DOGS DAILY: Joseph Named First Star

Sunday’s overtime hero has been named the QMJHL’s first star of the week.

With three goals and four assists in three games this week, Joseph helped the Sea Dogs win all three matches and extend their lead atop the Maritimes Division. From the QMJHL news release:

In three home games this week, the Tampa Bay Lightning prospect scored three goals, added four assists and maintained a +6 rating. Saturday, against the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, he scored a shorthanded goal and added an assist in a 5-1 win. His shorthanded goal was his 6th of the season, which tied a team record held by Félix Schutz. In a high scoring game on Sunday against the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, Joseph assisted on the game-tying goal late in the third period and then came back and scored the game winner in overtime for a 6-5 victory. He currently leads the Sea Dogs with 63 points.

Joseph now has points in nine straight games and goals in four straight. In fact, the Lightning prospect has failed to score just one time over his past nine contests. He also has goals in six straight home games.

Gatineau’s Yakov Trenin and Shawinigan’s Philippe Cadorette were named the second and third stars of the week, respectively.

In other news…

• With Marc-Antoine Turcotte healthy, the Sea Dogs have sent goaltender Alex D’Orio back to midget AAA.
• As Sportsnet points out in their latest QMJHL blog, Sam Povorozniouk is having by far the most productive season of his junior career. In 249 career OHL games, Povorozniouk had 47 goals. This season he has 30 goals in 53 games with Saint John.
• The Sea Dogs (74 points) kick off quite possibly the toughest road trip in team history on Wednesday night in Shawinigan (74 points). They then travel to Rouyn-Noranda (85 points) for a Friday night game and visit Val-d’Or (85 points) on Saturday.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation