TWO MORE CUT FROM TRAINING CAMP ROSTER

The Saint John Sea Dogs continue to fine tune their roster for the opening of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League season. Today, Sea Dogs Director of Hockey Operations and Associate Coach Mike Kelly trimmed his roster by two players aftercutting Spencer MacDonald and Devon Oliver-Dares.

MacDonald was acquired in a trade with the Montreal Junior prior to Training Camp. Originally drafted by the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in 2008, MacDonald registered one assist and six penalty minutes in five pre-season games.

The forward has spent the last two seasons with the Maritime Junior A Hockey League’s Summerside Western Capitals. In 39 games last season, MacDonald recorded four goals and 18 assists to go along with 74 penalty minutes. In 2008-09, the blue liner registered no goals, three assists and 48 penalty minutes in 37 matches.

The Prince Edward Island native is expected to rejoin the Capitals for another season. He remains Sea Dogs property.

Oliver-Dares impressed at Training Camp but fell victim to the Sea Dogs’ impressive depth at the forward position. In five pre-season games with Saint John, he recorded no points and 13 penalty minutes.

With the 54th overall pick of the 2010 QMJHL Entry Draft, Saint John selected the Dartmouth Subway forward. Oliver-Dares played in 30 regular season games with the Subways, registering 18 goals and 33 assists. He added five assists in seven playoff games.

Oliver-Dares competed in one MJAHL game last year, recording no points with the Bridgewater Lumberjacks.

The Sea Dogs website reports that he is expected to join the Dartmouth Ice Dawgs of the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League. Like MacDonald, he remains Sea Dogs property.

In a recent “Get to Know” feature on the Dogs’ website, Oliver-Dares stated that he goal for 2010-11 was “to play for the Sea Dogs and become a better all-around player.”

Saint John will play shorthanded to open the season with defensemen Simon Despres and forwards Stephen MacAulay, Stanislav Galiev, Mike Thomas, and Steven Anthony attending National Hockey League rookie and training camps. When these key players return, more cuts are expected to be made.

Saint John opens up the regular season on Friday at 7:30 pm at Harbour Station against the PEI Rocket.

The QMJHL website now has the full Sea Dogs roster up that is expected to start the season. Players who did not play a game in the QMJHL last year include: Tyrone Sock, Guillaume Cloutier, Jason Cameron, and Ryan Tesink.