BLAINE, Minnesota — For the first time all season, the L/A Nordiques are on a losing streak, having lost their second straight game at the NA3HL Showcase to the St. Louis Jr. Blues 6-0.

Despite the final score, Robichaud was pleased with his team’s effort.

“If we played liked today in our (Coastal) Division, we would have probably won the game 50-2 against one of those opponents,” Nordiques coach Cam Robichaud said. “It’s a different world when you get out to Minnesota. In my eyes and in at least five of the college teams I just spoke with, that wasn’t a 6-0 game. We had a couple of mistakes and that the team capitalized on early to make it 3-0 in the first period.”

Robichaud tipped his cap to St. Louis’ goalie Mikael Foucher, who Robichaud said played a solid game and denied the Nordiques on their scoring chances.

After a back-and-forth first 10 minutes of the game, the Jr. Blues took over in the final 10 minutes of the opening period. Matthew Monreal scored twice, first at the 10:08 mark and then at the 15:53 mark. Will Baginski assisted on both goals.

Monreal’s attempt at a natural hat trick was broken up by Hunter Muzzillo’s goal, on which Monreal assisted, on the power play tally with two minutes remaining in the first.

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The Jr. Blues were 1-for-7 on the man advantage, while the Nordiques were 0-for-4.

Monreal completed his hat trick 55 seconds in the second period to end Owen Liskiewicz’s day in the Nordiques crease. Daniel Miller replaced him, but the Jr. Blues continued to fill the back of the Nordiques’ net as Jack Moore scored 37 seconds after Monreal’s third goal.

Robichaud took a timeout after the fourth goal to settle his players down and remind them that while the score line wasn’t in their favor, they still could impress the people who were watching.

“It was about taking pride. All the schools and Tier II teams here don’t care what the score of our game is,” Robichaud said. “They are watching individual players who might be able to be prospects for the future or even bring up to their roster this season.”

Ivan Galaguzov capped the scoring off for the Jr. Blues with 3:42 remaining in the second period.

Despite going 1-2 at the showcase, Robichaud said nine players received interest from college and junior coaches.

The Nordiques return to action with a pair games against the Long Beach Sharks in Long Beach, New York, on Jan. 4-5.


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