Published Apr 11, 2025 • 2 minute readHalifax Mooseheads centre Braeden MacPhee, right, introduces himself to a Rouyn-Noranda Huskies player during a QMJHL playoff game in Rouyn-Noranda, Que., on Friday. Photo by Halifax MooseheadsAt least the introductions are out of the way now.The Halifax Mooseheads and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies got a sense of each other in Game 1 of their second-round series on Friday but the first impression wasn’t as favourable for the Mooseheads as their last playoff opponent. The Huskies won the opener 4-1 in front of a 2,531 fans at the Glencore Arena in Rouyn-Noranda, compared to the first round when the Mooseheads got the jump on the Drummondville Voltigeurs.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle content“They’re an elite team,” Mooseheads head coach Andrew Lord said. “They play at one of the fastest paces in the league, if not the fastest, and they go north, they forecheck and they’re four lines deep and they’re super relentless so they made it hard on us tonight. It is a different style (than Drummondville) and I think there was certainly a learning curve with that tonight and now we’ve got to be able to apply that to tomorrow’s game. We’re all going to need to be a notch better.”The turnaround time between the first and second round was also as brief as it gets for the Mooseheads. Their series with the Voltigeurs only ended on Tuesday so they travelled straight to Rouyn-Noranda from Drummondville where they did their best to cram in their preparation for a new team while also refuelling emotionally and physically.“I don’t think that’s an excuse,” Lord said. “Obviously, you’d prefer to win a series in less than seven games but we had to fight and claw to get here and that’s where we’re at right now. We still had two days and it’s easy travel in this league in playoffs. We’re flying so we just need to be better – all of us – and I really believe we will be tomorrow.”Article contentGetting into holes early in games is something the Mooseheads try to avoid as much as possible but the Huskies brought their notorious firepower in the first period to take control. They went ahead 2-0 in the opening 15 minutes and then stretched it to 4-1 in the second period so the Mooseheads couldn’t quite get their footing because they had to chase the game virtually all night.“One of our first chances against was a breakaway so that’s a problem,” Lord said. “We obviously talked about their fast break and how they send guys long but it’s easy to watch it in video, it’s another to see it in real time. So, again, I’m really hopeful we’re going to adjust to the pace tomorrow and play a little bit of a smarter, harder game and make it more difficult on them from the opening puck drop.”Bill Zonnon, Samuel Beauchemin, Benjamin Brunelle and Alexis Lemire were the Rouyn-Noranda scorers and Samuel Meloche stopped 19 shots. Quinn Kennedy had Halifax’s goal and Jacob Steinman made 36 saves.Game 2 is in Rouyn-Noranda on Saturday, followed by Games 3, 4 and 5 (if necessary) in Halifax on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday next week. Games 6 and 7 are scheduled for the following Monday and Tuesday back in Rouyn-Noranda.Notes: Will Bent, Justin Chiras, Eddy Doyle and Caylen Blake did not play for the Mooseheads because of injuries. Defenceman Ryan Fletcher and forward Cole MacLeod were added to the lineup.Article content
QMJHL PLAYOFFS: Mooseheads and Huskies get to know each other in Game 1, Rouyn-Noranda wins 4-1
