Notebook: Busy CHL weekend ahead

Olivier Croteau/QMJHL

The Saint John Sea Dogs won't be in action again this weekend but there will be several ex-Dogs playing.

The Maritimes Division's non-New Brunswick teams and the 12 Quebec-based squads will all be in action this weekend. That includes the QMJHL's fifth-round of "protected environments."

Maxim Cajkovic could make his Val-d'Or Foreurs debut this weekend. The former Sea Dogs forward had been playing in Slovakia but was able to arrive in Val-d'Or a few weeks ago. He joins an already loaded Foreurs squad that is 18-2-2-2 on the year and have won seven straight.

Here's a breakdown of how former Sea Dogs are performing around the QMJHL heading into this weekend's action.

Player	Team	GP	Goals	Assists	Points
Joshua Roy	SNB SHE	25	16	12	28
Nathan Larose	CAP	22	14	10	24
Dawson Stairs	SNB CAP	21	9	10	19
Alex Drover	SNB RIM	25	7	9	16
Isiah Campbell	DRU SHA	17	7	6	13
Connor Richard	MON	13	1	1	2

Creed Jones is the only ex-Dogs netminder playing. In eight games between Saint John and Rimouski, the overager is 1-4-1-0 with a 4.06 goals against average and a .868 save percentage.

NEW MASK

By the time the Sea Dogs are playing games again, Zachary Emond may have a new mask.

From @gildersdesign on IG: Zachary Emond’s new mask pic.twitter.com/QOuUjo8b0X

— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) February 25, 2021

The 20-year-old goaltender was acquired by Saint John in a trade with Rouyn-Noranda on Jan. 21.

WHL RETURNS

For the first time in nearly a year, the QMJHL will not be the only Canadian major junior circuit in action this weekend.

On Friday the WHL's Alberta teams will begin playing a 24-game schedule. The Medicine Hat Tigers will face the Red Deer Rebels while the Lethbridge Hurricanes will take on the Edmonton Oil Kings. The division's fifth team, the Calgary Hitmen, won't begin play until the following weekend.

In an unprecedented move, the WHL is making home openers free to watch on the CHL's new streaming platform. That means all games this weekend and next Friday's Hitmen game can all be viewed for free.

The WHL also released pricing options for what's being called "WHL Live on CHL TV."

WHL Live Package Pricing 

2020-21 – All-Access: $59.99 

2020-21 – 24-hour Access: $6.99

ICE LINEUP
The Winnipeg Ice: they have Petyon Krebs; capitalize ICE; and play in a barn on a university campus. If you're like myself, that's pretty much all you know about the WHL club. Fortunately Jake Maurice of Dub Nation has broken down where Anderson MacDonald may fit in the Ice's lineup.

From Dub Nation:

MacDonald will be surrounded by some of the best players in his career. He’ll likely start on the second line left-wing spot, especially following the news of Michael Milne’s injury. The ICE only needs MacDonald to be a solid secondary scorer while providing veteran leadership and a calming presence. Given his track record, there’s no reason to expect anything else.

MacDonald finishes his QMJHL career with 85 goals and 142 points in 196 games. He's one of the few players to suit up for all three New Brunswick teams.

The WHL's East Division begins play on March 12 in Regina.

DESTEFANI TO WMU

19-year-old forward Cade DeStefani, a second-round pick of the Sea Dogs in the 2018 QMJHL American Draft, has committed to Western Michigan University of the NCAA.

Cade DeStefani (Janesville Jets) has committed to Western Michigan University for 2021-2022. @WMUHockey @DestefaniCade @JanesvilleJets1 @NAHLHockey

— Hockey Commitments (@HockeyCommits) February 18, 2021

DeStefani has 11 goals and 23 points in 20 games with the NAHL's Janesville Jets.

“Committing to play college hockey is something I have always dreamed about growing up,” DeStefani said in a NAHL news release. “Ever since I was a kid I loved going to college games and always hoped I would one day have the opportunity to play at that level.”

Saint John's other pick in the 2018 American Draft, which was first overall, was forward Jack Williams who is currently playing in the USHL. He's committed to Northeastern University for the 2021-22 season.