SEMI-FINAL BRINGS SCHEDULING MAYHEM

The Saint John Sea Dogs organization has a big predicament on their hands.

The Saint John – Victoriaville Tigres third round schedule was released today with several surprises on it.

One of the biggest was the moving of game two. The Sea Dogs have already been selling tickets for almost a week for the 4:00 pm Sunday tilt. But today, that game has been moved back to Saturday at 8:00 pm.

From a Sea Dogs news release:

Game 2 had originally been scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 18 at 4pm but the date and time have both changed do to arena availability issues. Any fan that has already purchased a ticket to this game may redeem it as printed on Saturday or return it for a refund at the Harbour Station Box Office (prior to puck drop).

The late start is due to the Exploratorium Interactive Kids Fair that invades Harbour Station on Saturday from noon to 5:00 pm. There will be a quick a turnover however, with doors still expected to open an hour before puck drop.

It will be the latest home start in franchise history.

This comes just a few days after the Moncton Wildcats’ quarter-final series was screwed up due to a heavy equipment show. The puck didn’t drop in that game until 9:20 pm because of ice problems.

The full schedule can be seen below:

GAME 1: Friday, April 16 – 7:30pm @ Harbour Station
GAME 2: Saturday, April 17 – 8pm @ Harbour Station
GAME 3: Tuesday, April 20 – 8pm @ Desjardins Coliseum
GAME 4: Friday, April 23 – 8pm @ Desjardins Coliseum
*GAME 5: Saturday, April 24 – 5pm @ Desjardins Coliseum
*GAME 6: Monday, April 26 – 7pm @ Harbour Station
*GAME 7: Wednesday, April 28 – 7pm @ Harbour Station
*if necessary

Also revealed in the schedule was a surprising format change. Instead of the 2-2-1-1-1 scheduling format that is issued to all-teams in the semi-finals, the Sea Dogs will have to settle for the 2-3-2 format.

That means game five – which should be played in Saint John on a weekend – will be in Victoriaville. Also strange is that there is a two day layoff between game three and four.

The only event booked at Harbour Station that weekend is Bill Gaither on Saturday, April 24.

The Victoriaville newspaper La Nouvelle/L’Union is way too excited for the format change.

It should also be noted that if the series goes seven games, there will likely be only one day off between series with the final expected to begin on Friday, April 30.

Confused yet? Good.