MONCTON, N.B. — The Cape Breton Eagles picked up their first win of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League pre-season with a 7-4 victory over the Wildcats in Moncton on Sunday.
Shawn Element opened the scoring for Cape Breton early in the opening period before the visiting team pulled ahead on a Mathis Cloutier a powerplay goal and Jacob Hudson even-strength marker.
The Eagles would knot the score in that period when François-James Buteau rung a shot off the post and Davis Cooper pushed home the rebound, sending the teams to the first break tied at two.
In the second period, Cooper notched his second of the game just after a powerplay ended and then Element scored his second of the afternoon on a breakaway to give the Eagles a 4-2 lead.
A Moncton powerplay goal from Yoan Loshing would make the score 4-3 before Element’s third of the game restored Cape Breton’s two-goal margin.
The two clubs would trade goals again before period's end — Connor Richard for the Wildcats and Félix Lafrance for the Eagles.
Connor Trenholm hit the empty net in the third period to make the final score 7-4.
William Grimard picked up the win for the Eagles in goal, stopping 42 of 46 shots.
The Eagles will finish the pre-season with a pair of games against the Saint John Sea Dogs on Friday and Saturday at Centre 200.
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