Sunday, July 26, 2015

NHL D-Men Coming To Alumni Game

Two NHL defensemen will be playing on Harbour Station ice next month.

Simon Despres of the Anaheim Ducks and Eric Gelinas of the New Jersey Devils have both confirmed that they will attend the Sea Dogs’ Aug. 8 alumni game. The game is part of the 2015 Wallace McCain Memorial Alumni Reunion.

Despres, the first overall pick in the 2007 QMJHL Entry Draft, played four seasons with Saint John from 2007-2011. In 240 regular season games, the “Big Horse” registered 25 goals and 109 assists. He helped the Dogs win back-to-back regular season championships in 2010 and 2011 and President Cup and Memorial Cup titles in 2011.

The Pittsburgh Penguins traded Despres to the Ducks this past season where he had one goal and five assists in 16 regular season matches. He added a goal and six helpers in 16 playoff games.

Gelinas only played half a season with Saint John in 2011, helping the club clinch a regular season championship along with a President Cup and Memorial Cup title. In 27 games with the Dogs he had three goals and 17 assists. In 19 playoff games, Gelinas added five goals and seven assists.

This past season, the 24-year-old recorded six goals and 13 assists in 61 games with the Devils.

Despres and Gelinas join Mike Thomas, Michael Kirkpatrick, Jason Cameron, Zack Phillips, Stephen MacAulay and Kevin Gagne as confirmed players for the game. All eight were part of the 2011 Memorial Cup championship Sea Dogs squad.

Tickets to the alumni game, happening Saturday, Aug. 8 at 2 p.m., are on sale now.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation

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