The Herd got goals from five different players and newly anointed captain Cameron Critchlow scored the shootout winner as the Mooseheads won their season opener 6-5 over the PEI Rocket in Charlottetown Friday night.
Luca Ciampini, Matthew Boudreau, Darcy Ashley and rookies Mitchell Shewfelt and Josh Desmond all scored for the Mooseheads.
“We got some contribution from guys like Shewfelt and Desmond, it’s nice to see those guys score,” says General Manager Cam Russell.
Although the Mooseheads dropped squandered away a goal lead in the second period, Russell says it’s not a huge concern.
“It’s the first game of the year, it’s practically still training camp. There’s going to be some bumps along the way early on,” says Russell. “Overall I thought it was a really good effort and it’s just really great to win that first game.”
Rookie sensation Nathan MacKinnon didn’t disappoint in his Q debut, setting up two goals and notching a whopping ten shots on net — seven of which were considered dangerous.
Overage defenseman Jonathan Parisien looked unsteady coughing up the puck several times in the game. The team still needs to decide whether Parisien or Moosehead veteran Travis Randell will get the final overage spot on the team.
Meanwhile on the Rockets side, Halifax native Ben Duffy had a beautiful solo effort on his first goal of the season and added two helpers. Anthony Terenzio got the win in nets with a 32 save effort.
