SEA DOGS NOTEBOOK

WHAT A SHIRT
This picture was posted on Twitter by Alex Buckingham a couple of days ago. Simply unreal.

THE ROGERS DEBATE
There have been lots of questions going around about why the President’s Cup games in Saint John are not being broadcast by Rogers TV.

“Cats fought to have them on Rogers,” said Shaun McKenzie on Twitter as we asked him why the Saint John games would not be on television.

“Don't know if Sea Dogs felt the same way. I did not get a returned call.”

Games four can be seen live from the Moncton Coliseum Friday on Rogers TV (cable 10).

The Telegraph-Journal announced today that game five at Harbour Station will be on Rogers.

WE TALKING RAVALRY CUP
Yours truly had an interview with Neate Sager of Yahoo! Sports about the Sea Dogs – Wildcats rivalry this season.

Click HERE to check it out.

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN NOVA SCOTIA
It may be an all-New Brunswick Final, but that doesn’t mean Nova Scotia isn’t getting in on the action.

“There are six (Nova Scotia) players listed on the Moncton Wildcats and Saint John Sea Dogs rosters, as well as two coaches,” reports the Chronicle Herald. “The Sea Dogs have the most Nova Scotia talent, with three forwards and one defenceman. Leading them is North Sydney’s Michael Kirkpatrick, who is tied with Victoriaville Tigres forward Philip-Michael Devos for the playoff scoring lead. Kirkpatrick has 24 points in 15 games.”

Along with Kirkpatrick, Steven Anthony, Stephen MacAulay, and Christian Morin all hail from the province.

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN PEI
The Journal Pioneer took a look at the Prince Edward Island talent on the Sea Dogs and Wildcats this week.

In addition to (Sea Dogs Head Coach Gerard) Gallant and director of hockey operations Mike Kelly, Saint John also has the option to play Summerside Western Capital Will Johnston during the finals.

"He's a big player and a strong guy. He always goes to the net hard," said Gallant. "He hasn't played a game in the playoffs yet, but having his presence out there is nice."

THOMAS: "No one is satisfied yet"
Bill Hunt of the Daily Gleaner took some time off from his quest to keep the QMJHL out of Fredericton last week to discuss some native sons playing in the QMJHL Final.

"No one is satisfied yet," said Sea Dogs captain Mike Thomas. "We know what we want and what we've wanted all year, and that's to win. We're happy that we're able to get to the next step, but it's not over yet."

"I think for us, and just wanting to win, it would be the same against anyone," he said. "But for sure, that rivalry is there. It may get a few more fans from each side down to the games. But we've just got to take it as if we were playing anyone.”

Hunt also talked to Zach Phillips earlier last week in a separate article.

"It's pretty exciting," he said. "The big thing is going to be our work ethic and our defensive play. We know they're a really structured team and a really talented team.”

BEST BET… EVER
We have heard of some cool bets about this series, but this one takes the cake.

From CBC:

The loser will have to wear the winning team's jersey on the pulpit and lead his congregation in prayer for the winning team, according to Rev. Berube.

Rev. Mercer isn't worried about losing the bet. The book of Genesis mentions the fish of the sea far more often than land animals, he said.

He believes that gives the Sea Dogs a holy advantage over the Wildcats.

NEW TENANT AT HARBOUR SATION?
Is a Premier Basketball League team heading to Saint John?

From Metro Halifax:

The Manchester Millrats, who have spent three seasons in New Hampshire, are close to finalizing a deal that would relocate the Premier Basketball League franchise to Harbour Station in Saint John, N.B., for the 2011 season.

Owner Ian McCarthy said the Millrats are “30 days from this move being 100 per cent” and hope to have a lease agreement signed within a week.

“I was impressed by how much they really wanted us to play there,” McCarthy said of his initial meetings with arena officials.

This video was posted last week by Mavs Gillis of Haligonia Sports.



REPRESENTING IN VICTO
A Bloc Quebecois MP turned in his party colours for a Sea Dogs' jersey Tuesday in the nation's capital.

After losing a bet to Saint John MP Rodney Weston, Andre Bellavance (Richmond-Arthabaska represents the riding that includes Victoriaville, home of the QMJHL's Tigres) wore a Sea Dogs jersey on Parliament Hill yesterday according to News 88.9.

"I am tremendously proud of the Sea Dogs as they successfully battled the Victoriaville Tigres in a hard fought series," said Weston in a statement.

Q IN EA
According to CBC New Brunswick this week, EA Sports will feature the Canadian Hockey League in NHL '11.

“We have players from overseas,” said Rick Bowness Jr., marketing and communications director of the Saint John Sea Dogs. “So do all the other teams in the CHL also, so they're really kind of enforcing the notion of the global village within the hockey community, which is obviously beneficial from our standpoint.

“People are going to recognize the Sea Dogs logo in Dusseldorf and so it's kind of cool and we look forward to playing it next year,” he said.

One of the best Tweets all year came out of this news courtesy of Al_Rankin:

EA is planning on adding the QMJHL to NHL11 but they're having trouble emulating the awfulness of the Halifax Mooseheads.

CLOCK UPDATE
Harbour Station clock upgrade update from CHSJ News:

By the 24th or 25th of this month, Harbour Station will have a new look. A new four screen high definition scoreboard and screen for the marquee will be installed. General Manager Mike Cadell tells CHSJ News, this is amazing technology.

Cadell compares the new scoreboard to watching four high definition televisions for some of those plays you might not be able to see from your seat.