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   After weeks of waiting, free agent Gaspard Boone had finally found a home here in Halifax. The talented playmaker got signed with a $3million contract to start him off in his rookie year. Rumors were spreading across the league about him being the next elite player, hopefully to carry the Halifax Raiders all the way to the Four Star Cup as they continue on with a poor start to the season at only 2 wins to offset a whopping 15 regulation losses. After the news came about that Boone was heading to the Halifax Raiders, the town began to buzz with anticipation. Could Gaspard Boone be exactly what this team needed to make a comeback of a lifetime? Well...after seeing the rookie's debut game it looks like all of the hype could have been for nothing. 

   Boone made an underwhelming appearance as a third line right winger. Perry Morgan, however, had a lights out performance, lighting the lamp early in the first period. That goal is what carried the team into overtime as the Detroit Falcons scored late in the third. Gaspard, on the ice at the time, ended up with a negative +/- for his first game. He rounded it out with 4 shots on goal, he just couldn't capitalize. Perhaps the rookie was simply nervous is his first SMJHL game. This isn't too surprising, however, coming from the last team in the league with only 9 points; putting them 24 points behind the lead.


   From his post-game interview, Boone stated that he was excited to be here and playing for the Raiders but definitely felt the nerves of playing with some of the big boys. He also claims that he's ready to step up his game and train so he can be great. He's been talking with his coach about where to improve and they both want to see results both in the gym and on the ice. Boone told the reporter, "The guys in the locker room have been nothing but welcoming and I can definitely see myself making a home here. I want to make my coach proud, I want to make Halifax proud, but really I just want to make the other guys out there proud and show 'em what I can do. It's gonna take a lot of hard work, but I'm better than what I showed out there tonight".

   In the end, we can't know for sure what Boone might bring to the table. He still has great, untapped potential that I'm sure many of us are dying to see actualized. It seems as though Boone has his head in the right space and is eager to be playing for the team. Let's hope that his management, coaches, and fellow team mates are able to help him achieve the goals that he clearly is working towards. Fingers crossed that these are just the rookie nerves getting to him. He still has plenty of time to develop and help Halifax with the comeback they deserve.

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You did way better than I did my first handful of games, I think I was just eating ice chips and not even taking shots!

We'll get you your first win here!