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St. John’s IceCaps Three Stars of April: Hudon, Terry, & de la Rose

Posted on by Andrew Zadarnowski

The St. John’s IceCaps played the final month of the current iteration of the franchise in April, and had a playoff run to show for it. The team went 4-3-0 in the remaining regular season games in April which was just enough to squeak into the playoffs. Once there however they would lose to the Syracuse Crunch in four games, on a winning goal by former IceCaps captain Gabriel Dumont.

First Star- Charles Hudon

Hudon has nothing left to prove in the AHL. Once again this month he was a force to be reckoned with, putting up 11 points in 11 games, including a game-winner. With waivers looming over him next season, the Canadiens have to decide whether he really is part of the plan or not, because another team will surely want to give him a chance.

Second Star- Chris Terry

Terry did what Terry does: He scored goals. His wrist shot from the faceoff has been unstoppable all season. The team MVP scored four goals in April and added seven assists for 11 points in 11 games. Most of these points came in the final seven regular season games, as his game dried up in the playoffs, only scoring a single marker, although it was a game-winner. He should continue to find success next season with the Laval Rocket as their ringer, given that his contract was extended for a season.

Third Star- Jacob de La Rose

There was perhaps no more complete player in April than Jacob de la Rose. He was a defensive threat to the opposition, shutting down the top line every game, and an offensive presence scoring short-handed goals as well as powerplay goals. He had six points in seven regular season games, and continued into the playoffs with three points in four games. He doesn’t know what next season will hold for him as he is a restricted free agent, and very likely to be exposed at the expansion draft, but he can be proud of his achievement of a very strong second half of the season.

Goal of the Month

Notable Cheers

  • For the first time in forever, the IceCaps had four steady lines and three defensive pairings that rarely shuffled around. It provided stability and consistency for the players who responded very well in the final stretch of the season.
  • The line of Stefan Matteau, de La Rose, and Max Friberg were especially outstanding in April. First of all they kept the opposition top line in check every game, but also contributed offensively, especially Matteau, who led the team in playoff goals, with three in four games.
  • After Yann Danis did his best playing three games when Charlie Lindgren was with the Canadiens, it was really the back-to-back shutouts on the road by Zachary Fucale and the returning Charlie Lindgren that renewed hopes in the IceCaps that a playoff run was possible./

Notable Jeers

  • The officiating in game 2 was bad, letting various infraction go unchecked, and ultimately costing the IceCaps the game with two waved-off goals in overtime.
  • First of all Yannick Veilleux’s goal was waved off for no explicable reason, despite there being no contact with the goalie and no penalty on the play. /

  • The second waved-off goal occurred when Erik Condra beat the puck into the net to take it off its moorings by a hair./

  • It’s the end of the road for the IceCaps, which certainly deserves a jeer, as the people of Newfoundland were nothing short of tremendous with the team, adopting them as their own. It was always going to be a short stay on The Rock before moving to Laval, but it is heartbreaking nonetheless to see the team moving away and the franchise fold as a result. The people of Newfoundland deserve hockey, and hopefully they will get some back relatively quickly./

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