LOOKING TO BREAK A CURSE

Martin Bartos, David Stich, and Robert Mayer. What do these names have in common?

Do you give up?

Well, you probably guessed that they are all import players that have played for the Saint John Sea Dogs. None were drafted into the National Hockey League. All played in the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

Today, Russian import Stanislav Galiev was named to the 2010 Top Prospects game. The Sea Dogs import that his widely projected to go in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft, will try and break the curse by being drafted into the NHL this summer.

Two Sea Dogs have played in the game and have been drafted. Yann Sauve went in the second round of the 2008 entry to the Vancouver Canucks. Last year, Simon Despres went in the first round to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Bartos, Stich, and Mayer were not as highly touted as Galiev however. Bartos is now playing in Europe, Mayer in the East Coast Hockey League after signing a contract with the Montreal Canadiens, and Stich is an overage defenseman for the Montreal Junior. Even Sauve and Despres slipped a bit the draft.

Galiev is looking to go through the front door on his way to the NHL by hearing his named called at the NHL draft. Breaking the curse - something to watch for come this June in Los Angeles.