The Metro Centre buzzer sounded to end the 1st period Saturday night. All the Mooseheads headed down the hallway to their dressing room except Spencer Metcalfe.
He was breathing hard and trying to come down after a tough 1st period against the Saint John Sea Dogs. His often sore and bruised hands were perspiring. He grabbed a towel and tried to dry off. He was about to perform “live” before more than 6,700 fans in a Pink in the Rink Promotion for Breast Cancer on Saturday night.
The bright warm sunshine felt good as it streamed down on Garrett Clarke’s face. The Moosehead defenceman stared out across the St Lawrence River as he stood on the upper deck of the Matane Ferry Monday morning.. He pulled down the hood of his dark blue Aeropostale sweatshirt and took a deep breath of the fresh sea air. He gently rubbed his upper lip where he had a couple of stitches compliments of a Baie Comeau high stick.
Konrad Abeltshauser was casually sifting thru emails from friends back home in Germany on a Saturday night. Then he opened up an email from his mother, who lives in Bad Tolz, a small town (population 15,000) an hour south of Munich. He stared at the computer screen and squinted as he tried to understand his mom’s message. It was urgent. It was very important. She was upset.
She had just received a letter from the government indicating under no circumstances was Konrad to leave the country. He would soon be expected to begin his mandatory basic training with the military. Every young man must serve 8 months in the Germany military. His mother was very uneasy with the situation, especially with her son being so far from home. The letter stated her son could not leave the country for more than 3 months and would be required shortly to begin his military service. Konrad had all kinds of questions, very few answers.
His eyes were red and watering as he stood before me under the stands at the Moncton Coliseum. Fifteen minutes earlier, he had been pulled away from some of his teammates as they were watching this summers QMJHL midget draft get underway.
Coach Jeff MacLeod escorted the amicable 19 year old, 3rd year Moosehead to the concourse level and found a quiet corner. Wearing a team golf shirt, Gabe was curious and confused why he was lead away from the stands. Then MacLeod delivered the first of 2 stunning blows.
“There is a strong possibility you could be traded.” Despite using a soft and caring tone, MacLeod’s words hit Gabe like a truck. He stared at the floor in disbelief. His head was spinning. “Where, where, where?”
Five minutes later, the second blow came. This time not privately but from the podium.
Commissioner Gilles Courteau declared, “the Rouyn Noranda Huskes have traded their first round pick to the Halifax Mooseheads for Gabriel O’Connor.”
Travis Randell pots 3 to lead the Mooseheads to a 6-1 W over Val-d’Or. Corbeil picks up the win between the pipes.
“A slight snap followed by sharp pain.” That’s what Gerrad Grant remembers about being belted into the boards last February 20th at the Robert Guertin Arena in Gatineau. But the 18 year old rookie wasn’t about to let pain in his left wrist prevent him from staying in the lineup. He didn’t complain. Two weeks later, the pain got worse. An x-ray showed nothing. He continued to play and finished up the year with a respectable 13 goals, 24 points.
Then this past summer, Grant was working for his uncle’s trucking company and was doing a lot of heavy lifting. The pain in his wrist was getting worse, almost unbearable.
Moore on the Moose 