SEA DOGS NOTEBOOK

‘PASSY’ BRINGS IT HOME
The MasterCard Memorial Cup Champion Windsor Spitfires owe a lot of credit to backup net minder Troy Passingham.

The former Sea Dogs backstop played the majority of the first half of the season for Spits before getting permanently yanked following Game Three of the semi-finals against Kitchener. Windsor would win four straight to overcome a 3-0 series deficit and advance to the OHL Final.

Passingham spent the 2007-08 season in Saint John, playing the role as third string goalie. His only two starts, both against the Moncton Wildcats, came during the holidays when Robert Mayer was participating at the World Junior’s. In his pair of battles, Passingham went 1-1 with a 3.02 GAA and 0.897 save percentage.

TURK ON HIS TROPHY
Sea Dogs head coach Gerard Gallant reacted to his Coach of the Year award in the Columbus Dispatches Blue Jacket’s blog “Puck-Rakers.”

"A good team makes a good coach, and we had a real good team, some really good players this season," Gallant said. "We won 22 games in a row at one point, and you don't do that without some really talented players.

"But I'd be lying if I told you it wasn't nice to get recognized."

Gallant also spoke about his time in Columbus.

"Did I get the job because of Doug MacLean? I probably did, yeah," Gallant said. "But did I think I could do the job? I definitely did. And I think I did a pretty good job. There was a lot of pressure to win (in 2006-07). We didn't get off to a very good start, and they had a chance to hire Ken Hitchcock or Andy Murray. Those are two pretty big names among coaches.

"Here's how I look at it, though: It was a lot of fun, and I'd do it all over again. In a minute. I loved everything about Columbus -- the fans, the city ... everything. I'd do it all over again, absolutely."

An interesting comment from a fan: “mane ifs we still had that homie weed be winning stanleys glass.”

The blog also believes that the team is based out of “St. John’s.”

SCHUTZ, GERMAN SQUAD COME UP SHORT
Former Sea Dog Felix Schutz and his German squad came up one win short of capturing the countries first medal at the World Hockey Championships since 1934.

The Germans fell 3-1 to Sweden Sunday in the Bronze medal game.

Schutz, a Buffalo Sabers 2006 draft choice, played in 67 games with the American Hockey League’s Portland Pirates this past season. The center put up 13 goals and 14 assists for 27 points, 15 lesser points than he obtained last season.

The Erding, Germany native spent one-and-a-half seasons with Saint John, playing in 83 career games while registering 25 goals and 38 assists.

Hockey’s Future recently updated his status within the Sabers organization.

Schutz will be suiting up for Germany at the World Championships, joining teammate Phillip Gogulla. Schutz's offensive numbers regressed this season but he has really displayed his defensive grit as a two-way centerman in his two years so far in Portland. He has a non-stop motor and could be a useful third or fourth-line centerman in Buffalo someday. His entry -level contract is up at the end of the 2010-11 season.

Right now Schutz will be playing out next year in Portland unless he has an unbelievable training camp in Buffalo. His limited offensive upside and size could be his biggest impediment to someday making the Sabres.

STICH GOING BACK TO EUROPE
According the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s official Twitter page, former Sea Dogs defenseman David Stich has signed with HC Liberec, a professional team in his native Czech Republic.

Stich was expected to go pro this past season but was forced to return back to junior. After spending three seasons with the Sea Dogs, the tough-as-nails Stich was traded to the Montreal Junior.

The 20-year old played in 47 games with Montreal, getting six goals and 23 assists while assisting the Junior to a first round playoff exit against the Gatineau Olympiques.

HOFFMAN TO BE SIGNED SOON
Jeff Hicks of the Kitchener Record said in his blog earlier this week he expects Mike Hoffman to be signed “before the NHL Draft.”

Hicks, who writes the Kitchener Rangers blog Ranger Rap, says that Hoffman is just back from a vacation in Punta Cuna.

BEAULIEU BACK IN LONDON
Sea Dogs defenseman Nathan Beaulieu has headed home for the summer and told the London Free Press that the QMJHL Final was a wild experience.

“The Battle of New Brunswick, it was pretty crazy,” Beaulieu said of playing every game in front of at least 6,400 fans. “We lost but we had a lot of 17-, 18-year-olds on the team. We were young.”

Beaulieu also credits Simon Despres for his strong season; a campaign that has him setup to potentially go in the first round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

“He drove me to the rink,” Beaulieu said, “and he really took me under his wing. He was great. He went through it where people would say stupid things to him, but he said you can’t get frustrated.

“You have to listen to them because it’ll help you get better. You can’t get frustrated.”

GALIEV AT THE COMBINE
The 2010 NHL Draft Combine opened yesterday. The 100 best draft-eligible players from North America and Europe will spend May 24-29 in Toronto, going through a vigorous round of physical, medical and psychological tests that could determine where they are chosen.

The list of invitees includes Saint John Russian forward Stanislav Galiev.

"A kid who a team might say, 'What the heck? Let's interview them,' all of a sudden he impresses in the interview," Director of NHL Central Scouting E.J. McGuire told NHL.com. "Some of them coming into the Combine might be on a team's list, but work their way off for some reason, or vice versa."

According to the TSN website, The Sports Network will have coverage of the combine this Friday at 5:00 pm on TSN2.

CLOCK ALMOST DONE
After looking at several photos on Facebook, it is safe to say that the Harbour Station clock retrofit will be completed in the next couple of days.

"The resolution in the screen will be the same as the Bell Centre (in Montreal)," our Twitter friend Warren Beatteay told the Telegraph-Journal on Monday.

"Most of the editing (for graphic displays) on the old screen was done with Microsoft Paint," he said. "Now, we've got two different computers controlling the main screen, plus a new video suite we're installing which will put us at a whole new level."

"You'll be able to pick up the whiskers on any of the Saint John Sea Dogs players' faces," Mike Caddell, general manager of Harbour Station, said.

New high defination cameras have also been purchased, meaning that the entire Sea Dogs in-game experience will change for the better this season.

The screens on the street sign outside the building will also be replaced with HD.

ON THE RADIO
According to Sea Dogs’ Twitter page, CHL Coach of the Year Gerard Gallant will be on CBC Radio One’s (91.3 FM) Information Morning tomorrow at 7:40 am.

FACEBOOK PAGE
Some problems have arisen on the Station Nation Facebook page over the past week. Our rules are simple: talk/debate about hockey – not all this personal junk. Done.

If you have any problems, questions, or concerns plaese email us at stationnation@yahoo.ca.