‘ Guys are pretty heartbroken’
P. E. I. forward Josh Currie says loss to Halifax in final game of season disappointing to Rocket players finishing out major junior careers
The P. E. I. Rocket ended its 2011- 12 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League season in March the same way it started in September — a loss to the Halifax Mooseheads.
This time the Mooseheads downed the Rocket 61 on Sunday at the Civic Centre thanks to scores by Andrew Ryan and Ryan Falkenham 37 seconds apart late in the first period which proved enough to back a 36- save effort by Moose netminder Zachary Fucale and propelled Halifax to its 39th victory in the final game of the regular season.
With the loss, the lastplace Rocket ( 19- 43- 2- 4) finished out of the postseason for the first time since 2005.
“Obviously disappointing. The guys are pretty heartbroken. We have a couple of guys who are finishing their major junior careers so it’s a sad day for them,’’ said Rocket captain Josh Currie, who netted P. E. I.’ s lone goal with 1: 21 left in the third period.
“We started out well in the first ( period) and had some chances, ( but) they capitalized on theirs.’’
Hunter River native Brent Andrews, Summersideborn Cameron Critchlow, Alexandre Grenier and Nathan Mackinnon also scored for the Herd. Halifax finished sixth overall and face the 11thplace Moncton Wildcats when the playoffs begin next week.
P. E. I. finished with a league- worst home record of 12- 18- 2- 2 and won only seven road games.
Rocket goalie Antoine Bibeau made 27 stops and dropped to 7- 9- 0- 1 while Fucale went to 32- 18- 2- 4. Halifax was 1- for- 5 on the power play while P. E. I. was 0- for- 5 with the extra man.
Halifax won the season series 6- 2 against P. E. I.
So while the Rocket stays home, the Herd moves on versus the Wildcats. Something Critchlow, the Herd captain, is well aware of.
“( Moncton) is a team that thrives off its power play. They’re a skilled team, but a young team. We have to make sure we’re ready,’’ said Critchlow, who played his minor hockey in Summerside.
“We have to be not too high or too low. Staying out of the box is a big key in that series.’’
As for Currie, 19, it’s time for a break. The Charlottetown native finished with career highs in goals ( 30), assists ( 16) and points ( 46).
“It’s a long summer that’s for sure. I’ll take two weeks off, rest and make sure I’m ready for next season,’’ he said. “I had a good year offensively, ( but) if I had made a few more of my chances maybe that’s the difference between playoffs or not.’’
Andrews and Alberton native Darcy Ashley along with Rocket defencemen Ryan Graves and Wes Herrett were ejected following a third- period melée.
Dane Phaneuf and Alex Gallant were scratches for the Rocket. Halifax played without Joshua Desmond, Sawyer Hannay, Alexandre Côté and Martin Frk. Rocket Notes
D- man Marc- André Lévesque and forward Jessyko Bernard, both 20, played their final QMJHL game on Sunday.
Forward Ben Duffy finished with a team- high 82 points, also a career high and his second straight 80point season, and led the Rocket in goals ( 34) and assists ( 48). He finished 12th in league scoring.
Head coach Gordie Dwyer was named as an assistant coach to Canada’s national men’s under- 18 team for the 2012 IIHF under- 18 world championship