Halifax Mooseheads forward Quinn Kennedy fights off a Saint John Sea Dogs player during a QMJHL game at the Scotiabank Centre on Saturday. Photo by Trevor MacMillan /Halifax MooseheadsArticle contentProgress doesn’t always go in a straight line early in the hockey season, especially for young teams.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 Halifax Mooseheads are only four games into the 2025-26 campaign and with every step forward they take, they take another one that isn’t quite as productive. It was the story when they split a season-opening series against the Charlottetown Islanders and the pattern continued on the weekend against the Saint John Sea Dogs.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentThe Mooseheads followed up a gratifying 4-3 Friday win over the Sea Dogs with a 5-2 setback in the rematch on Saturday. Both game were at the Scotiabank Centre and the results are fine for this point in the season, but the players still came away from the back-to-back set feeling like they left something on the table.Article content“We had had our moments but I think overall it just wasn’t a full team effort,” Mooseheads centre Liam Kilfoil said. “But, still, there were lots of good spurts so I think it’s definitely something we can build off.Article content“We’re still young so there’s still a learning curve for a lot of guys. We’re just trying to learn game by game and grow as a group. We’ll figure it out.”Article contentThe Sea Dogs and Mooseheads are at similar points in the building cycle so head-to-head games are not only prime opportunities to secure valuable points but good chances to measure themselves against one conference opponents. Like last weekend’s games against the Islanders, the Mooseheads now have a better read on how they stack up against the Sea Dogs.Article contentArticle content“Those are big games for us that way,” Kilfoil said. “Those are teams that are also kind of in the rebuild mode and still pretty young so you want to test yourself and win those games.”Article contentAnd it’s always worthwhile for the rookies to get mileage under their belts so these first four games were invaluable no matter what the outcomes were.Article content“There are some new guys on the team this year so I think the biggest thing with that is just bringing them together and including them in everything right away,” said Kilfoil, one of Halifax’s assistant captains. “If they can feel part of the team as best as possible and as quick as possible, I think it’s going to translate to the ice, too.”Article contentSaint John’s Alexis Joseph, the first overall pick from the 2025 QMJHL draft, scored his first three career major junior goals, including two on elite finishes and the other into the empty net to clinch the win. Dylan Rozzi and William Yared were the other scorers for the Sea Dogs and Shawn Carrier and Oleg Kulebiakin had the goals for the Mooseheads.
Mooseheads off to decent start but anxious to take bigger steps: ‘We’ll figure it out’
