Mooseheads, Newfoundlander Caylen Blake welcome Regiment to the QMJHL

Halifax Mooseheads winger Caylen Blake celebrates his first-period goal against the Newfoundland Regiment with Connor MacPherson during Friday’s QMJHL game at the Scotiabank Centre. Photo by Trevor MacMillan /Halifax MooseheadsArticle contentIt’s only fitting the Halifax Mooseheads’ first-ever goal against the Newfoundland Regiment came from Caylen Blake.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 17-year-old winger from Corner Brook broke a 0-0 deadlock in Friday’s game at the Scotiabank Centre but it wasn’t a scoring play that will appear in many highlight reels.Article contentArticle content“I think it went in off my helmet so that’s a first for me,” Blake joked. “They’re from Newfoundland so that one definitely means something. But I was just glad to get the first goal and start the game out in a good way for us.”Article contentArticle contentMajor junior hockey is back in St. John’s for the first time since 2008 when the Fog Devils left for Montreal after three seasons. The Bathurst Titan relocated to Newfoundland over the summer to reestablish the QMJHL there.Article contentAlthough Blake’s hometown is a seven-hour drive from St. John’s, he’s like most proud Newfoundlanders when they get the chance to wave the province’s flag.Article content“It’s great that they’ve got a team there again,” Blake said. “In the hockey community there, they’ve had a lot of different teams but they always ended up folding or moving so I hope this one works out. I think it’s going to be a good impact for all of the Newfoundland guys, especially the ones that get the chance to play at home.”Article contentBlake’s goal held up as the winner in a 3-0 shutout for the Mooseheads. Antoine Fontaine and Danny Walters had the other goals.Article contentThe game was the first installment of a back-to-back in Halifax that will be a familiar format for the Regiment. Newfoundland is isolated geographically from the rest of the league so it will be common for the Regiment to play doubleheaders to cope with the travel challenges.Article contentArticle contentThe Mooseheads make their first visit to St. John’s in late November for a pair of games.Article content“(My parents) come here pretty often because it’s actually a shorter trip than it is to go to St. John’s, even though it’s on the same island,” said Blake, who has four points in his past five games.Article content“But I know I’ll have a lot of family at the games over there, even though I live pretty far. I think we’ll have a good crowd down there for me and it’s going to be an amazing experience to play there.”Article contentSome new faces chipping inArticle contentA handful of others also broke out in one way or another in Friday’s game.Article contentRookie defenceman Cam Minella had his first multi-point game of his career, setting up a pair of goals to give him four points in his past four games. The 16-year-old American is heating up after going pointless in his first six games of the year.Article contentDefence partner Carlos Handel also finally broke through with his first point of the season. The German sophomore’s assist on Blake’s goal broke a nine-game pointless streak. Handel had 26 points in 52 games as a rookie last season.