Bert’s Bananas – Don't fret over Sea Dogs' pre-season showing

By Bert Richardson
Station Nation Staff

With the 2010 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League pre-season wrapping up this afternoon, let’s look back on the Saint John Sea Dogs’ performance.

Saint John finished exhibition play with a record of 2-4-0-0. They were outscored by their opposition 12-16 in their six games, averaging two goals per game.

Two other things also popped out about this year’s pre-season. The first was the Sea Dogs’ road record. Saint John went 0-3-0-0 on the road after finishing last season as the QMJHL’s best team as a visitor. The second was in the goals scored category. Saint John registered the fewest amount of goals of any team in exhibition play.

But should fans really be concerned about the teams showing in the pre-season? Nope.

The only place you have to look in order to see that the Sea Dogs’ pre-season showing is not an indication of what is to come is the games played category for each player.

Only one player, rookie Jason Cameron, played in all six exhibition games. 10 players played in five games, eight players played in four games, four played in three games, while the remainder of Saint John’s original Training Camp roster played in two or less matches.

Of the 10 who played five games, only five of those players were regulars with the President’s Cup runners up last year. That includes sophomore Stanislav Galiev, who finished exhibition play with two goals and two assists.

One of the biggest factors for the Sea Dogs’ lack of scoring likely lies in Michael Kirkpatrick, who suited up for only three of the six pre-season games. Kirkpatrick finished third in team scoring last year behind the now graduated Nicholas Petersen and Mike Hoffman.

With a rookie filled lineup and regulars not playing, fans shouldn’t be too disappointed- or surprised - by the Dogs’ pre-season record.

Here is a look at the Sea Dogs’ pre-season vs regular season records through the years:

2005-06 Pre-Season/Regular Season Records
4-4-0-0/15-47-2-6

2006-07 Pre-Season/Regular Season Records
2-6-0-1/20-47-1-2

2007-08 Pre-Season/Regular Season Records
3-2-0-1/41-22-4-3

2008-09 Pre-Season/Regular Season Records
4-1-0-0/34-30-2-2

2009-10 Pre-Season/Regular Season Records
4-2-0-0/53-12-1-2

2010-11 Pre-Season/Regular Season Records
2-4-0-0/???