SEA DOGS NOTEBOOK

IT WAS A GOAL
Looking at the video it may seem hard to believe, but Jacob Legace’s goal in the third period last Sunday at Harbour Station was a good goal.

According to News 88.9 Wednesday night, there was one angle that showed the puck hit the back post inside the net and popped right back out. This makes sense with the water bottle getting blown off the top of the mesh netting.

OUELLET UP TO HIS OLD TRICKS
It appears Olivier Ouellet’s days in the QMJHL are over. The 19-year old who left the Sea Dogs in November because of “personal reasons” quit the Shawinigan Cataractes this past week. No reason was released.

Peter McGuire wrote this in Telegraph-Journal after his departure from the Sea Dogs:

“It appears among the 'personal reasons' the talented forward left the team was that he wasn't happy with the ice time he was receiving. Word was that he'd be open to a trade, so long as it was to a contender. HELLO!!! The Sea Dogs are first overall in the league, ranked second in the country among 60 major junior teams and have won 23 of their last 25. Is that not contender enough? Ouellet, by the way, was dealt to the Shawinigan Cataractes on Monday for what equates to a bucket of pucks and some hand sanitizer. Shawinigan is in third place in the Central Division with an ordinary record of 17-14-2-3 for 39 points. It'll be interesting to see if Shawinigan is contender enough or he'll pull the chute again.”

GALLANT ON THE MOOSE
Head coach Gerard Gallant believes Halifax is a much better team their record shows. He had this to say in Metro Halifax:

“If our guys go in there thinking it’s an easy game, they have another thing coming,” said Gallant. “I think they know better than that. Halifax has given us a lot of trouble. You’ve got to be ready to play.”

“They’re a team that puts pressure on you — they’re moving their feet, they’re skating,” Gallant said. “They have a lot of young kids who are working hard and having fun. Their goaltending is very good and they play a good, solid game.”

INJURIES STILL HITTING
It appears we were reporting false information all week when we said Nathan Beaulieu was out with an ankle injury. It was actually a knee injury according to reports.

Danick Gauthier missed the Dogs’ last game because of an upper body injury while Kevin Gagne was out with a groin problem. Both could have played however.

Hurt in Wednesday’s game was Stephen MacAulay. He left in the third period after being hit by Garret Clarke and did not return.

ANTHONY HAVING A TOUGH TIME
Vancouver Canucks prospect Steven Anthony has been struggling of late. The Halifax native, an 18-year-old forward with the nationally-top-ranked Saint John Sea Dogs, is mired in a scoring slump, without a point in eight games entering Wednesday's action and just eight points in his past 22 contests. He had 31 points in his first 30 games.

“He’s been working very hard for us the past couple of weeks and his game is coming back,” said Sea Dogs head coach Gerard Gallant to Metro. “He’s a good player for us who works hard, skates hard … The numbers just haven’t been there for him and he wants to get back on track. We’re hoping he does, too.”

JURCO HOOKS US UP
We were desperately trying to link the Sea Dogs to the Olympics. As it turns out, Tomas Jurco’s sister Petra Jurcova is a member of Slovakia’s women’s hockey team participating in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Here is her profile:
Height: 170 cm (5' 6")
Weight: 66 kg (146 lbs)
Date of Birth: June 22, 1987
Age: 22
Nationality: Slovakia
Birthplace: Slovakia
Nickname: Jurco. (SVK Media Guide 2010)
Club: HC Slovan Bratislava: Bratislava, Slovakia
Coach: Miroslav Karafiat (SVK Media Guide 2010)
Hobbies: Sport and music. (SVK Media Guide 2010)
Education: Business Academy: Kosice, Slovakia

HUBERDEAU WINS SCHOLASTIC AWARD
PRESS RELEASE
After compiling the latest school results, team academic consultants from around the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League today released the names of the Scholastic Players of the Month for January.

This initiative’s goal, which was developed by the QMJHL and its member clubs, is to recognize student athletes’ performances both on the ice and in the classroom.

Jonathan Huberdeau picks up the honor for Saint John this month. He is currently enrolled at College Saint-Bernard.

"Jonathan is a hard worker and he does not hesitate to take all the time that is required to succeed, both in school and outside regular school hours," reads a release. "He is well-organized and he makes sure that his assignments are completed on time. He is polite and respectful, and is always willing to contact and communicate with the tutors to make sure that he is on the right track.”

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES
Our main computer is busted which means we are working off the ole’ desktop all week. It's still pumping Microsoft Word 2000 so please be aware that our posts are going to lack some things.