SHUTOUT WRAPS UP PERFECT WEEKEND

The Saint John Sea Dogs wrapped up a perfect weekend with a 6-0 win over the Quebec Remparts Sunday.

It was Saint John's third Quebec Major Junior Hockey League win in as many nights, their fifth straight overall and seventh in a row at Harbour Station, where a crowd of 3,681 was on hand for Halloween Fun Day.

Mathieu Corbeil made 22 saves for his second straight shutout, setting a new team record by extending his shutout streak to 121:55. Danick Gauthier scored twice and was named first star for the second straight night, Jonathan Huberdeau was second star with three assists, Charles Roussel added a goal and an assist and Jason Cameron, Tomas Jurco, and Nathan Beaulieu chipped in singles. Stephen MacAulay was plus-3 with an assist, while Pierre Durepos was also plus-3 and named third star for a solid effort on the back end.

The Dogs improved to 12-5 while the Remparts fell to 9-3-2-1.

Gauthier -- who had a hat trick in Satuday's win to bring his goals total to a career-best 14 -- continued his hot play on Sunday. The overage forward wound around the offensive zone, cut all the way back to blueline, then drove into the slot and wired a shot high to Louis Domingue's glove side. Ryan Tesink assisted on the goal, which came at 4:27 of the first.

The Sea Dogs outshot the Remparts 19-5 in the first, although Quebec had a few chances Corbeil needed to be sharp on, including a Frederick Roy redirect with about three and a half minutes to go. Domingue stood tall at the other end late in the opening frame, denying Jurco, Beaulieu then Jurco again in quick succession to keep the score 1-0 heading into the break.

The Sea Dogs came out strong early in the second. About two minutes in, Tesink fired a shot off the post that was video reviewed. Tesink later made a great defensive play with about eight and a half minutes to go in the second. After Adam Erne got in behind the Sea Dogs defence, the sophomore forward caught up to him with some great backchecking to neutralize the threat.

Less than two minutes later Cameron notched the insurance marker on a hard-working shift with Scott Oke and Stephen Anderson. Cameron redirected Roussel's wrist shot at the 13-minute mark for his third of the year, tying his output from all of last season. The other assist went to Oke, giving him a career-high 12 points.

Jurco extended the lead at 14:13, thanks to a great play from Huberdeau. The captain took a pass from Zack Phillips, stickhandled into the slot and sent a backhand pass to the Slovakian perched at Domingue's right post. After Jurco converted the tap-in to make it 3-0, Domingue proceeded to destroy his goalie stick by beating it against the net and ice.

The replacement stick failed to turn Quebec's luck, as the Dogs poured in three more markers in the third period.

Beaulieu struck short-handed at 2:09 of the final frame, finishing yet another beautiful set-up from Huberdeau. The Dogs got a fortuitous bounce and found themselves on a 3-on-0 as the Remparts power play charged up the ice. Huberdeau carried in, deked Domingue, and dropped it off at the last second for Beaulieu, who roofed it high to Domingue's glove side. MacAulay notched the other assist on the goal, Beaulieu's fourth of the campaign.

Gauthier struck again at 5:21 -- another man-down marker. The Dogs continued to work hard on the penalty kill, with Durepos laying down to block a shot despite the 4-0 cushion. Then Gauthier forced a turnover at the blueline, went in on a breakaway and knocked in his own rebound to make it 5-0. The unassisted marker gave Gauthier 16 on the season.

Roussel rounded out the scoring with a power play marker at 16:20, with assists from Huberdeau and Kevin Gagne.

Next weekend will be one to remember for Sea Dogs fans and the city of Saint John. The Sea Dogs host the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles at 7:30 p.m. Friday and the Chicoutimi Sagueneens at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Saturday's game will be be an important night for the sports history books in the city as the Dogs will celebrate Night of Champions. The banner-raising ceremonies for the President's Cup and the Memorial Cup will take place before the game against the Sagueneens, as well as the presentations of commemorative championship rings to players, coaches, ownership and staff. Former Sea Dogs Alexandre Beauregard and Gabriel Bourret, now with Chicoutimi, will take part in the ceremony as well. Canadian Hockey League President David Branch and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Commissioner Gilles Courteau will be among the special guests participating in the ring ceremony. The Memorial Cup and President's Cup will be on hand, and other confirmed guests include Saint John Mayor Ivan Court, Rothesay Mayor Bill Bishop, Quispamsis Mayor Murray Driscoll, Grand Bay - Westfield Mayor Grace Losier and area MLAs Dorothy Shephard and Glen Tait. Game time is 7 p.m. but fans are encouraged to be in their seats early.

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