With a new young core of players in place, this season marks year one of a rebuild (if you look at last season as year zero). This will, if history repeats itself, be the beginning of a climb back to a league championship in a couple years.
The Sea Dogs will be tested right away, opening the 2018-19 season with a home date against the Memorial Cup hosting Halifax Mooseheads. Even with some regulars still missing, the Moose will dress a much more experienced lineup. Game time tonight is 7 p.m. at Harbour Station.
TV/Radio/Webcast: RogersTV/Sea Dogs Radio/QMJHL Live
Records: This is the first game of the season for both clubs. Last season, Saint John finished last overall in the QMJHL standings with a 14-43-9-2 record for 39 points while Halifax finished fourth overall with a record of 43-18-6-1 for 93 points.
Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 7-3 loss to the Moncton Wildcats in Bouctouche this past Sunday. Maxim Cajkovic scored all three of Saint John's goals. Stewart Bagnell made 32 saves in the loss. The Mooseheads are coming off a 2-1 overtime loss to the Moncton Wildcats on Saturday at the Halifax Forum. Raphael Lavoie scored the Mooseheads' lone goal. Cole McLaren made 47 stops in the loss.
2017-18 head-to-head: The Sea Dogs were 2-5-1-0 against the Mooseheads last season while Halifax went 6-2-0-0 against Saint John.
Last meeting: March 14 at Scotiabank Centre where the Mooseheads defeated the Sea Dogs 7-3. Benoit Olivier-Groulx scored twice for Halifax while singles came from Jared McIsaac, Brett Crossley, Ben Higgins Barrett Dachyshyn and Joel Bishop. Saint John goals came from Cedric Pare, Aiden MacIntosh and Ben Reid. Alexis Gravel made 28 saves in the win. Tommy DaSilva allowed six goals on 31 shots in 40 minutes of play while Stewart Bagnell allowed one in the third period.
Ex-Sea Dogs on the Mooseheads: None.
Random stat: This is the first game of a stretch of 15 straight road games for the Mooseheads, who have been kicked out of Scotiabank Centre for a bit due to floor renovations.
Notes: Maxim Cajkovic led Saint John in pre-season scoring with six goals and three assists for nine points. His six goals were a team high as well... Michael Campoli led Saint John in pre-season assists with five... Michael Barinka was Halifax's leading scorer during the pre-season, finishing with three goals and two assists in four games... Barinka and Jordan Maher had each had a team high three goals... Xavier Parent had a Mooseheads high four assists.. Alex D'Orio was returned to the Sea Dogs by the Pittsburgh Penguins yesterday.
Out of town:#Lightning send Walter Flower back to Mooseheads in time for Fridays season opener with #SeaDogs. Shoulder injury will keep #RedWings prospect Jared McIsaac out indefinitely. #QMJHL— John Moore (@rinkrant) September 20, 2018
Cape Breton at Charlottetown - 7:30 PM ADT
Gatineau at Val-d'Or - 7:00 PM EDT
Victoriaville at Blainville-Boisbriand - 7:30 PM EDT
Baie-Comeau at Chicoutimi - 7:30 PM EDT
Drummondville at Rouyn-Noranda - 7:30 PM EDT
Sherbrooke at Shawinigan - 7:30 PM EDT
Next game: The Sea Dogs host the Moncton Wildcats on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.
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