IT'S A MIRACLE: PETERSEN ASSIGNED TO SAINT JOHN

Telegraph-Journal reporter Peter McGuire said in his weekly column he had a flashback to the days of Scott Howes when watching Mike Hoffman and his #27. The legendary 2007-08 team would never have made it to the final four if not for Howes and his 42 regular season goals, still a team record.

There was another important trade made earlier that season as well which saw Alexandre Picard-Hooper arrive in Saint John. The 2009-10 edition of Picard-Hooper has arrived.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, released Nicholas Petersen and has been sent back to Saint John. Peterson was drafted by the Stanley Cup Champions in this past June's draft in fourth round.

Petersen competed in Sea Dogs training camp this season before going to Penguins rookie camp and eventually main camp. He was assigned to the baby Penguins with former Sea Dogs captain Alex Grant before being released today.

Petersen played in all 68 regular season games with the Shawinigan Cataractes last season. He had 37 goals and 90 points. The forward also had 10 goals and 22 points in 21 playoff games in the Cataractes trip the President's Cup final.

The Wakefield, Quebec native had two goal and four points with the Sea Dogs in pre-season action this season.

Saint John now has too many overage players with Petersen now on board. He joins Alexandre Leduc, Marc-Antoine Gelinas, and the injured Mike Hoffman as 20 year olds.

The move makes Saint John a serious contender this season.