Moose lose final game before break

The Christmas break couldn't have come at a better time for the Halifax Mooseheads.

They were running on fumes in the final week of the first half of the season, with at least a half dozen key players out of the lineup for each of their last three games. They were so shorthanded for Saturday's road outing against the Saint John Sea Dogs they couldn't even dress a full roster. And that was with three call-ups in the lineup.

Leading goal scorer Maxim Trepanier was the latest to join the unavailable list after being too sick to play. In total, there were eight players missing against the Sea Dogs, who won 4-2 at TD Station.

With Trepanier, Bo Groulx (world juniors), Raphael Lavoie (world juniors), Justin Barron (blood clot) and Senna Peeters (world juniors B pool) out of the lineup, the Mooseheads were missing their top five scorers. Star defenceman Jared McIsaac (world juniors) and forwards Marcel Barinka (world junior A challenge) and Jordan McKenna (injured) were also unavailable, leaving the Mooseheads without their entire first line, their two best defenders and three other solid forwards.

The players who were still around did well to keep pace with the Sea Dogs but couldn't pull off the win.

Nicolas Guay had two goals for the Sea Dogs and William Villeneuve and Jordan Spadafore added one each. Landon Miron and Patty Kyte scored for the Mooseheads. Miron's goal was his first in the QMJHL.

Zachary Bouthillier made 24 saves for Saint John and Cole McLaren stopped 35 shots for Halifax.

The Mooseheads finish the first half with a 15-15-2-1 record and will play their next game Dec. 28 at home against the Cape Breton Eagles.