It was almost a perfect opening weekend for the Halifax Mooseheads.
They kicked off the QMJHL season with a 6-2 road win over the Cape Breton Eagles on Friday and then followed with a 5-4 overtime loss in a rematch at home on Saturday. But regardless of what the results were, just being able to play their first game with fans at the Scotiabank Centre since March was a significant victory on its own.
"We couldn't ask for a much better start," said Halifax centre Elliot Desnoyers. "For sure we wanted to win today but we're a young team and we still have a lot to learn. I think we're headed the right way. We're practising hard and learning how to compete and how to be on task for 60 minutes. I think this will pay off in the long (run)."
Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the Mooseheads are only able to fill about 20 per cent of the 10,595 seats at the Scotiabank Centre this season. But even though there were far more empty seats than fans, the atmosphere in the building felt surprisingly lively.
"I think we're very lucky to be playing," Desnoyers said. "The fans were great today and the rink was great. I love that we got to play here today."
As for the hockey, it was more of the heated, quality play the teams produced Friday in Sydney. The Mooseheads scored the first two goals but the Eagles rebounded for 3-2 and 4-3 leads. Halifax's Kyle Petten sent it to overtime with a late goal, setting the stage for Jarret Baker's overtime winner.
"For sure it's good that we were able to get that point," Desnoyers said. "I think by the end of the season we'll love that point. The thing is we got soft at times and we didn't play the right way and it cost us some goals against. I think overall we didn't play a bad game. We played fast, we were there at the end of the game and I think it was just a tough bounce for the loss.
"We just have to stay focused now on our tasks and I think we'll be back more ready for the next game."
The parade of Mooseheads rookies getting their first career major junior goals also continued on Saturday. Jordan Dumais and Bobby Orr joined Friday's first-time scorers Cole Foston, Markus Vidicek and James Swan.
"It was for sure a good feeling to get my first goal but at the end of the day we lost so it could've been better," Dumais said. "It was an exciting feeling to get that first one, though."
Liam Peyton was the other Halifax scorer. Nathan Larose had two goals and an assist for the Eagles, Francois-James Buteau and Conor Treholm scored one each and captain Shawn Element had four assists.
Cole McLaren made his second straight start for Halifax and finished with 29 saves. William Grimard stopped 26 shots for Cape Breton.
"Our team had a pretty good two games and it's just unfortunate we couldn't finish this one off in OT," Dumais said. "But I think it was a good weekend overall and a good learning experience for a lot of us."
The Mooseheads' next game is at home on Friday against the Moncton Wildcats. Opening with three of a possible four points certainly gets them off on the right foot.
"There were for sure a lot of positives about our start," Dumais said. "We went 1-0-1 and I think that's pretty good. An OT loss is always a tough way to finish but we got three points so we're fairly happy with that."
