PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE RELEASED

For the second straight year, the Saint John Sea Dogs’ biggest rival has been left off the team’s pre-season schedule.

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League released the 2010 pre-season schedule today for all 18 teams in the circuit. The "before season" opens on August 19 when the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies visit the rival Val-d’Or Foreurs.

The Atlantic division champion Sea Dogs open the pre-season on Saturday, August 21 at 7:00 pm against the Halifax Mooseheads at Harbour Station. It will be the first game featuring the new retrofitted center ice clock.

The next day, the Dogs travel to Halifax for a 4:30 pm start at the Halifax Forum.

Saint John will play Halifax three times, Bathurst twice, and PEI once.

The Dogs went 4-2 in the pre-season last year, outscoring their opponents 28-20 along the way. Their two loses came against Cape Breton and Lewiston.

Other than playing at the Forum in Halifax, Saint John will not travel to any alternate venues this season. Last year, the 2010 League Finalists played before a sold-out Fredericton Willie O’Ree Place, a game that saw the Sea Dogs get blown out by the Lewiston MAINEiacs.

The Moncton Wildcats will, however, play against the MAINEiacs in the capital city on September 3.

This will mark the second straight year that Saint John and Moncton have not met in the pre-season.

The Sea Dogs will play six games – three at home and three on the road. The full schedule can be seen below:

August 21: Halifax Mooseheads at Saint John Sea Dogs – 7:00 pm at Harbour Station
August 22: Saint John Sea Dogs vs Halifax Mooseheads – 4:30 pm at Halifax Forum
August 27: Saint John Sea Dogs at Acadie-Bathurst Titan – 7:30 pm at KC Irving Regional Centre
August 28: Acadie-Bathurst Titan at Saint John Sea Dogs – 7:00 pm at Harbour Station
September 1: Halifax Mooseheads at Saint John Sea Dogs – 7:00 pm at Harbour Station
September 2: Saint John Sea Dogs at PEI Rocket – 7:00 pm at Charlottetown Civic Centre

According to the QMJHL website, the regular season schedule "will be published in the near future."