Saturday notes: Auger makes FISU team

MONTREAL - Former Saint John Sea Dogs goaltender Sebastien Auger has been named to the team that will represent Canada at the upcoming FISU Winter Universiade in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Auger and former London Knight Kevin Bailie will make up Canada's goaltending tandem for the tournament, which will open on Jan. 30 with Canada taking on the United States.

Auger is 8-3 with a 2.49 GAA and .927 SV% with the UQTR Patriotes this season.

The team is made up entirely of OUA players. Former Dogs defenceman David Weckworth, now with the Carleton Ravens, was invited to the Canadian camp but did not make the team.

Former Sea Dog Michael Kirkpatrick helped Canada win gold at the 2013 Winter Universiade.

Some other notes...

• Speaking of former Sea Dogs goaltenders, Marc-Antoine Turcotte made his debut with the OUA's Concordia Stingers this past week. He had a game to forget last night against the University of Toronto though, allowing three goals on six shots in the first period.
• According to a Quebec newspaper report, the Sea Dogs inquired about acquiring Olympiques import forward Vitalii Abramov. The 18-year-old Columbus Blue Jackets prospect has 28 goals and 56 points in 37 games with Gatineau this season.
• According to another report, the Sea Dogs tried to acquire 19-year-old forward Samuel Laberge from the Rimouski Oceanic right up until the deadline. Now the captain of the Oceanic, Laberge has 10 goals and 23 points in 19 games.
• From CHL stats man Geoffrey Brandow on Twitter: Alex D'Orio improves to 5-0 in last five starts with a 1.00 GAA and .945 SV% rejecting 103 of 109. 
• Saturday's Sea Dogs - Mooseheads game in Halifax will be broadcast nationally on Sportsnet and TVA Sports. Note that game time is 4 p.m. Atlantic.
• Bokondji Imama was named Saint John's player of the month for December. Kyle Ward was named the student of the month.
• Mike Zeisberger of the Toronto Sun had some real nice words about Mathieu Joseph's goal in Thursday's gold medal game.
• 17-year-old forward Kallum Muirhead, an eighth-round pick of the Sea Dogs in the 2015 QMJHL Entry Draft, has been named the MHL's Rookie of the Month for December. He had seven goals and two assists in seven games with the Summerside Western Capitals.
• This is neat:

Trade period over means @ssmallman96 and @MHighmore15 are set to join @ThommerBomber as the only guys to play 5 full seasons here in SJ!

— DK (@SeaDogsDK) January 6, 2017