SEA DOGS NOTEBOOK

JOB WELL DONE
Summerside Journal Pioneer columnist Joe MacIntyre had some nice words for the Prince Edward Island members of the Sea Dogs coaching staff.

Here’s an excerpt:

Gallant has had great success at the junior level, and has the ability to get everything and more out of a player. He is a "players' coach" and has an impressive résumé since taking over Saint John at the beginning of the 2009-10 season. Gallant and Kelly led a youthful Saint John team to the league final last season, before bowing out to the much-more experienced Moncton Wildcats.

One of the true measurements of a good coach is developing a player into a better player, and both Gallant and Kelly have certainly demonstrated that.

MacIntyre also brings up that, if the Sea Dogs make the Memorial Cup, Gerard Gallant and Mike Kelly would join Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors head coach Dave Cameron as Islanders behind the bench.

RANKINGS AFTERMATH
More NHL Central Scouting Rankings aftermath has been discovered.

Bruins 2011 Draft Watch, a hidden gem in the world of hockey prospects websites, spoke with some scout about the players ranked from the QMJHL.

"We knew he had the offense prior to the season," the scout said when asked about the #2 ranked Jonathan Huberdeau. "But the goal scoring has been a bonus. He's a very smart, instinctive player. I think he's still learning and needs to improve his complete game, but he's on the rise with the kind of start he's had."

"Beaulieu is a very good skater," the scout said. "He didn't get off to a great start, but he's done better over the last month or so, and has the skills to be a fine NHL prospect. I'm not sure of his upside, but with his size and mobility, he's up there."

BEAULIEU ON THE RADIO
Sea Dogs defenseman Nathan Beaulieu went on RBC Junior Hockey Radio this week to talk about his game and the releasing of the NHL Central Scouting’s first set of draft rankings.

Interview starts around the 14:30 mark.

The legendary Gino Reda has an interesting pronunciation of Beaulieu’s name.

TSN RANKINGS
We forgot the TSN QMJHL Power Rankings even existed until last week. This year, TSN has expanded the list to 40 players.

Sea Dogs on the list this week include:

2 – Jonathan Huberdeau
12 – Michael Kirkpatrick
21 – Tomas Jurco
22 – Steven Anthony
38 – Stanislav Galiev

Victoriaville Tigre forward Philip-Michael Devos is ranked first overall.

Player rankings are based on statistical production and are intended to value the impact a player has on the game.

STILL STUNNED
The Moncton Wildcats are still recovering from their 9-7 loss against Saint John on Sunday.

"I can't remember the last time I was involved in a game where my team gave up that many goals,” said Wildcats head coach Danny Flynn to the Times & Transcript. “I always say that when you lose you analyze why you lost so that hopefully you don't lose again for the same reasons. We'll spend a fair amount of time looking at the tape of that game."

"I think as we watch the tape of that game we will definitely see some areas of our game that we need to solidify," said Flynn. "Sometimes it comes down to just winning your one-on-one battles and wanting the puck more than the other team. Saint John outmuscled us on some pucks in front of our net and that resulted in goals against."

The Sea Dogs and Wildcats do not play again until New Year’s Eve at Harbour Station.

A LOOK BACK
Steve Turcotte had an interesting article earlier this week which featured a look back to the 2007 QMJHL Entry Draft. Turcotte “corrected” the first round selections, placing severall big time players that slipped into the later rounds as first round picks.

Simon Despres remained the first overall selection of the draft. The Sea Dogs also selected 10th overall that year, drafting Steven Anthony. The Vancouver Canucks pick did not make Turcotte’s first round list though. Instead, he was replaced by Acadie-Bathurst Titan goaltender Olivier Roy.

It’s worth checking out to see the players Saint John could have taken.

STILL ON TOP
The Sea Dogs remain atop the Open Ice Hockey weekly QMJHL power rankings.

The Sea Dogs played just one game this week, a 9-7 win in Moncton, but have not lost a game in regulation since October 22 in Bathurst.

The rankings are calculated using a formula based on weekly and season long play.