

The Mooseheads lost their first game in Quebec this season to the Cataractes 7-1. Liam Sztuska earned his first win in the QMJHL for Shawinigan. Félix Lacerte earned 1st star of the game after a hat-trick performance. Jiri Klima took 2nd star, and Matvei Gridin 3rd.

Halifax will continue the Quebec road trip on Saturday, Oct. 26th, as they head to Victoriaville to take on the rebuilding Tigres. Puck drop is 5:00 p.m., and you can hear all the action on 95.7 NewsRadio with Garreth MacDonald.