SEA DOGS NOTEBOOK

STYLIN’
Via Sea Dogs equipment manager David Kelly’s Twitter, the 2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup crests that will be on the team’s jerseys during the President’s Cup final.

TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT?
The Sea Dogs could know their opponent for the President’s Cup final this evening. The Quebec Remparts currently hold a 3-2 series lead over the Gatineau Olympiques entering Game Six this evening at the Robert Guertin Arena.

If the Olympiques win tonight, Game Seven will be Tuesday at Colisee Pepsi in Quebec City.

The finals begin Thursday night at Harbour Station.

THOMAS ON INSIDE THE Q
Sea Dogs captain Mike Thomas was a guest on the QMJHL radio program ‘Inside the Q’ this week. You can listen to it HERE.

Thomas, in his last QMJHL season would like to finish his career holding the President Cup and will tell us what were the differences between last year's Sea Dogs that went to the final compared to this year's squad.

Also on the program is D.J. Abisilah, the play-by-play man for the Lewiston MAINEiacs.

GETTING TO KNOW HUBERDEAU
Open Ice Hockey’s interview with Jonathan Huberdeau at the Top Prospects Game.



BEAULIEU MOVING ON?
Rumors continue to swirl about the future of former Sea Dogs head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu. The London Free Press speculates that the current London Knights assistant coach could end up with the Sarnia Sting this off-season.

"His contract is done either the end of July or end of June," Knights general manager Mark Hunter said to the Free Press. "But we will allow him (to talk to teams) right after (the draft is over)."

FIGHT
The Danick Gauthier – Samuel Finn fight from Game Three of the semifinals against Lewiston. Finn got the better of Gauthier but both got some good shots in.



GALLANT IN QUEBEC CITY
Le Journals de Quebec reports that Sea Dogs head coach Gerard Gallant was in Quebec City on Friday to watch Game Five of the semifinals between the Remparts and Gatineau Olympiques.

Gallant discusses the semifinal series with Lewiston, the styles of the Remparts and Olympiques game, and the distraction of the NHL draft.

SEA DOGS NOTEBOOK

SAUVE SENT TO MOOSE
As we posted the other day, former Sea Dogs defenseman Yann Sauve was assigned to the Manitoba Moose last Thursday. The 20-year had been playing with the East Coast Hockey League’s Victoria Salmon Kings where he had two assists in seven games.

Sauve’s stint in the ECHL was believed to be for conditioning after finally recovering from a concussion he suffered in September. Now, the Vancouver Canucks must decide where to put Sauve for the rest of the season.

A second round pick of the Canucks in 2008, there have been rumblings of him possibly returning for a final year of junior in Saint John.

OKE NAMED TOP STUDENT
Sea Dogs forward Scott Oke was named the teams Student of the Month for November last week. Oke was presented with the honour at Harbour Station earier this month.

Oke is currently a 12th grade student at St. Malachy’s High School.

ISS FEATURES
Tomas Jurco was the lone Sea Dog to make International Scouting Service's list of top 30 prospects for the upcoming National Hockey League Entry Draft.

Jurco was placed in the No. 22 spot and joined Drummondville’s Sean Couturier, ranked first overall, as the only Quebec leaguers to make the list.

Four Sea Dogs – Jonathan Huberdeau, Zach Phillips, Guillaume Cloutier, and Scott Oke – were listed as “risers.” All four have a paragraph written about them on the Hockey’s Future website.

“Showed us a little more every viewing; played well with Kelly and Tesink,” says the scouting service about Scott Oke. “Showed better vision and passing ability then seen in early viewings; made a few smart 5 foot passes and a few good 30 foot passes, finding seams. Doesn't always see his options, but is showing more patience with puck. Worked hard and made the most of limited ice time...played 4th line with no PP or PK.”

JURCO ON TPS
Last week, Sea Dogs forward Tomas Jurco went on The Pipeline Show radio program. To download the interview, click HERE.

TELUS DISCOUNT
Telus has released their mid-season webcast pricing. You can now buy all webcasts – live and archived – for the remainder of the regular season and all of the playoffs for $129.95.

