Sea Dogs Notebook

These are allegedly the pads, glove and blocker that were used by Marco Cousineau when he was with the Sea Dogs during the 2009-10 season. Someone in Kitchener is selling the equipment for $795 on Kijiji.

CANADA-RUSSIA

Team Canada had a rough day on Friday in Yaroslavl, Russia. Canada fell 6-3 to Russia in Game 2 of the 2012 Canada-Russia Challenge, tying the four-game series up at 1-1.

Tye Rattie, Morgan Rielly, and Ryan Strome scored for Team Canada. PEI Rocket netminder Maxime Lagace took the loss in goal. QMJHLer Anton Zlobin had one of the Russian goals.

Sea Dogs captain Jonathan Huberdeau, who had an assist in Game 1 on Thursday, did not play.

Games 3 and 4 will be played in Halifax on Monday and Tuesday. Tickets are still available.

SIGNED

The Sea Dogs announced yesterday the signings of Olivier Leblanc, Spencer Smallman, and Noah Zilbert. All three were selected in the 2012 QMJHL Entry Draft held back in June.

Leblanc, a defenseman, was a first round pick of the Dogs. Smallman and Zilbert, forwards, were taken in the fourth round.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with these three young men and have them commit to our organization moving forward as we continue to add talented players,” said Head Coach and General Manager Mike Kelly.

WILD

At Pro Hockey Talk on Tuesday, Joe Yerdon wonders which one of these Minnesota Wild prospects will make the NHL first: Jonis Brodin, Zack Phillips, or Charlie Coyle.

“Coyle left Boston University to play in the Q in his abbreviated season he piled up 38 points (15 goals) in 23 games,” Yerdon writes. “In the playoffs, he was a monster adding another 34 points (15 goals again) in 17 games. Meanwhile, Phillips scored 30 goals with 80 points this past season with another 32 points in the postseason. That’ll do, kid.”

There is a poll in the post and Coyle is leading by a wide margin. Phillips, at the time of this writing, had less than 9% of the vote.

HUBERDEAU

How will Jonathan Huberdeau do in his first season in the NHL? The Litter Box Cats tackled that question this week.

“So how would Huberdeau be used by the Panthers,” asks Alexander Calloway. “My best guess would be as the replacement for departed free agent Mikael Samuelsson. Samuelsson played most of his ice time on the second line with Sean Bergenheim and Marcel Goc (who are now expected to be on the third line), while playing over two minutes on the powerplay and only three seconds on the penalty kill.”

Over at The Hockey Writers, they have Huberdeau centering the Panthers second line which features Bergenheim and Kris Versteeg.

“Depending on how quickly Huberdeau is able to adjust to the NHL game, this could be the Panthers most explosive and exciting line,” writes Charlie Crespo.

JURCO

MLive.com had a big time article on Tomas Jurco signing with the Red Wings this week.

"It's up to me if I play good," Jurco said. "They're going to put me in the AHL. I just hope I'm going to play good. It's a big step for me to go from junior hockey to man hockey. They're going to watch me. It's on me.”

BEAULIEU

LastWordOnSports.com lists Nathan Beaulieu as the top prospect in the Montreal Canadiens system.

“However here is the issue with Beaulieu,” writes Ben Kerr. “He has all the tools, and most of the time he uses them in the defensive game.  In 95% of his shifts he’ll play textbook defence.  He really needs to get rid of the brain cramps though.  Approximately once per game, Beaulieu will make a mind numbing defensive error.  The most common of these occur when he tries to get started on an offensive rush, he has a tendency to make a bad giveaway in his own end of the ice.  Another common error will be over committing to the puck carrier and leaving the man he should cover.  Beaulieu will need to work to cut down these errors to a more manageable level if he’s ever going to reach his potential to be a big minute defenceman in the NHL.”

DESPRES

Former Sea Dogs defenseman Simon Despres was called the second best prospect in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization by NHL.com.

“Despres was ranked No. 8 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting in 2009, but the Penguins landed him with the final pick of the first round and it looks like they got a steal,” writes Corey Masisak. “Big (6-foot-4, 214 pounds) and skilled, Despres impressed in limited duty with Pittsburgh last season and has the inside track to a regular spot in the lineup vacated by Zbynek Michalek.”

Joe Morrow was the top ranked prospect.

ROUSSEL

NHL.com has called former Sea Dogs defenseman Charles-Olivier Roussel the 9^th best prospect in the Nashville Predators organization.

“Appeared in the Memorial Cup for the Saint John Sea Dogs (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League) and had 15 points in 17 playoff games after 13 goals and 40 points during the regular season,” writes Brian Compton. “Nashville's second-round pick (No. 42) from 2009 plays a physical game and has offensive upside.”

NAME FROM THE PAST

Here’s a name from the past – Anthony Bergin. The former Sea Dog has signed with the Tulsa Oilers of the Central Hockey League.

Bergin spent the 2006-07 season with Saint John, scoring three goals and six assists in 60 games. He has spent the last two seasons at the University of Toronto.

“There are nerves with going pro, but my game has really developed in my two years at UT,” Bergin said in a team release.  “I’m not going to put any pressure on myself, I just want to work hard and see where it goes and I’m really looking forward to taking this next step.”