The Halifax Mooseheads faced a tough loss against the Charlottetown Islanders, ending with a score of 5-3 at the Eastlink Centre on Friday night. Despite a promising start, Halifax was unable to maintain their early momentum against a resilient Charlottetown team.
The game kicked off with an electrifying moment as the Mooseheads took the lead just 18 seconds in. Samuel Rousseau intercepted a pass and quickly set up Shawn Carrier, who executed a powerful shot past Islanders goaltender Donald Hickey, marking Carrier’s 21st goal of the season. However, the Islanders responded promptly, with Nathan Leek finding the back of the net at 16:58 of the first period. Leek's shot, taken from the right-wing faceoff circle, beat Mooseheads goalie Nick Cirka and tied the game.
In the second period, the Mooseheads regained the lead at 8:44. Owen Philips showcased his skills behind the Islanders' net, performing a deft move that allowed him to bank a backhand shot off Hickey, restoring Halifax’s advantage. However, Leek was determined to keep the pressure on, as he once again found the net, this time deflecting a shot that landed in the Mooseheads' goal, leveling the score at two. Shortly after, Jude Herron scored for Charlottetown, giving the Islanders their first lead of the game. Herron’s shot deflected off Cirka’s glove before making its way into the net, further cementing the Islanders’ comeback.
The third period saw additional action as defenceman Marcus Kearsey—who is currently leading the league with ten goals scored by a defenceman—doubled the Islanders' lead. Kearsey fired a shot from the right-wing faceoff circle that slipped past Cirka, putting the Mooseheads in a challenging position. In response, Malik L’Italien managed to score his second goal of the season, launching a missile past Hickey, which pulled Halifax within one goal. However, Kearsey struck again, sealing the victory for Charlottetown by sending the puck into an empty Mooseheads net late in the game.
Following this defeat, the Halifax Mooseheads' record now stands at 18 wins, 16 losses, 1 overtime loss, and 2 shootout losses (18-16-1-2) for the season. Individual performances were noteworthy as well; Leek was recognized as the first star with two goals, while Herron received the second star for his contribution of one goal. Carrier’s efforts earned him the third star for the Mooseheads.
Looking ahead, the Halifax Mooseheads are set to return to the ice for their next game on Saturday, January 10. They will host the Gatineau Olympiques at the Scotiabank Centre, with the puck set to drop at 7 p.m. Fans can tune in to the live coverage on 95.7 NewsRadio, with Garreth MacDonald hosting the pre-game show, which starts at 6:30 p.m.
