MEET THE FREE AGENTS

A total of 11 free agents have been invited to 2010 Saint John Sea Dogs training camp. The full roster was released yesterday.

Defenceman Yohann Mathieu and forwards Phillip Fife, Sebastien Huberdeau, Dylan Jones, and Peter Trainor were added to the Sea Dogs’ roster on August 3 and were featured in an earlier Station Nation post. Forward Peter Topshee was added to the team’s roster earlier this week.

Another five were added yesterday. Forwards Philippe Arsenau, Brett Barnhill, Mitchell Deruelle, Sammy McGuire, and net minder Ian O’Brien are expected to attend Sea Dogs training camp – which begins next Wednesday at 10:00 am at Harbour Station.

Arsenau played last season with the Miramichi Rivermen, scoring 22 goals and 14 assists in 35 games played. In the post-season, he recorded three goals and three assists in just nine games.

Barnhill, a forward, played with the Fredericton Canadians last year, getting 20 goals and 20 assists in 35 regular season matches. In the New Brunswick/Prince Edward Island Major Midget Hockey League playoffs, Barnhill scored three goals in seven games.

Deruelle spent last season with the Cape Breton Tradesmen and registered 14 goals and 35 assists in 34 games played during the regular season. He finished fourth in team scoring behind two Sea Dogs affiliate players – Colin Campbell and Brock Morrison.

In the post-season, Deruelle scored a goal and three assists in five games.

McGuire, who played with the Saint John Vito’s last season, recorded 18 goals and 14 assists in 33 games played in the NB/PEIMMHL. In the playoffs, the forward had no points in four games.

Goaltender Ian O’Brien – a Johnstown, Pennsylvania, native - spent the 2008-09 season with the Ontario Junior “A” Hockey League’s Oakville Blades. In 19 games he had a record of 16-2 with 3.22 goals against average and 0.890 save percentage.

Prior to joining the Blades, O’Brien played in six games in 2007-08 with the United States Hockey League’s Tri-City Storm where he had a record of 1-3. According to a team press release issued on January 2, 2008, O’Brien asked to leave the team.

"Playing time was a big factor in Ian's decision to leave. He wanted to be closer to home and play at a level he can compete and perform well. Moving forward, we wish him nothing but the best," said head coach and general manager Bliss Littler in the release.