It might be early to be talking about Halifax Mooseheads line combinations, but the pre-season play of one trio has made a strong first impression.
Third-year left-winger Gabriel Desjardins has lined up with second-year centre Brent Andrews and rookie right-winger Darcy Ashley since the first intrasquad game of training camp and the unit has developed early chemistry.
“Desjardins creates a lot of space with his speed, Brent’s got great size and great strength on the puck, and it’s given me room to wheel around with the puck and set up plays,” said Ashley, a former major midget linemate of Andrews during their days in Cornwall, P.E.I.
“We’re all contributing and that’s why the line’s been creating offence.”
Desjardins, in 2008, and Andrews, in 2009, were the Mooseheads’ top picks in their respective draft years, making them franchise cornerstones.
Ashley, 17, was a junior A scoring star last season who turned down a scholarship offer from the University of Maine to join the Mooseheads after being drafted 37th overall in June.
The Mooseheads are back in pre-season action on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Forum against the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.