NEW YEARS EVE
The annual Wildcats – Sea Dogs New Years Eve Game is always a great show, but this year there will be some added events for the Rivalry Cup match.

From a City of Saint John release:

The fun begins at 7:30 p.m. at Harbour Station with a Salute to Saint John Sports Heroes. This special historic event will honour some of Saint John’s outstanding sports personalities as part of the pre-game festivities before the Sea Dogs take on provincial rivals, the Moncton Wildcats. It is a presentation of City Stories, Saint John 225’s online social history project.

The Salute to Saint John Sports Heroes will honour Olympian Monica Hitchcock, international basketball official Fred Horgan and the legendary 1972/73 Mooseheads hockey team, winners of the Hardy Cup. Joining them at centre ice will be the St. Mary’s Band, one of Canada’s longest existing community bands (created in 1903) and tenor Owen McCausland, who will perform the national anthem.

Members of the Sea Dogs will also be participating in the New Years Eve celebrations on the boardwalk following the game.

McGUIRE CHRISTMAS WISHES
Telegraph-Journal columnist Peter McGuire released his annual Christmas gifts to the Sea Dogs column on Tuesday. Always a good read.

KREIDER TO PLAY FOR USA
A Sea Dogs draft pick will once again play for the Americans at the World Junior Hockey Championships. Drafted by Saint John in the 10th round of the 2008 QMJHL Entry Draft, Chris Kreider was named to Team USA yesterday.

"I was just playing and trying to enjoy it," Kreider told NHL.com yesterday about last year’s tournament where he and the Americans captured gold.. "It kind of just passes you by, but I guess that's the nature of the beast."

Currently playing with Boston College where he has five goals and six assists in 16 games, Kreider has never reported to Saint John.

NO BEAULIEU IN GUELPH
Former Sea Dogs head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu will not be moving to the Guelph Storm organization as a head coach. The London Free Press recently suggested that he may be a candidate for the vacant position.

The Storm announced today that Scott Walker, 37, who joined the team on a volunteer basis in late October and will now serve as the team’s head coach.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS FROM FREDDY BEACH
Daily Gleaner columnist David Ritchie gave some Christmas wishes for a couple of Fredericton-area Sea Dogs players earlier this week:

For Saint John Sea Dogs' Zack Phillips and Mike Thomas, both of Fredericton: For the Sea Dogs to win a Quebec Major Junior championship, and enhance the city's chances of hosting the Memorial Cup tournament. A credible host program is part and parcel of any potential winning bid, and with the Sea Dogs success over the past season and a half, they've already earned respect at the national level, due in great measure to the play of the second-year Phillips and captain Thomas.

ANOTHER LOOK AT SLOVAKIA
Patrick King of Rogers Sportsnet had another look at Team Slovakia’s entry for the world juniors.

Slovakia will ice a roster that is somewhat familiar to junior hockey fans. Guelph Storm forward Richard Panik, who was a member of that 2009 team, will be back for his third tournament while seven more from the CHL will join him. The most notables are defenceman Martin Marincin, an Edmonton Oilers draft pick that played in last year's tournament, and potential first round pick, forward Tomas Jurco.

The country finished fourth last year in Saskatoon.

NO RELATION
Abitibi Express reports that the Sea Dogs’ trade yesterday to acquire Alexandre Beauregard has no relation to the Steven Delisle trade that took place earlier this season.

The Sea Dogs acquired the NHL drafted Delisle for a 12th round pick earlier this year but he remains in the pro ranks. Beauregard was traded to Saint John yesterday for a first round pick.

Apparently, Montreal, Saint John, Victoriaville, and Drummondville were all interested in his services. Stephane Leroux of RDS tweeted yesterday that the Juniors were very close to landing him but would not give up a first round pick.

DELISLE UPDATE
Speaking of Steven Delisle, Justin A. Cohn of the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette had an update on the defenseman on December 13.

Defenseman Steve Delisle did have surgery on his shoulder and is presumed out for the season, unless he has an extremely fortuitous recovery.

“Defenseman Steven Delisle also has been moved from 10-day to the 30-day injured reserve list after undergoing potentially season-ending shoulder surgery,” reports News-Sentinel.com.

