2018-08-22

Scoring goals was not a problem for the Halifax Mooseheads on Wednesday night in Acadie-Bathurst as Marcel Barinka powered the Herd to a 6-3 victory at the K.C. Irving Regional Centre.

The second round CHL Import pick from Prague, CZE scored twice and added an assist to help the Mooseheads earn their first victory of the preseason. Halifax scored once in the first period, twice in the second and added three more in the third to improve to 1-2 since the exhibition schedule began on Sunday.

BOX SCORE

Xavier Parent was also a bright spot by compiling three assists in the win. The scoring began when Parent made an excellent pass to set up Barinka just 4:35 into the game. Rookie Sonny Kabatay made it 2-0 midway through the second period as he beat goalie Tyriq Outen for his first goal in a Moose uniform. Kabatay later added an assist.

Starting goalie Cole McLaren was extremely solid with 13 saves on 13 shots before exiting at the 29:22 mark of the match. He was replaced by Joel Goguen who picked up the win. Goguen stopped 18 of 21 shots.

The Titan fought back shortly after Kabatay’s tally with two quick goals from veterans Cole Rafuse and Liam Murphy but Joel Bishop put the Herd back in front 3-2 before the end of the second stanza on the power play. Bathurst pulled even for the final time only 13 seconds into the third period when 20-year-old Samuel Asselin got one by Goguen. The tide shifted for the remainder of the game as William Dagenais, Cole Larkin and Barinka rounded out the scoring. Other Mooseheads players grabbing assists in the win were; Yannic Bastarache, Felix Gascon, Walter Flower and Joel Bishop.

Halifax was 2-4 on the power play while the Titan were 1-6. The Mooseheads had the edge in shots 35-34.

The teams will meet again on Friday night at Acadia University in Wolfville, NS in a home game for the Mooseheads. Tickets ($12 adults and $7 youth 16 & under) are available now through the Acadia Box Office weekdays from Noon to 6pm or via phone at 1-800-542-8425 or online at boxoffice.acadiau.ca. A limited number are also available at the Official Mooseheads Shop in Scotia Square Mall.