Notebook: Francis scores in AHL pre-season

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Ryan Francis scored in his pre-season debut with the AHL's Stockton Heat on Friday.

Francis scored a power play goal in the third period to help the Heat defeat the Bakersfield Condors 3-0. The Saint John Sea Dogs forward recorded the one shot on goal and also took a tripping penalty.

Defenseman Yan Kuznetsov, Saint John's top pick in the CHL Import Draft, also suited up for the Heat.

Battle of Highway 99 (preseason edition) belongs to us! #DubClub pic.twitter.com/Wi1CVSn2Cw

— Stockton Heat (@AHLHeat) October 9, 2021

The Sea Dogs still expect Francis, an overager who has not been signed by the Calgary Flames, to return to Saint John at some point.

"Stockton has some injuries up front so they're going to need Ryan to play in games for them," Sea Dogs president and general manager Trevor Georgie told the Telegraph-Journal (paywall) last week. "It delays his return but we still expect him back."

Stockton begins regular season play on Friday against the Tucson Roadrunners.

REMATCH WITH ISLANDERS

The Sea Dogs are back in action on Thanksgiving Monday, traveling to Charlottetown to face the Islanders at 3 p.m.

It'll be the third meeting of the season between the two. The Islanders defeated the Sea Dogs 4-2 at TD Station on Oct. 1 and 5-2 at Eastlink Centre the next day.

The Sea Dogs are still looking for their first win of the season after falling 4-3 in a shootout to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan on Saturday. The Islanders, meanwhile, are coming off their first loss of the season, falling 2-0 in Halifax on Saturday.

The Sea Dogs and Islanders also meet on Oct. 29 at TD Station.

SCORING WOES

The Sea Dogs are certainly not off to a blistering start offensively, averaging just 2.20 goals per game.

Some of that is obviously due to Ryan Francis still being away from the team. Saint John is also just 2/15 on power plays for a 13.3% rating. You also have to credit the two teams the Dogs have played.

Saint John's secondary scoring has struggled so far. Carter McCluskey's goal on Saturday was the first goal generated by the team's bottom two lines. The likes of Riley Bezeau and Charles Savoie have had some good scoring chances but haven't had the puck luck to finish them off.

The Sea Dogs have also gotten just two points - both assists - from the backend. Jeremie Poirier and Charlie DesRoches both finished top six in team scoring last season while William Villeneuve led the Dogs in scoring in 2019-20. You have to wonder if some of this is due to the Sea Dogs putting more of a focus on defensive play this season.

This could all turn around quickly with Saint John set to play some weaker opponents soon; the bottom six could get some bounces go their way; the defensive unit should get more comfortable over time; and Francis will likely make his way back at some back.

MEMORIAL CUP PRICING

The Telegraph-Journal (paywall) reported this week that ticket prices to the 2022 Memorial Cup will "be in proxy similar to the 2019 Memorial Cup in Halifax."

Here's how full tournament ticket packages were priced in 2019:

And single-game pricing:

Ticket packages in 2019 were promoted as "the lowest priced Memorial Cup ticket packages in years."

Single-game tickets didn't go on sale in 2019 until early April, so there should be plenty of time for folks to make purchasing decisions on the 2022 event.

TRADE PERIOD DATES
The QMJHL's 2021-22 media guide confirmed dates for this year's holiday trade period.

The trade period will open on Sunday, Dec. 19 and close on Thursday, Jan. 6.

The Sea Dogs, as Memorial Cup hosts and the holders of many draft picks and quality prospects, are expected to be busy during the trade window.

OTHER THINGS

• Have you ever gone to a Sea Dogs game and thought, "I wish I could charge my electric vehicle right now." You're in luck!
• The more you know: the QMJHL media guide lists TD Station's seating capacity as 5,990 and total capacity as 6,190.
• Former Sea Dog Nicolas Guay scored his first career AUS regular season goal in the UNB Reds' 3-2 overtime win over UPEI on Friday. Samuel Dove-McFalls also scored in the game.
• Caught some of Saturday's Maine/Omaha game on the radio (what a Saturday night!) and it seemed like Lynden Breen was getting a lot of ice time. The 20-year-old has an assist in two games with the Black Bears this season. The Grand Bay-Westfield native was a fifth-round pick of Saint John in 2017. 
• The Gatineau Olympiques recalled Eve Gascon for their game on Saturday against Val-d'Or. She was the team's backup on Saturday and Sunday.
• The Olympiques, a young team but loaded with high end talent, are off to a slow start, going 0-1-1-1 in their first three games. They picked up their first win on Sunday, defeating Rouyn-Noranda 6-4.
• The Sea Dogs will not go winless on the season, but they will be the final team to earn a win. All 17 other QMJHL clubs have picked up at least one victory following Sunday's action.
• Former Sea Dogs goaltender Callum Booth has been assigned to the ECHL's Maine Mariners. The Mariners are affiliated with the Boston Bruins.
• Former Sea Dogs defenseman Luke Green has been released from his tryout with the AHL's Chicago Wolves.
• The OHL's 17 Ontario-based teams can now have full capacity crowds. The OHL opened its season this weekend with buildings at 50% capacity.