The Columbus Blue Jackets prospect has appeared in just six games this season with the Central Hockey League’s Fort Wayne Koments.

DESPRES ON WORLD JUNIORS
It’s been rare to see Sea Dogs defenseman Simon Despres quoted anywhere during the world juniors. On Monday, Despres gave TSN, via BuffaloNews.com, his thoughts on Canada being considered on underdog in the tournament.

"They don't know what's waiting for them," Despres said. "I think, we're going to come out strong in the tournament. We'll put on a good, competitive show."

Canada plays their final pre-tournament game tonight in Kitchener against Finland at 8:30pm AST on TSN2.

Photo Credits: Vancouver Canucks, Telus, AP, Columbus Blue Jackets

FORMER DOGS COACH ON THE MOVE?

According to the London Free Press, former Saint John Sea Dogs head coach Jacques Beaulieu could find himself once again head coaching a Canadian Hockey League club in the near future.

Apparently, there have been some rumblings that Beaulieu could be hired to coach the Guelph Storm. The Storm fired their head coach, Jason Brooks, on Monday.

And while this is all speculation, there are already rumblings that Beaulieu is one of the men being considered to take over from former Knight Jason Brooks, who was relieved of his duties as head coach of the Storm on Monday.

Beaulieu has all the tools. He’s been a long-time assistant with the Knights and has coached them during their most successful years. He left four years ago to become coach and general manager of the Saint John Sea Dogs. He made them successful and even though he was fired in his third year, he built the foundation of the team that is now No. 1 in Canada.

He returned to the Knights as an assistant coach, and does a lot of the heavy slugging. Also, he’s proven he can handle all aspects of building a team. (London Free Press)

Beaulieu was hired as the Sea Dogs head coach back in 2006 and later took over the general manager role that season (2006-07). He rebuilt Saint John’s roster, allowing the team to make the semi-finals in 2007-08 after finishing with just 20 wins the season before.

In 2008-09, the Sea Dogs failed to meet the lofty expectations put on them over the off-season, falling to the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in four games in the first round of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoffs. Beaulieu was fired not long after the Dogs’ playoff run came to an end.

Beaulieu will certainly be remembered more for his job as general manager than his role behind the bench. If not for current London Knights assistant coach, Saint John likely wouldn’t have made it to the President’s Cup Final last season. Although the Mike Kelly/Gerald Gallant era drafted and traded for a number of players who make the Dogs the No. 1 team in Canada today, Beaulieu is responsible for setting up most of the major acquisitions.

Ironically, Guelph’s general manager is one of the many Mike Kelly’s circulating around the Canadian sporting scene.

The father of Sea Dogs defenseman Nathan Beaulieu finished his coaching career in Saint John with a 95-111 record.

Beaulieu has, however, attached himself to the Knights nicely once again and is an asset to London’s coaching staff.

“I don’t know 100% yet what I would do (if I was asked about Beaulieu),” Knights general manager Mark Hunter said. “I would have no problem at the end of the year, but this is the middle of our season. It’s a tough position.”

SEA DOGS NOTEBOOK

ST. LAURENT OFF TO SOLID START
Former Sea Dogs netminder Karel St. Laurent is off to a solid start with the British Columbia Junior ‘A’ Hockey League’s Surrey Eagles.

St. Laurent made his debut on November 4th in Langley, an 8-4 Eagles win. Saint John’s backup goaltender in 2008-09 and 2009-10 made 37 saves in the victory. He then backstopped Surrey to a 5-4 overtime win over Langley the next night.

"He hadn't played for two or three weeks and he admits in the first game there were one or two goals he would like back," Eagles head coach Matt Erhart told Surrey Now last Tuesday. "He was better the next two nights; he made some big saves for us, especially in the third period and overtime Friday. He's been really solid for us."

"He played major junior hockey for the past three years," the coach said. "He's been on a really good team for the past two years as one of the two goalies playing for them. When he became available we thought he would be a good addition to the team."

THE POUTINE
SN reader Paul Leger has been telling us about his dream of having poutine sold at Harbour Station for quite awhile.

