Notebook: Richard, Canada win U-18 gold

Hockey Canada/IIHF

Two Saint John Sea Dogs draft picks met in the gold medal game of this year's IIHF Under-18 World Championship on Thursday in Frisco.

Defenseman Guillaume Richard, a fourth-round pick of the Sea Dogs in last year's QMJHL Entry Draft, helped Team Canada to a 5-3 win over Fyodor Svechkov, a first-round pick of Saint John in last year's CHL Import Draft, and the Russians.

Richard, who was apparently dealing with a minor injury, was held pointless in six games. Svechkov, meanwhile, had four goals and six assists in seven games.

It's looking unlikely that either will report to Saint John. Richard is expected to play for the University of Maine this fall while Svechkov, projected to be a first-round pick in this summer's NHL Draft, will likely stay in Russia.

Richard, who appeared in 46 games with the USHL's Tri-City Storm this season, was amongst Future Considerations top-10 NHL Draft prospects for the month of April.

"The lone USHL player on Team Canada in the World U18s, Guillaume Richard has shown big improvements in his game over the season," writes Josh Bell. "The defender won’t be an NHLer that racks up the points, but he can contribute as he’s shown with 16 points (two goals, 14 assists) through 46 games. Through the year, FCHockey’s scouts have seen improvement in the Storm defender’s decision making and defensive awareness, which should bode well for his draft projection."

Draft guru Chris Peters praised Svechkov in his newsletter (which you should subscribe to) last week.

"I think he’s been Russia’s best player start to finish because he impacts the game in so many ways," writes Peters. "He’s heavy, he is physical and his strength has been too much for some of his opponents to handle. Svechkov is a very smart player who is committed to being active in all three zones. He’s a really good transitional player, everywhere defensively and already has seven points in the tournament. He’s a great set-up man, but has good finish around the net, too."

KOTKOV BACK IN AHL

Unsurprisingly, now-former Sea Dogs forward Vladislav Kotkov has rejoined the AHL's San Jose Barracuda with his junior hockey season - and career - finished.

Forward Vladislav Kotkov added to the Barracuda roster after finishing up his QMJHL season w/ @SJSeaDogs.

The 21-year-old Russian had 9G, 10A in 16GP this year. Scored in his first and only AHL game 4/6/19. Signed ELC w/ #sjsharks back 2018.

— Brian Truong (@_BrianTruong) May 8, 2021

The Barracuda only have one regular season game remaining on their schedule but they will be part of the Pacific Division playoff - the only division in the AHL holding any kind of playoff. San Jose is one of the bottom four teams in the Pacific so they will take part in the play-in series that begins May 18.

Kotkov appeared in one AHL game at the end of the 2018-19 season, scoring a goal. He took part in the team's training camp this season before joining the Sea Dogs.

The Russian forward registered nine goals and 10 assists in 16 regular season games with Saint John in the restart. He added four assists in five playoff games.

EMOND HEADING TO SAN JOSE

Joining Kotkov in AHL San Jose will be his Saint John teammate Zachary Emond.

According to a report, Emond departed for San Jose on Saturday. The netminder was a sixth-round pick of the Sharks in the 2018 NHL Draft.

Emond split his overage season between the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies and the Sea Dogs. In 13 regular season games with Saint John, Emond posted a 7-5-0 record to go along with a 4.18 goals against average and a .863 save percentage. He started all six of Saint John's playoff games, going 3-2-1 with a 3.67 GAA and .876 SV%.

Emond will join his former Rouyn-Noranda teammate - goaltender Samuel Harvey - on the Barracuda.

FUTURE WATCH

I was finally able to find a copy of The Hockey News' annual "Future Watch" magazine. There is not a whole lot of Sea Dogs content in this year's edition.

Former Sea Dogs captain Joe Veleno was ranked as the 48th best prospect in hockey and the third best in the Red Wings system.

Current Sea Dogs defenseman Jeremie Poirier was ranked the 10th best prospect in the Calgary Flames organization.

"Elite, dynamic, offensive talent, but needs improvement in the defensive zone," Poirier's profile reads.

D'ORIO RECALLED

Former Sea Dogs goaltender Alex D'Orio was called up to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday in what is believed to be his first official recall to the actual roster. The netminder has been off-and-on the team's taxi squad over the past year.

D'Orio didn't see any action in Pittsburgh's regular season finale on Saturday but was on the bench, backing up former PEI Rocket goaltender Maxime Lagace.

The 22-year-old has split this season between ECHL Wheeling and AHL Wilke-Barre/Scranton. In 10 AHL games he's gone 5-3-2 with a 2.30 goals against average and a .911 save percentage.

USHL UPDATE

You know it's May and the Sea Dogs have been eliminated when I'm bringing you USHL updates.

As mentioned above, defenseman Guillaume Richard's USHL career has presumably come to an end. The University of Maine commit recorded two goals and 14 assists in 46 games with the Tri-City Storm. The Storm were the top seed in the USHL's Western Conference but were upset in the first-round by the No. 4 seed Fargo Force.

Forward Jack Williams, who was taken first overall by the Sea Dogs in the 2018 QMJHL American Draft, recorded 18 goals and 20 assists 52 regular season games with the Muskegon Lumberjacks. The Northeastern University commit added two assists in four playoff games. The Lumberjacks were eliminated in the Eastern Conference final by the loaded Chicago Steel.

The Steel will play the Force in the USHL's Clark Cup final.

Forward David Sacco, a second-round pick of the Sea Dogs in the 2019 American Draft, appeared in six games with the Waterloo Black Hawks.