麻豆社区

The Mustangs alumni survived an early scare from the Van Doos, and went on to crush one of the country's top military teams 14-6 in a charity game held at the Canada Games Centre Friday night.

When Van Doos blueliner Dominic Pelletier-Trottier scored on the first shot of the contest 鈥� just 14 seconds in 鈥� the Mustangs weren't sure what they were in for against their much-hyped mystery opponent.

But exactly one minute later, Kane Dawe got the Mustangs on the board to tie the game 1-1, and then the floodgates opened.

The Mustangs found their stride and began scoring at will. The game quickly turned into a blowout, and when the score reached 10-3, the official scorers stopped posting Mustangs goals on the score clock.

Defenceman Alex McDougall and forward David Stephens led the way with two goals and three assists each.

Eric Roy paced the Van Doos with a hat trick and one assist.

McDougall flew in from Nakusp, B.C. to join his ex-teammates for the charity game, which supported the Whitehorse Food Bank.

"These guys are like my brothers and it meant a lot for me to come back and lace them up one more time with them,鈥� McDougall told the Star post-game. "It was a spur-of-the-moment thing. I booked my ticket Wednesday night, and I

was on a plane Thursday. I flew in and surprised the guys last night.

"I don't usually score goals,鈥� he chuckled. "I should have saved the puck.鈥�

Burt Stephens added two goals and two assists, while Andrew Pettitt and Trevor Hanna also scored twice each.

Robbie Stuckey and Joe Densmore each picked up a goal and an assist, with Dawe and Colin Dendys rounding out the Mustangs' scoring.

The score could have been even more lopsided, save for some stunning stops by Van Doos goalies Dany Hamel and Yannick Collin.

Collin robbed Dawe with a big-league glove save midway through the game, bringing the mostly-military crowd to their feet in applause.

The chemistry between the Mustangs alumni was evident, with many no-look, behind-the-back passes leading to scoring chances and goals.

"It's like that third eye in the back of your head,鈥� said McDougall. "You just call your buddy's name and they know exactly where you are and where you're skating. We know we can play. It's just a matter of getting our feet under us.鈥�

Ted Stephens had four assists in the game, pushing the Stephens brothers points total to 14.

The brothers didn't line up together until late in the game, and then with just one minute left to play, it happened.

Burt Stephens' second goal of the game was announced across the PA system: Goal scored by Stephens, from Stephens and Stephens.

The goalscorer said it was a special moment.

"Coach (Kerry Pettitt) was waiting all game to hear that, and at the very end we all went out and tried it,鈥� Burt Stephens said. "Pretty good passes by Teddy and David, and I just kind of pushed it in. Didn't have to do much.鈥�

While his older brother Ted and younger brother David went on to play for the QMJHL's Moncton Wildcats, Burt played as high as Jr. B before calling it quits.

He said the Mustangs weren't sure what to expect out of the Van Doos.

"We kind of went into this game expecting that they would be pretty good,鈥� Burt Stephens said. "They were pretty good. We just started off pretty slow.鈥�

The game was played out in front of a packed arena, with much of the stands dominated by the camouflage colours of the visiting soldiers.

The Van Doos are a well-known military club formed out of the Royal 22e R茅giment in Quebec. The team's name is an anglicized mispronunciation of vingt-deux.

The game marked the completion of Operation Nanook, a mock disaster exercise that saw 550 soldiers training in the territorial capital last week.

"We would have liked to have given them a better challenge,鈥� said Warrant Officer Philippe Dessureault, who suited up for the Van Doos.

"If we compare this team to our A team at the unit, this has nothing to do with it,鈥� he explained. "We only had four of our regular players because when we came here, we came here for Operation Nanook. Our company was built to succeed doing our operation. We didn't come here to succeed at the hockey game.

"It was all for fun, and I would like to thank the Mustangs. They were very great to us. They are a great bunch of good players, and it was an honour for us to play against these names. Mix that with the food bank, and it could be nothing else but success.鈥�

Dessureault said the club usually gets invited to play hockey whenever they complete an exercise.

Dessureault admitted he is not one of the regular Van Doos players. His claim to fame was being featured on a Hockey Night in Canada pre-game show with Don Cherry in 2009.

When Cherry got word that Dessureault and three other soldiers were looking for tickets to a Leafs-Canadiens game in Toronto, he provided tickets and brought them on the show.

Friday's pre-game festivities featured bagpipes, speeches and a ceremonial puck drop. The game, which was supposed to start at 7 p.m., ended up getting underway closer to 8.

"We work hard, but we also play hard,鈥� Lt.-Col. Patrick Robichaud, commanding officer of the 1er Battalion of the Royal 22e R茅giment, told the crowd.

He also acknowledged that only a portion of the Van Doos team was in town for Operation Nanook, but hoped it would be enough to topple the Mustangs alumni.

"I think we might be able to surprise you tonight, and that's what we're working on,鈥� said Robichaud. "We don't back down from any challenge, so don't expect us to give it to you easy.鈥�

Deputy premier and newly-appointed Minister of Education Elaine Taylor praised the Van Doos hockey history, but reminded the crowd that Yukoners have previously competed for the Stanley Cup.

The Dawson City Nuggets challenged the Ottawa Silver Seven for hockey's top prize in 1905.