Published Apr 15, 2025 • 3 minute readRouyn-Noranda Huskies right-winger Thomas Chafe waits to pounce on a rebound from Halifax Mooseheads goalie Jacob Steinman during the second period of Tuesday night’s second-round QMJHL playoff game at the Scotiabank Centre. Photo by Ryan Taplin /Chronicle HeraldThe wear and tear of their Cinderella playoff run may be catching up to the Halifax Mooseheads.It took seven gruelling games to get past the heavily favoured Drummondville Voltigeurs in the first round, only to earn a date with the equally tough Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in the second round. The Mooseheads continue to leave everything they have on the ice but the deeper, more experienced Huskies are pushing them to their limits.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 contentThe Huskies’ continued their aggressive, high-pace brand of hockey in Game 3 at the Scotiabank Centre on Tuesday, securing a 4-1 win and 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven.“We’ve had a lot of injuries and I think that Drummondville series took a lot out of us,” Mooseheads centre Liam Kilfoil said. “With a younger team with not much experience, beating a team like that took a lot out of us. But we’re here now and we’re going to keep fighting.”The Huskies are relentless on the forecheck and bombard the Halifax net with shots so it’s hard for the Mooseheads to get any time or space to establish their counter-attack. The Mooseheads only have two goals so far in the series and have been outshot 120-59 over three games.Rouyn-Noranda finished with a 40-20 edge in Game 1, 46-19 in Game 2 and 34-20 in Game 3. It’s all the Mooseheads can do to get themselves stabilized under the constant attack.“We’re hanging in there but they’re obviously a very good team,” Kilfoil said. “They forecheck very hard and they’re on you the whole time, especially in their rink. We didn’t have much time at all up there so it’s been a little bit tough that way. But we’ll try to bounce back tomorrow.”Article contentAnd to make matters worse, the Mooseheads lost another huge piece from their back end in Game 3. Key defenceman Carlos Handel exited the game in the second period with an injury, leaving Halifax with just four regulars and affiliate player Ryan Fletcher on their blueline.Brady Schultz, Owen Phillips, Mathieu Taillefer and Lincoln Waugh are the only regulars still standing now that Handel has joined Eddy Doyle and Justin Chiras on the sidelines.“Whenever you lose D, it’s always hard but we were already down a couple so it’s tough to play even more minutes,” Kilfoil said. “But they’ve done great to grind it out. Same with our forwards. We’ve lost guys up there and everyone’s working hard to make up for it.”Remi Gelinas, Bill Zonnon, Lars Steiner and Alex Carr scored for the Huskies, who led 2-0 after the first period and 3-1 after 40 minutes. Callum Aucoin’s goal in the second period was the Mooseheads’ first scoring play since the opening period of Game 1.Article content“It’s tight out there and there’s not much room,” Kilfoil said. “We haven’t generated a lot. Credit to them, they’re good defensively and every line works very hard. They’re always on you hitting and everything.”The Mooseheads will look to extend the series in Game 4 on Wednesday night at the Scotiabank Centre. If necessary, Game 5 will be in Halifax on Friday and Games 6 and 7 will be back in Rouyn-Noranda on Monday and Tuesday next week.“It’s do or die tomorrow so we might as well lay it all out there,” Kilfoil said.THREE MOOSEHEADS, FOUR NOVA SCOTIANS RANKED BY CENTRAL SCOUTINGHandel, Kilfoil and Mooseheads teammate Shawn Carrier all received a ranking on Tuesday’s final NHL Central Scouting Service’s list.Handel was 73rd among North American skaters, Kilfoil was 90th and Carrier was 148th. Four Nova Scotians made the rankings – Antigonish’s Brady Peddle (86th), Owen Conrad (102nd), Drew Allison (127th) and Cole Chandler (172nd). Cape Breton Eagles defenceman Will Murphy was 97th and teammate Alexis Cournoyer was 16th among North American goalies.Notes: Forwards Will Bent and Caylen Blake are also still hurt for Halifax. Cole MacLeod was added to the lineup up front.Article content
QMJHL PLAYOFFS: Huskies wearing down Mooseheads, take 3-0 series lead