So, Paul has created a online petition to help support the movement. Apparently, Harbour Station doesn’t currently have the proper equipment to make the cheese and gravy goodness. We encourage everyone to sign, mainly because Harbour Station menu options are few and far between.

We still don’t know how you can have a QUEBEC Major Junior Hockey League team and not sell poutine.

MILL RAT PEOPLE
The Saint John Mill Rats will have a familiar face running their game day operations.

“Selma Kilisli, who was a game day hostess and community assistant for the Sea Dogs, has joined the Mill Rats staff as game day operations manager,” reported the Telegraph-Journal on October 30th. “Among her duties will be the familiar role of roving master-of-ceremonies during Mill Rats home games.”

PHILLIPS INTERVIEW
Our friend Randy Corey of Freddy Puck Radio interviewed Zach Phillips Friday on the weekly Fredericton based hockey program. They discuss just about everything.

Interview begins around the 31 minute mark:



Freddy Puck Radio airs every Friday night at 6pm on the interweb and 95.7 The Wolf in the Freddy Beach area.

LOTS OF MONEY
Pink in the Rink was quite successful this year in the QMJHL.

"The QMJHL and each of its eighteen franchises worked very hard to develop pink prototype jerseys in collaboration with our official supplier, Reebok/CCM, and its partner in this project, SP Apparel," said Commissioner Gilles Courteau in a release. "More than 400 pink jerseys worn by the players were sold with the proceeds being distributed to local, regional or national organizations dedicated to the fight against breast cancer. Furthermore, the QMJHL’s major partner, TELUS, came on board, contributing $100 for every goal scored during the 18 fight against breast cancer games. In total, 125 goals were scored, bringing TELUS’ contribution to $12,500. Today, I am proud to announce that over $115,000 have been generated as a result of our clubs’ efforts. Congratulations to all of our teams for their valued contribution. Also, thank you to our great fans for their lending their support behind this important endeavour."

SUPER THOUGHTS FROM A SUPER SERIES
Derek LeBlanc from HockeySense.ca had some thoughts on Game One of the Subway Super Series at Harbour Station.

On Nathan Beaulieu: “He did have a goal and an assist with 5 shots but didn’t look like his normal noticeable self. He didn’t stand out as much as he normally does.”

On Stanislav Galiev: “Looked like one of the strongest Russians out there. It must have been weird for him to be the enemy in his home barn.”

BEAULIEU SENIOR IN HOUSE
According to last Wednesday’s London Free Press, former Sea Dogs head coach Jacques Beaulieu was in the house for the Super Series and watched his son Nathan skate for Team QMJHL.

“The Russians said it’s their best team they’ve sent over since 1990,” Beaulieu said. “When the game’s in London, it will be a big one for (London Knights goaltender) Igor (Bobkov). He’s trying to show the Russians something. He’s trying to show us. He’s fighting for minutes, fighting to get into games.”

Beaulieu, now an assistant coach with the Knights, was reported to be in Rouyn-Noranda during Saint John’s recent road trip.

LADS AND LOBSTERS
This is something different:

PIPELINE SHOW
Sea Dogs play-by-play man Tim Roszell went on The Pipeline Show on Saturday to talk Sea Dogs. Among other things, Roszell discusses the five Sea Dogs players on the draft radar.

You can check out the interview HERE by selecting the November 13 show.

COOL IN SCHOOL
As announced before Saturday’s home game, defenseman Kevin Gagne is the Sea Dogs’ scholastic player of the month. The QMJHL made it official on Monday.

Gagne is currently enrolled at the University of New Brunswick Saint John campus.

Also of note, Mickael Audette is the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies top scholastic player for October. He is the netminder who lost his mind in a game against Saint John earlier this season.

BONUS LINKS
Nathan White on the Sea Dogs' representing in the NHL Central Scouting rankings released yesterday.

Neate Sager on the Sea Dogs staying away from posting Patrick Roy on the big screen. Chris Bosh sucks.

Photo Credits: Surrey Eagles Facebook page, Wikipedia, Sea Dogs website, Sea Dogs newsletter