SEA DOGS NOTEBOOK

SHOW TIME

The Saint John Sea Dogs’ QMJHL award winners will be featured during the six-o’clock news on CTV Atlantic tonight.

From the Dog Bytes Newsletter:

Be sure to tune into the CTV Evening News later today for reporter Mike Cameron's interviews with both Mike Hoffman and Gerard Gallant.

GEARING UP FOR 2011
If you thought the 2010 National Hockey League entry draft looked good for the Sea Dogs, hold on to your hat when 2011 rolls around.

The 2011 NHL draft is being called the “year of the Q,” with the possibility of having a fist full of first round picks, according to NHL.com.

It's possible the 2011 Draft will be the year of the "Q." League scout Chris Bordeleau was all smiles when discussing next year's crop, which includes four players from the Saint John Sea Dogs and high-profile sniper Sean Couturier of the Drummondville Voltigeurs.

The Saint John contingent consists of centers Jonathan Huberdeau (61 games, 15 goals, 43 points, plus-28) and Zack Philips (65 games, 16 goals, 44 points, plus-22), right wing Tomas Jurco (64 games, 26 goals, 51 points, plus-34) and defenseman Nathan Beaulieu (66 games, 12 goals, 45 points, plus-43).

"These kids are likely to be gone in the first round, so it's going to be a banner year in the 'Q' with these kids," Bordeleau said.

MOCK DRAFT SEASON
With the Spring season now upon us, the mock NHL draft campaign has begun. Several writers at NHL.com hosted mock drafts over the past week, with some different opinions about where Stanislav Galiev will go in the draft. Here is what they had to say:

Jen Raimondi: 30th pick, Washington Capitals – “A hard worker, he'll have more than one Russian mentor to help fine-tune his play.”

Adam Kimelman: 21st pick, Los Angeles Kings – “Talented scorer speaks near-flawless English.”
Shawn P. Roarke: Not listed

Brad Holland: Not listed

Mike G. Morreale: 11th pick, Dallas Stars – “His unpredictable creativity and vision make him tough to defend.”

MACAULAY, GALIEV GET THE MENTION
Stephen MacAulay and Danick Gauthier are listed by Central Scouting as two of the top 10 draft eligible QMJHL players for the upcoming selection process this June.

Here is the top 10 in alphabetical order:

Louis-Marc Aubry
Michael Bournival
Michael Chaput
Jakub Culek
Stanislav Galiev
Jerome Gauthier-Leduc
Brandon Gormley
Kirill Kabanov
Stephen Macaulay
Petr Straka

The “big chart” will be released on April 7.

POLL RESULTS
This week’s poll question was: Should horns be allowed at Harbour Station?

Yes, every section- 23
Keep the rule as is- 9
No, I hate horns- 5

Thanks to everyone who voted. This week’s question is: Who has been Saint John’s best rookie so far in the playoffs?

If you have an idea for a poll question, e-mail us at stationnation@yahoo.ca.

TO THE COMBINE WE GO
Stanislav Galiev was one of one hundred draft eligible players selected to participate in the annual NHL Draft Combine in Toronto. The combine, which will run May 24-29, is an opportunity for teams to meet and interview prospects, as well as see them tested in an off-ice setting.

To view the entire list of players invited click HERE.

GELINAS IS DONE
The phrase “in with a bang and out with a whimper” could describe former Sea Dog Marc-Antoine Gelinas’ season.

The 20-year old net minders season and QMJHL career is now over as his Shawinigan Cataractes fell in six games to the favoured Victoriaville Tigres on Sunday. Gelinas took a penalty at 11:16 of the OT frame in game six, allowing the Tigres to win the series on the power play.

Gelinas finished the year with a 30-15 record, 2.60 goals against average, and 0.915 save percentage. His junior career ends with a regular season record of 58-46.

STICH IS ALSO DONE
If you watch the Gatineau Olympiques’ Hubert Labrie’s freak overtime goal in game seven in Montreal on YouTube, you’ll see former Saint John captain David Stich standing near the goal crease.

Stich finished the season with the Junior with six goals and 17 assists in 47 games played. He ends his junior career with 26 goals, 74 assists, 367 penalty minutes, and a -2 rating in 243 regular season and playoff goals.

Of note, 28 of Stich’s 100 career points came in the post-season. Six of his 20 goals were also scored in the playoffs.

PLAYS OF THE WEEK
We have no idea how Danick Gauthier’s end-to-end goal in game five was missed this week.

Either way, click HERE to view the Mazda QMJHL plays of the week.

HOFFMAN VIDEO

SWEET VID

Not at all Sea Dogs related, but you haven't lived until you've seen this NHL on NBC fake promo from the the Maple Leafs blog Down Goes Brown.