SEA DOGS NOTEBOOK

DO NOT PANIC
Many of the more casual fans have hit the panic button on this post-season following a 6-3 loss to PEI on home ice. If you encounter any of these folks, try to explain some of these things to them:

• The QMJHL playoff format was created by baboons, making the Sea Dogs play a much tougher opponent in the first round than in most sports leagues.
• With the next two games on the road, it may be a positive for the Sea Dogs. Saint John finished the season with a better road record than home.
• If they start ranting about the Gelinas/Cousineau trade, tell them that the former Dogs goalie was pulled in game one of their first round series, and has since lost the starting roll. Cousineau was born for the playoffs.

But if they start saying stuff like what was posted on the Sea Dogs’ Facebook page, you have already lost them:

"if they lose to pei you want see me at harbour station again!"

JOHNSTON SUSPENDED
The Maritime Junior ‘A’ Hockey League has suspended Summerside Western Capitals forward and Sea Dogs prospect Will Johnston for 10 games. League president Derryl Smith announced the suspension last Monday. Johnston was assessed a checking-from-behind major and game misconduct in Game 4 of the best-of-seven Roger Meek Division semifinal series against the Miramichi Timberwolves in Summerside on Thursday night.

“Based on the other suspensions that we had and being consistent with what the board of governors want, that is basically how I arrived at the ruling,” said Smith. “I watched the videotapes from the other suspensions and how severe they were and the intent with them, and I came up with 10 games.”

Miramichi captain Chris Owens, who was named the league’s player of the year and top defenceman on Friday, was knocked out of the series after suffering a Grade 3 concussion and multiple facial fractures on the play, which took place just inside the blue-line on the right wing by the Miramichi bench. Capitals general manager Gabe Keough said the team will appeal the suspension. Johnston, who has been suspended five times this season, attended a hearing in Amherst, N.S., on Sunday.

THE NERVES GOT THE BEST OF THEM
The PEI Rocket are saying that nerves played a big roll in their poor performance on Friday night.

“We played a very solid game (Saturday). We were clutch offensively,” said Eric Lavigne, Rocket head coach to The Guardian. “(Friday) we looked a bit nervous. (Saturday) was a good comeback.”

"I think the problem in Game 1 is that a lot of guys were nervous because it was their first playoff (game),'' said Rocket forward Samson Mahbod to the Telegraph-Journal. "We knew we had to show a lot of character.

POLL RESULTS
Last week’s poll results are in. The question was: How far will the Sea Dogs go in the playoffs?

The results can be found below:
Out on round one- 8
Out in round two- 5
Out in round three- 9
All the way- 21

Thank-you to everyone who voted.

JEAN ROUGEAU EXPLAINED
Telegraph-Journal columnist Peter McGuire took a look at just who this Jean Rougeau guy was and why a trophy was named after him.

Good stuff with some great player reactions. Click HERE to read the article.

JURCO ON HIGHLIGHT REEL
Tomas Jurco’s amazing shootout goal against Cape Breton is on display in the Mazda QMJHL Plays of the Week.

Click HERE for the video link.

JURCO NOMINATED FOR ROOKIE AWARD
Tomas Jurco was nominated for the league’s rookie player of the month award for March.

Acadie-Bathurst Titan backstop Guillaume Nadeau was named the rookie of the month after collecting three wins in as many starts while posting a 2.33 goals-against-average and .914 save percentage. All three of his wins were recorded against the Halifax Mooseheads. The Titan registered five wins in their last ten regular season games.

THE HIT IN PICTURES
Two great pictures of the Scott Trask hit on Aiden Kelly.
http://twitpic.com/18ohpf
http://twitpic.com/18oia1

A TRUE HONOR
At the fifth annual Sea Dogs Awards Banquet last week, all players that were with the team during its epic 22-game winning streak were given plaques honoring the achievement. But two players who were involved with the run are no longer with the organization. Both Benjamin Lecomte and Marc-Antoine Gelinas will have plaques sent to the according to the Telegraph-Journal.

During the streak, Gelinas won 15 games, had a 1.83 goals against average along with a .933 save percentage.

NO DICE
After leading the way for much of the season, Nicholas Petersen and Mike Hoffman failed to reach the top spot in TSN’s Player Power Rankings – the last rank of the regular season.

Hoffman finished in fourth, Petersen in fifth, and Michael Kirkpatrick in 15th. For Sea Dog Marc-Antoine Gelinas (who is still listed as a Saint John player) wound up in ninth.

LIGHTING THE LAMP
Former Sea Dog and current Drummondville Voltigeur Chris DiDomenico has found his scoring touch again.

After returning from eight months of rehab due to a broken leg, DiDomenico played in 12 regular season games and scored seven goals and 15 assists in those games. The Volts also won their final 16 games.

So far in the post-season, “Dido” is tied with Kelsey Tessier of the Moncton Wildcats for the league scoring lead. The Woodbridge, Ont. Native has two goals and five assists in two games.

LIVING THE HIGH LIFE
A recent report issued by the QMJHL shows that the Sea Dogs have some dangerous weapons when it comes to the playoffs.

Mike Hoffman is the active life time leader in playoff goals scored in the league with 21. He sits second behind Chris DiDomenico as the active assist leader with 34. Nicholas Petersen sits third in game winning playoff goals with three.

Goaltender Marco Cousineau leads all active goaltenders in playoff wins with 14, goals against average at 2.45, and games played with 23.