Spencer Metcalfe made his presence felt in the Halifax Mooseheads’ lineup on Saturday night.
The recently-acquired defenceman, dubbed the team’s “big brother” by head coach and general manager Cam Russell, dropped the gloves twice in a QMJHL pre-season game against the Moncton Wildcats at the Forum and barked at anybody who looked at his teammates the wrong way.
Metcalfe had little trouble handling Scott Trask in the first period and Chuckie Schembri in the third before being ejected in the 4-3 shootout win before about 1,500 fans.
“Both those guys I fought hit our young guys pretty big,” the 19-year-old defenceman from Oakville, Ont., said. “I decided to step up and show them I’ve got their back.”
The six-foot, 184-pounder was acquired from the Gatineau Olympiques for a late-round draft choice, is expected to play in the Mooseheads’ top-six defensive rotation.
Although he has gone with feared tough guys Ashton Bernard and Mike Thomas, Metcalfe was quick to say fans shouldn’t expect two-fight games on a nightly basis.
“I’m experienced and I’m trying to help the young guys and protect them a little bit,” he said. “I’m not going to be a goon out there. I’m just going to show them the ropes.”
Yuri Cheremetiev scored a pair, including the game-tying goal with 30 seconds left, and rookie Carl Gelinas added a single. Matthew Boudreau had the shootout winner.
LOUIS-SEIZE CUT Eric Louis-Seize, a 20-year-old winger, was cut on Saturday, leaving 37 players at camp. The three over-agers remaining — Cheremetiev, Alexandre Brunet and Linden Bahm — are expected to be on the opening-night roster.
Louis-Seize, a hard-hitting role player, appeared in 121 games with the Mooseheads, recording 10 goals and 10 assists.
GREER TRIES AGAIN Former Halifax Mooseheads defenceman Richard Greer is trying out with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. The 18-year-old is hoping to secure a job after being cut by the Montreal Junior last week.
