SEA DOGS NOTEBOOK

GAGNE SHOULD BE READY TO GO
Defenseman Kevin Gagne should be in the lineup when the Sea Dogs play the PEI Rocket on Friday night at the Charlottetown Civic Centre.

"That was the first time I ever stayed down on the ice,'' Saint John's second-year rearguard said to the Telegraph-Journal."I couldn't bend my knee and when we got to the trainer's room, I couldn't move it (with full range of motion), so that's why I didn't go back out. I couldn't have skated at 100 per cent.''

Gagne took a slapshot to the knee on Sunday when the Sea Dogs defeated the Lewiston Maineiacs 8-3 at Harbour Station. X-rays revealed that it was just a nasty bruise and practiced on Tuesday. He will likely be a game time decision on the Island.

THOMAS BATTLING JAW INJURY
In an interview on “The Drive” on Wednesday on News 88.9, Sea Dogs play-by-play man Tim Roszell said that captain Mike Thomas has been suffering from a mouth injury.

He said that about 10 days ago Thomas took a puck in the face and lost a tooth on the bottom portion of his jaw. He is waiting to get it replaced.

PETERSEN TOPS AGAIN
Nicholas Petersen was the top ranked player for the second week in a row in TSN’s QMJHL Player Rankings. The Pittsburgh Penguins prospect comes in with a rating of 88.93 this week. Also listed at sixth is Sea Dogs goaltender Marc-Antoine Gelinas with a rating of 84.77.

To view the full rankings click HERE.

FORMER DOG DRAFT PICK HAS HIS DAY
PRESS RELEASE
The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Nathan Dunnett of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar is the CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending December 6. Dunnett won two games including a shutout victory posting a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .971.

Dunnett earned his second shutout of the season Friday night in a 2-0 win over the Shawinigan Cataractes. He made a season-high 37 saves including 17 in the third period and was named first star of the game. He finished his week on Sunday with a 6-2 win over the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies with a second star performance making 31 saves including 14 in the third period.

Dunnett, a 19-year-old from Whitney, NB, is playing in his third QMJHL season and first full season with the Drakkar after joining the club midway through last year from the Drummondville Voltigeurs. Dunnett and the Drakkar have now won three straight games.

He was drafted by Saint John in 2007 in the ninth round, 147th overall. He never played a game for the Sea Dogs and was traded to Drummondville on December 17, 2007 and later sent to Baie-Comeau. He becomes the second former Sea Dog to win CHL goaltender of the week this season. The other is Windsor Spitfire Troy Passingham.

CHASING HISTORY
CHL columnist Patrick King had an article on the Sea Dogs winning streak today on Sportsnet.ca. The article talks to Mike Hoffman and Nicholas Petersen and shares a neat fact about Petersen’s Cataractes team last season.

Just like Saint John did, Shawinigan went to Lewiston on a 14 game winning streak last season only to lose to the lowly Maineiacs. "We made sure we won that game," a relieved Petersen said.

To view the article click HERE.

GIVING BACK
Maybe it was all those hours in the community that are giving the Sea Dogs such good luck these days.

"During the streak we've had no major illness or injury," said Gerard Gallant to here.com. "Some games we may not have deserved to win at all, but the team deserves its streak. Any coach in the league would say we're that good. Still, it takes luck to have a streak like that."

The Sea Dogs were featured on the cover of HERE magazine this week. It’s a free publication that promotes activites in the Saint John area and can be picked up at any newsstand.

To view the article on the Sea Dogs efforts in the community click HERE.

HELP THE UNITED WAY ON THURSDAY
The Saint John Sea Dogs are asking fans attending Thursday’s game against Halifax to bring a toy or other gift to be placed under the United Way Christmas Tree for kids.

"With the United Way Christmas is for Kids Campaign," says team captain Mike Thomas, "as players we try to get the word out. I was just on two radio stations to promote it, to encourage people to bring toys to put under the tree."

Fans attending the game will also receive the latest edition of Prospects. The game is the last home game until after the Christmas break.