Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Sea Dogs Notebook

JURCO
Tomas Jurco made his NHL debut with the Detroit Red Wings in their 3-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday. The 20-year old had one shot and two hits in 16:45 of ice time. He also saw 1:27 of ice time on the power play.

Jurco, who leads the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins in scoring, was placed on the Wings top line with Pavel Datsyuk and Daniel Alfredsson.

“When I first find out I’m coming here I have no idea that I’m going to start with Pav and Alfie,” Jurco told NHL.com. “I just found out before the game and it was a great feeling. I think we played pretty well. We didn’t score but we had some chances. It’s an unbelievable experience for me. It’s experience that you take. I know what to expect from other games and I know where I should get better and where I’m at right now. Just to be here gives me a lot, just to know where I’m at right now.”

MLive.com also has an article on the Slovak’s debut, which includes Mike Babcock’s take on how he played. Also, he nearly took off Ben Bishop’s head.

EICHEL SPEAKS
NHL.com had an article on Jack Eichel and his invitation to attend the US national junior team selection camp.

Eichel, who is committed to Boston University for next season, also spoke about being selected twice in the QMJHL Entry Draft and picked in the KHL Draft. He was a 10th-round selection of Saint John in the 2013 Q Draft.

"I try not to think about that too much," Eichel said. "I guess it just opens up more options for you, which is always nice, but I'm really excited to go to BU."

So there’s that.

PASSINGHAM
Former Sea Dogs goaltender Troy Passingham (pictured above) saw some action for the CIS squad that took on the Canadian National Junior Team in an exhibition match in Toronto earlier this week. Team Canada won the game 3-0.

The Hockey Canada boxscore is a little confusing but it looks like Passingham allowed two goals on 16 shots in the third period.

Passingham, who is now playing with the Ryerson University Rams, was 1-1 with a 3.02 GAA and 0.897 SV% in two games with Saint John in 2007-08.

MAYER
In very cool news, the Montreal Canadiens have reassigned Robert Mayer from the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs to Geneve-Servette HC of the Swiss National League A for the Spengler Cup.

The Spengler Cup begins on Boxing Day and ends on New Year’s Eve. There will be a Canadian team taking part as usual as well as the AHL’s Rochester Americans. More info can be found on the tournament’s Wikipedia page.

Mayer is 3-6-2 with the Bulldogs this year to go along with a 3.05 GAA and 0.896 SV%.

GRANT
The Chronicle Herald has an article on Alex Grant scoring in his first two NHL games.

“It was definitely the best feeling I’ve ever had,” Grant said.

The defenseman is back with the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals. He has six goals and seven assists in 22 games with the Ads.

UNIVERSITY GAMES
At the Winter Universiade in Italy, Team Canada, made up entirely of Atlantic University Sport players, is 2-1 following wins over Japan and Ukraine and a loss to Kazakhstan.

Michael Kirkpatrick is the only former Sea Dog playing in the tournament. He has two goals and four assists following the three preliminary games.  He is also tied for the team lead in shots on goal with 14.

HUBERDEAU
Jonathan Huberdeau’s latest shootout goal was disgusting.


JOSEPH
Sea Dogs prospect Mathieu Joseph had a solid Reebok Challenge, finishing second in tournament scoring with six goals and three assists in five games.

Joseph is 10th in Quebec Midget AAA scoring this season with 11 goals and 25 assists for 36 points in 32 games with Collège Antoine-Girouard Gaulois.

The 16-year old was a third-round pick of Saint John in the 2013 QMJHL Entry Draft.

DIFFERENT YEAR

WALTER
Lukas Walter fought Mike DiPaolo on Friday in Charlottetown. We’ll give DiPaolo the win.


“The only spark was on the keister.”

UP NEXT
The Sea Dogs play two more games before the first half comes to an end. Saint John will look to end their five-game losing streak with games on Friday and Saturday night in Cape Breton.

The Dogs, who have also lost 11 straight road games, are 0-2-0-1 against the Screaming Eagles this year.

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