Ex-Dogs off to strong starts in new homes

Ghyslain Bergeron/QMJHL

Dawson Stairs got his Cape Breton Eagles career off to a great start this past weekend.

After completing a 14-day quarantine, Stairs made his Eagles debut on Saturday, scoring what proved to be the game winning goal in a 5-4 Cape Breton victory over the Maritimes Division leading Charlottetown Islanders.

On Sunday, Stairs found the scoresheet again, netting two goals on three shots in a 6-4 Eagles win over the Halifax Mooseheads.

The three goals on the weekend doubles his goal total on the season. Before joining Cape Breton, the Fredericton native recorded three goals and five assists in 13 games with the Saint John Sea Dogs.

Stairs was dealt to Cape Breton last month in the deal that saw 19-year-old forward Ryan Francis traded to Saint John.

The Eagles are back in action on Wednesday, hosting the Mooseheads in a game that will have fans in the stands for the first time since November.

Stairs isn't the only ex-Sea Dog finding his groove with his new club. Joshua Roy continues to produce for the Sherbrooke Phoenix, registering a total of four goals and three assists in six games with the team.

Sherbrooke will join the Shawinigan protected environment this weekend where they'll face the Cataractes (twice), Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and Val-d'Or Foreurs.

Speaking of the Foreurs, they've announced (another) big addition.

Welcome to Val-d'Or @max_cajkovic88! #fierdetreforeurs pic.twitter.com/4QSf2hN8VY

— Foreurs VD officiel (@ForeursVD) February 8, 2021

The Sea Dogs traded Maxim Cajkovic to Val-d'Or at the QMJHL Entry Draft. The Tampa Bay Lightning prospect had been playing in Slovakia up until this point. He recorded 18 goals and 24 assists in 36 games with Saint John last season.

Val-d'Or's lineup is so stacked it's almost comical at this point. They are no doubt the favourites to win... whatever it is this season is able to end with.

Alex Drover, meanwhile, continues to produce points for the Rimouski Oceanic. Drover, who was also traded by Saint John last month, has three goals and five assists in eight games with the Oceanic. He recorded seven points in 14 games with the Sea Dogs in the "first half" and nine points all of last season.