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Pierre-Olivier Morin made the most of what he called “probably (his) last chance” to impress the Vancouver Canucks, at least on the ice.

Morin, a 19-year-old skater with the Lewiston Maineiacs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, netted a goal and added an assist on the power play for the Canucks’ rookie squad Wednesday in Penticton, British Columbia. Despite his efforts, and a team-best plus-1 rating, Vancouver’s rookies fell to the Anaheim Ducks’ rookies, 4-2.

The Ducks took a 2-0 lead in the second period on goals from Rob Bordson and highly-touted defensive prospect Cam Fowler, the latter coming on the power play with three seconds remaining in the second stanza.

Morin set up linemate Bill Sweatt on the power play just 1:04 into the third to cut his team’s deficit in half, and then at even strength, the speedy winger earned his second goal in as many games when he beat Anaheim keeper (and former QMJHL goalie) Timo Pielmeier to even the game with less than five minutes to play.

Another former Q star, Maxime Macenauer, returned the favor when he caught Vancouver goalie Michael Houser napping on a wrap-around goal two minutes later. Scott Ramsay added an empty-netter to cap the scoring for the Ducks.

Observers posting on Internet message boards out of Western Canada thought Morin, among others, deserved to have a shot at the team’s main camp, which begins this weekend, and most agreed he is at least among the top forwards with the rookie squad this week.

Vancouver plays its final rookie squad game Thursday afternoon, and the team will then ship most players back to their respective junior or developmental teams.

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