SYDNEY, N.S. — The Cape Breton Eagles showcased more of their high-octane offence in a convincing 8-3 win over the Saint John Sea Dogs on Sunday to remain the QMJHL’s only undefeated team.
It came as no surprise to the Centre 200 crowd of 2,783 that the Eagles came out flying after a Saturday’s 6-5 victory in which Cape Breton (4-0) scored six unanswered goals in an exciting and confidence-building comeback over the talented, but young Sea Dogs. Saturday’s home-opener attracted a crowd of 3,914.
After dominating early game play, Sydney’s Derek Gentile and power forward Shawn Boudrias put the Eagles up 2-0 with goals that came less than a minute apart late in the first frame. Joshua Roy, the top draft pick in this year’s QMJHL entry draft, scored late in the period to bring the Sea Dogs to within one but that was as close as it would get.
Just as they did on Saturday, the Eagles controlled the play as they outshot the visitors 45-24.
Cape Breton’s top line of Boudrias, Egor Sokolov and Ryan Francis was especially dominant as they combined for 10 points. Boudrias had two goals and an assist, Sokolov scored once and added two helpers and Francis earned four assists.
The other Eagles goal scorers were Ivan Ivan with a pair, Felix LaFrance and Shaun Miller. Defenceman Adam McCormick chipped in with a pair of assists, while fellow D-man Jarrett Baker improved to a league-leading +12 after just four games.
William Grimard, who came in to Saturday’s game in relief of Kevin Mandolese, earned his third victory of the young campaign. Mandolese, an Ottawa Senators prospect, sat out Sunday’s game with an undisclosed injury and was replaced on the bench by Sydney Mitsubishi Rush major midget goalie Jack Cashen, who travelled to Centre 200 in his hockey gear after backstopping the Rush during an earlier game at the Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre.
Swiss import Noah Patenaude suffered the loss in his QMJHL debut.
Cape Breton now embarks on a tough three-game eastern Québec road trip that starts Wednesday in Rimouski against the Océanic. The Eagles then go on to play the Baie Comeau Drakkar on Friday and the Chicoutimi Saguenéens on Saturday.
The Eagles are back in action at Centre 200 on Oct. 12 when they host the Val d’Or Foreurs.
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