Thursday notes: Dogs in Sydney

The Saint John Sea Dogs are set to play the first game of a home-and-home series with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles on Friday night at Centre 200.

The second game of the two-game set will take place on Sunday at 3 p.m. at Harbour Station.

The Sea Dogs have had success against Cape Breton this season, going 3-1-0-0.

While the Screaming Eagles were classified as sellers during the trade period (notably dealing Team Canada's Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada), the team still has a respectable lineup, including former Sea Dogs defenceman Olivier LeBlanc and ex-Dogs prospect Declan Smith. The Eagles could very much cause some upsets down the stretch, currently sitting second in the Maritimes Division.

Giovanni Fiore is also still with the Eagles post-deadline. The 20-year-old has 32 goals in 36 games to lead the league.

While it's not official, it appears the Sea Dogs will welcome back Thomas Chabot and Mathieu Joseph and welcome Julien Gauthier to the team's lineup on Friday. There are still some injuries, but Saint John is inching closer to having its full lineup in place (knock on wood).

Some other notes...

• Over at Sportsnet, Sam Cosentino lists the Sea Dogs as one of the things to watch in the CHL's second half. Cosentino writes that Saint John president and general manager Trevor "Georgie has been very active in the trade market and owner Scott McCain feels he has one of the brightest young hockey minds in the business." 
• Cataractes beat writer Steve Turcotte ranks the top teams in the QMJHL post-deadline.
• Former Sea Dogs defenceman Jack Van Boekel has indeed left the Val-d'Or Foreurs to join the LaSalle Vipers of the GOJHL. “He’s a big body that defends extremely well,” Vipers head coach Bill Bowler told the Windsor Star.
• The Charlottetown Islanders have picked up just one point in three games since loading up at the deadline. It's early, but it's not the start they wanted. They are four points back of Saint John for the Maritimes Division lead.
• With the Mooseheads, Blade Mann-Dixon is now 3-2 with a 1.97 GAA and .946 SV%. That is quite good.
• The Sea Dogs will be hosting Faith and Family Night on Jan. 20.