PRE-GAME: Saint John Sea Dogs vs PEI Rocket

Game Day
Saint John Sea Dogs vs PEI Rocket
Tonight, October 13, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Charlottetown Civic Centre

Visiting Team: Saint John Sea Dogs
Record: 8-3-1-0 (Tied 1st in Atlantic Division)
Last Game: 4-0 Win @ Cape Breton on Sunday
Leading Scorer: Steven Anthony: 10-7-5-12
Notes: Goaltender Marc-Antoine Gelinas got his first shutout of the season on Sunday in Cape Breton. It is likely he will start tonight… Mike Hoffman is not expected to play. He took warm-up in Cape Breton on Sunday and is expected to return on Saturday against Moncton… this is the first game for the Sea Dogs in PEI this season. The Dogs lost 6-1 to the Rocket at Harbour Station on September 23. That was the game Mike Thomas (pictured) was suspended six games after receiving an aggressor penalty… this is the first game for Sea Dogs director of hockey operations/associate coach Mike Kelly, and head coach Gerard Gallant, in their home province of PEI.

Home Team: PEI Rocket
Record: 6-4-0-2 (3rd in Atlantic division)
Last Game: 2-1 loss vs Lewiston on Sunday
Leading Scorer: Jordan Escott: 11-6-8-14
Notes: The Rocket recently hired Eric Lavigne as the team’s new coach after they fired Guy Chouinard… the Rocket have five NHL draft picks: Marco Cousineau (Anaheim), Jordan Southorn (Buffalo), Chris Doyle (New York Rangers), Benjamin Cassavant (Washington), and Joel Champagne (Toronto)… Champagne fought Ottawa Senators prospect Mike Hoffman when these two team’s previously met… Chris Doyle is going to court later this year. He was charged with assault a few weeks ago… the Rocket have three PEI natives... goaltender Marco Cousineau was acquired from Drummondville in September.

Saint John vs PEI:
This Season (GP-W-L-OTL-SOL-PTS):
1-0-1-0-0-0
Home: 1-0-1-0-0-0
Road: 0-0-0-0-0-0
Goals For: 1
Goals Against: 6

Last Season (GP-W-L-OTL-SOL-PTS):
8-6-2-0-0-12
Home: 4-4-0-0-0-8
Road: 4-2-2-0-0-4
Goals For: 31
Goals Against: 23

All-Time-Not including this season (GP-W-L-OTL-SOL-PTS):
26-15-8-1-2-33
Home: 14-9-3-1-1-20
Road: 12-6-5-0-1-13
Goals For: 115
Goals Against: 110

Station Nation Facts:

• Mike Thomas’ suspension for being an aggressor in a fight was not the first suspension issued to Saint John player following a fight against PEI. Brett Gallant was suspended two games in 2007 for fighting two players at one time.
• The Sea Dogs swept the Rocket out of the opening round of the 2008 QMJHL playoffs.
• In 1999, the QMJHL awarded a franchise to a group of investors led by former Montreal Canadiens general manager Serge Savard.
• The franchise was baptized the “Rocket” in honour of Maurice “Rocket” Richard, whose legendary career is a part of the city’s soul. Maurice Richard was on hand to witness the inaugural game of the franchise, which was played on September 9th, 1999 in the renowned Maurice Richard Arena. The team moved tom PEI in four years later.
• The team’s notables over the years include: Gaston Therrien, Pascal Leclaire, Alain Vigneault, Pierre-André Bureau and Maxim Lapierre.
• The Charlottetown Civic Centre is often called one of the worst arenas in the QMJHL. It was voted the worst press box in 2007.

Important Info:
Venue: Charlottetown Civic Centre
Capacity: 3,690

Saint John Media: Radio- News 88.9 FM (http://www.news889.com/)
Live Video Streaming: http://www.qmjhl.mytelus.com/
Post-Game Coverage: Telegraph-Journal, The Guardian, http://www.stationnation.blogspot.com/
Post-Game Highlights: http://www.peirocket.com/