NOTEBOOK: Training Camp Is Coming

Saint John Sea Dogs training camp begins in just over a week.

The Sea Dogs will begin to report to the club next Sunday with the first on-ice sessions taking place on Monday, Aug. 10 at Harbour Station.

Saint John will play six pre-season games this year with the first being on Thursday, Aug. 13 against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. Tickets to that game are free of charge and the general public can begin to pick them up at the arena box office beginning on Aug. 10.

Saint John’s other home pre-season games are on Aug. 22 and Aug. 27 against the Moncton Wildcats.

BOWERS ANNOUNCEMENT

The Hockey News’ Ryan Kennedy, who reported on QMJHL Entry Draft day that Shane Bowers would not report to Cape Breton, was obviously not shocked by this week’s announcement.

Kennedy had an article on Bowers this week, an article that featured this interesting paragraph:

There had been speculation that Bowers would have played for Saint John or Halifax, though right now that’s a moot point. I can say that Cape Breton attempted to trade the fourth overall pick to at least one of those teams, but the price tag was deemed too high by the potential partner.

The Eagles have said they do not intend to trade Bowers and he is expected to join the United States Hockey League’s Waterloo Black Hawks.

TRADE PERIOD

In what could be Bowers related news but also may not be – we shall see – the QMJHL’s trading period opened today.

@QMJHL Trade Period opens today (August 1) until August 18th in time to tweek the lineups before the season starts next month

— Kevin Chambers (@HCCanucklehead) August 1, 2015

Of course, overagers and imports can be traded after that deadline.

DOVE-McFALLS ARTICLE

Hockey’s Future has a solid article on Sea Dogs forward and Philadelphia Flyers prospect Samuel Dove-McFalls.

On the upcoming season:

“We had 7 guys drafted in the draft this year,” Dove-McFalls noted. “Obviously, there will be big expectations for next year. We want to win the President’s Cup. We want to make it to the Memorial Cup. That’s a big season coming up for us and we all have to come ready to camp in August.”

Dove-McFalls had 14 goals and 34 points in 66 games with Saint John last season.

TV TIME

The Eastlink Friday Night Hockey schedule was released yesterday. For those with Eastlink cable (or a QMJHL webcast subscription), the Sea Dogs will be shown four times.

Sept. 18: Saint John vs Cape Breton

Oct. 9: Saint John vs Charlottetown

Feb. 27: Saint John vs Halifax

March 18: Saint John vs Cape Breton

The Rogers TV and Sportsnet schedules have not been released yet.

IMAMA PROFILE

The Tampa Bay Lightning blog Bolts By The Bay has a profile on Sea Dogs forward Bokondji Imama.

SENS DRAFT REVIEW

Hockey’s Future took a look at how the Ottawa Senators did at this year’s NHL Draft. The Sens used the 18^th overall pick in the draft to select Sea Dogs defenseman Thomas Chabot.

GREEN SPEAKS

Via John Moore, here’s Sea Dogs defenseman Luke Green speaking at a Phoenix House fundraiser.

MORE TV TIME

This is good news:

You ready? #WorldJuniors showcase games will be broadcast live on @TSN_Sports. http://t.co/28kKKJcKtS pic.twitter.com/zSNdRZ1XL9

— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) July 30, 2015

EARLY LOOK

HockeyProspect.com has a real early look at some of the best 2001 born players from the province of Quebec.

NEW RECORD

Jack vanBoekel is stronger than all of us. Click the text if the video won't show up.

All time chin-up record broken! Jack Van Boekel of the St John Sea Dogs (QMJHL) smashes the 4 year record with a 319lb pull (219 body weight + 100lbs). A few dolphin kicks, but it counts. The big man put in an incredible summer and is taking off Monday to start the next season. Well done @boekes #NLPTfamily

A video posted by NLPT (Cambridge And Stratford) (@nlpt1) on Jul 31, 2015 at 10:25am PDT