Wednesday, May 26, 2021

Notebook: QMJHL retires the No. 4

The No. 4 will no longer be worn in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

The league announced last week that the number will be retired league-wide beginning in 2021-22 to honour Guy Lafleur, who was named the QMJHL's greatest player of all-time a couple years ago.

Lafleur's No. 4 will join Sidney Crosby's No. 87 as the only numbers retired across the league. 

The number has been worn by quite a few Saint John Sea Dogs players over the years, including this past season by Brandon Casey. Here's the list of all the Sea Dogs who have worn No. 4:

Ryan Sparling
Guillaume Cloutier
Eric Gelinas
Ian Saab
Ryan Kelly
Michael Abbott
Will Thompson
Braydon Blight
Shayne Dominie
Vincent Martineau
Simon Bourque
Tyler Smith
Nicolas Kakouras
Benjamin Gagne
Matt Gould
Brandon Casey

Sparling is the only Sea Dog to wear No. 4 in more than 100 games (265).

CAJKOVIC SIGNS
Former Sea Dogs forward Maxim Cajkovic has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning, it was announced Sunday.

Cajkovic was a third-round pick of the Lightning in the 2019 NHL Draft.

The lone former Sea Dog remaining in the QMJHL playoffs recorded six goals and eight assists in 12 regular season games with the loaded Val-d'Or Foreurs. He's added seven goals and five helpers in nine playoff games - all wins for the Foreurs.

Cajkovic will likely join the Benoit Groulx-led Syracuse Crunch of the AHL for the 2021-22 season.

CSR LIST RELEASED
The QMJHL Entry Draft is one month away.

QMJHL Central Scouting released its final prospect rankings last week. Forward Ethan Gauthier - who is a cousin of former Sea Dogs forward Julien Gauthier, according to Elite Prospects - of Magog was the top-ranked player.

Antigonish native Tyler Peddle, the son of StFX head coach Brad Peddle, was ranked second.

The full rankings can be found here.

The QMJHL Entry Draft takes place June 25-26. The first-round will be broadcast on the QMJHL's YouTube channel and Eastlink TV.

IMPORT DRAFT DATE SET
DUBNetwork is reporting that this year's CHL Import Draft will take place on Wednesday, June 30. How the order of picks will work has not yet been determined.

A lot of things could happen over the next month, but there's certainly a chance the Sea Dogs could use both of their picks in this year's draft. The team selected forward Fyodor Svechkov in the first-round last year and defenseman Jan Hampl in the second.

It's unlikely Svechkov will report to Saint John. Hampl was unable to make his way to the city this past season due to international travel restrictions - which, sadly, could still be a problem this fall.

AHL "FINAL" SET
The AHL final - as in the final playoff series to end this bizarre season - is set.

The Pacific Division Final will feature Tomas Jurco and the Henderson Silver Knights (Vegas Golden Knights) taking on Ostap Safin and the Bakersfield Condors (Edmonton Oilers).

New Brunswicker Brad Malone scored in overtime on Monday night to lift the Condors to a 2-1 victory and a 2-1 series win over the San Diego Gulls. The Silver Knights had already advanced after sweeping Vladislav Kotkov, Zachary Emond and the San Jose Barracuda.

Safin recorded four goals and two assists in 22 regular season games with Bakersfield. He's been held pointless in three playoff games.

Jurco, who appeared in eight games with the Condors in 2019-20, registered four goals and seven assists in 22 regular season contests with Henderson. He has a goal and an assist in two playoff games.

Game 1 of the best-of-three series takes place Wednesday night. All games will be played at the Golden Knights' T-Mobile Arena.

The Pacific is the only AHL division holding any kind of playoff this year.

KING CLANCY NOMS
Two former Sea Dogs have been nominated for the NHL's King Clancy Memorial Trophy. 

Charlie Coyle of the Boston Bruins and Thomas Chabot of the Ottawa Senators were both nominated for the award, which is presented “to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”
According to the NHL, "the first-place finisher will receive a $25,000 donation to benefit a charity or charities of his choice. The two runners-up each will receive a $5,000 donation to benefit a charity or charities of their choice."

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