Thursday, May 12, 2005 | By Philip Croucher, Halifax Daily News

The frowns have been turned upside down.

Less than 24 hours after watching their league title dreams come to a close against the Rimouski Oceanic, the Halifax Mooseheads were back smiling and kidding around yesterday afternoon at the Metro Centre, as they left together for a final team dinner at the Keg Steakhouse in the city's downtown core.

"Last night was last night. You can't stay on those emotions (forever)," said Mooseheads defenceman Alexandre Picard.

"We want to spend the rest of the time we have with the guys and have a good time. Remember all the good things we did and have fun."

Understandably, the Mooseheads were very emotional after the conclusion of Tuesday night's Game 4. Halifax lost the contest 4-3 to get swept in four straight games by Rimouski in the league final.

When the game ended, most of the players watched in tears as the President's Cup trophy was presented to the Oceanic players. Those tears would continue in the dressing room, as the players stayed inside for almost 30 minutes after the game.

"Some of the guys stood up and said what they were thinking," said Mooseheads captain Petr Vrana. "What they said was, basically, 'We're a family and, hopefully, we're going to keep in close touch.'

"You spend a lot of time together and these guys are like your brothers. You don't want to leave them just like that."

Many thought the league final featuring the top two teams in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League would go six or seven games.

But in the final, Rimouski proved too much for Halifax to handle, showing more offensive finish and better consistency and confidence in its play.

"I think we could have maybe done a better job when I look at it now, a day later," said Vrana, who is signed by the New Jersey Devils and is looking to play for its American Hockey League affiliate, the Albany River Rats, for the 2005-06 season.

"But I guess it's hockey. That's the way it is. It didn't work our way.

"It was really quick," he added. "We didn't even turn around and it was gone."

Vrana and Picard were two of six Mooseheads who were members of the 2002-03 edition of the team that also lost in the league final to the Gatineau Olympiques. That series went seven games, with the deciding game coming again at Metro Centre.

"I'm kind of disappointed, but in another way, out of our three years here, we were in the finals two times," Vrana said. "Even though we didn't win it, I think it's still pretty good."

By all accounts, this year's edition of the team was very close, which makes the season ending that much harder.

"From Day 1, we never had a problem," Picard said. "When you look back at teams in the past years you played with, there's always one or two guys that are nutcases. They just look for problems, and I think there are none on this team and it went all year like that, which was great.

"And the coaching change. Shawn (MacKenzie) did a good job, and Al (MacAdam) came in and did the same good job, too."