TSN’s Bob McKenzie sent out another tweet this afternoon about Sea Dogs defenseman Simon Despres’ performance so far at Team Canada’s selection camp.
Tyson Barrie played well last night, Simon Despres has struggled. Would have thought Despres would have been top 6 but he needs to step up.Final cuts come tomorrow.
DeSERRES INTERVIEW
Sea Dogs goaltender Jacob DeSerres had a nice interview with Brandon Wheat Kings voice Bruce Luebke. In the interview, the former Wheat King talks about how it likes the Sea Dogs organization and the team’s chances at winning it all this year.
The interview can be heard HERE.
DeSerres was also featured in the Brandon Sun today. If you just so happen to subscribe to the Brandon Sun online, you can check that out.
TESINK PICKS UP AWARD
Sea Dogs rookie Ryan Tesink was named the team’s mid-season top rookie last week. The award, presented by RDS, puts Tesink in some pretty high company with the likes of Martin Frk and Dillon Fournier picking up the Mooseheads’ and Maineiacs’ award, respectively.
Tesink has been solid this season, playing on a line with just about every Sea Dog at some point this season. In 28 games, the Saint John native has six goals and 12 assists.
HIGH PRAISE
Way, way back on November 26, the Red Line Report – via USA Today – had a small feature on the Sea Dogs and their cupboard full of draft eligible talent.
We’ve been to our share of Saint John Sea Dogs games already this season and can’t help but be impressed by their wealth of talent.JURCO ARTICLE
The Sea Dogs have no fewer than six legitimate candidates for this year’s draft and two others who are making a case to push that number to eight. We’ve loved Tomas Jurco for some time already and came away highly impressed with Nathan Beaulieu in recent viewings. We’ve already detailed our opinion on Jonathan Huberdeau and Zack Phillips as solid prospects, and it wasn’t long ago we mentioned how Ryan Tesink and Gabriel Bourret caught our eye as nice mid-round sleepers. But lately we’ve also had to put Guillaume Cloutier and Scott Oke into the conversation as potential dark horses.
With Gerard Gallant and Mike Kelly teaching these kids the finer points of the game, who knows how many of them will wind up hearing their named called in June.
Telegraph-Journal reporter Scott Briggs had a feature on the QMJHL website last week on Sea Dogs forward Tomas Jurco.
"I cannot say I was happy," Jurco said about his Central Scouting draft ranking. "My goal this year is to make the first round (of the NHL Entry Draft). I know why I was (sixth). I know I had a bad month."
DESPRES JERSEY SIGHTINGS
Before each Penguins home game, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Penguins blog, Empty Netters, posts some photos of jersey wearing fans around the rink. Over the past few weeks, there have been two Simon Despres jersey sightings.
WHAT CHUCKIE SCHEMBRI IS UP TO
The Amherst Daily News provides us with an update on former Sea Dog Chuckie Schembri, who is currently playing as a 20-year old with the Maritime Hockey League’s Amherst Ramblers. He was recently traded to the Ramblers from the Summerside Western Capitals.
“He brings a wealth of experience playing junior hockey,” Ramblers coach Jeff Lewis said. “He’s played in deep playoff runs, so we hope that experience will help with our group.”
Sports Junior had a question and answer session with Sea Dogs forward Danick Gauthier last week. A lot of “different” questions are asked, many of them about the life of playing in Saint John.
DeSERRES NOMINATED
This slipped under the radar a bit, but Sea Dogs goaltender Jacob DeSerres was nominated for the Canadian Hockey League goaltender of the week last week.
Red Deer Rebels netminder Darcy Kuemper won the award.
DESPRES REPORT
Hockey’s Future recently had a report on Pittsburgh Penguins junior prospects, including a feature on Simon Despres.
“Signed to an entry-level deal in 2009, Despres will join the Penguins organization when his QMJHL season is completed,” writes Ian Altenbaugh. “Considering the extensive term and dollar the Penguins have committed to their current group of NHL defenseman, expect Despres to be given as much time as he needs to blossom at the AHL level before being called upon to contribute in the NHL.”
Hockey’s Future currently has Despres listed as the No. 2 prospect in the Pens' system behind forward Eric Tangradi, who is currently in the American Hockey League.
Zach Phillips made The Hockey News’ prospect "Hot List" this week.
“Scouts have been fascinated with Phillips’ growth as the season progresses and the right winger’s bag of tricks seems to be expanding,” writes Ryan Kennedy. “Now tied for sixth in ‘Q’ scoring, Phillips hasn’t been held off the scoresheet since Nov. 14. Since then, he has 24 points in 10 games and his plus-minus for the season is up to plus-25.”
HUSSEY ON DESPRES
Sea Dogs assistant coach Marc Hussey had a question and answer session with InsidePittsburghSports.com yesterday. Among the things asked were his thoughts on Despres making the national junior team.
JURCO LEAVING
If this NHL.com article is still accurate, Tomas Jurco will be unavailable for Saint John this weekend in Cape Breton due to his duties with the Slovakian junior team that will participate in the World Junior Hockey Championships.
The remaining players and the coaching staff, including coach Stefan Mikes, will fly to the U.S. and join eight Slovakian players currently starring in the Canadian Hockey League to play a pre-tournament schedule in Jamestown, N.Y., starting Dec. 16. Slovakia will play exhibition games against Russia, Norway and the United States, and then will finalize its roster.GALIEV AND THE RUSSIANS
We have no idea what’s going on with Stanislav Galiev. Two Russian websites have him listed on the Russian world junior camp roster but apparently nothing is official as of yet.
Emily B. from Japers’ Rink came through in the clutch again, sending us this article that states Galiev and the rest of the Canadian Hockey League Russians will join the team when they arrive in North America this Sunday, December 19.
Photo Credits: Marc Henwood, Empty Netters, Empty Netters, Marc Henwood, Marc Henwood
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