ROCKET WILL TRY TO PLAY SPOILER AGAIN

They have done it before, and will try to do it again.

Entering their March 12, 2008 contest against the PEI Rocket, the Saint John Sea Dogs were a perfect 5-0-0-0 against them. The Sea Dogs needed to win this game in order to keep any hopes of winning the Eastern Division alive over the Halifax Mooseheads. With only one other game remaining against the last-place Moncton Wildcats, it appeared a Sunday showdown was set for the Metro Center with the division on the line.

The Rocket had a 3-0 lead after one period and got net minder Robert Mayer pulled from the game. The Sea Dogs battled all the way back to tie the game at 4-4 and sent it to overtime. Geoff Walker then scored just 2:26 in extra time, and ended Saint John’s hopes of a division title.

Now, just under two years later and the circumstances not so high, the Sea Dogs and Rocket are put in the same position once again when they battle each other tomorrow at 7:00 pm at Harbour Station (News 88.9; Telus Webcast).

Saint John needs one more victory to clinch the first division title in franchise history. Two more points will also be enough to secure the Sea Dogs the 2009-10 Jean Rougeau Trophy as the QMJHL’s regular season champions, an achievement which affords the club home ice throughout the playoffs.

Five of the last six Jean Rougeau Trophy winners have gone on to win the Presidents Cup.

The Rocket hockey team has been no easy task for the Saint John this season. The Sea Dogs are 4-2-0-0 against PEI and are 2-1-0-0 at Harbour Station. Saint John has outscored the Rocket by only three goals this year.

There have been two memorable and meaningful games against the two this season. The first was on September 23 at Harbour Station when the Sea Dogs fell 6-1 to the Rocket. In that game, Mike Thomas got a lengthy suspension following a fight. Mike Hoffman, making his Saint John debut, also broke his foot.

Then on October 13 at the Charlottetown Civic Centre, head coach Gerard Gallant flipped after his team fell 4-0 to the Rocket. That would be Saint John’s last loss until December 13.

Also of note in the Sea Dogs’ 4-0 loss in Charlottetown, current Saint John net minder Marco Cousineau received shutout credit in the win.

Tomorrow’s game is the last $5.00 Wednesday game of the season. It has also been designated “Faith and Family Night,” with an inspirational post-game speech from Team Chaplain and Hockey Ministries International Director Bruce Smith.

Can the Sea Dogs make history tomorrow night? Lord willing.