Legein joins Spokane staff

Vincent Ethier/CHL

The Saint John Sea Dogs' coaching staff has a couple of big holes to fill as training camp inches closer and closer.

The team still doesn't have a head coach with Gardiner MacDougall returning to the UNB Reds. On Thursday Saint John lost another member of their coaching staff with assistant Stefan Legein making the move to the Western Hockey League.

Legein, who had been an assistant coach with the Sea Dogs since the 2018-19 season, has joined the Spokane Chiefs as an associate coach.

“I am extremely honoured to be joining the Chiefs family — it means a lot to be in a place that has such good people from top to bottom,” Legein said in the news release. “With that, I’d like to thank Mr. Brett, Mark (Miles), Matt (Bardsley) and Ryan (Smith) for giving me the opportunity to join a long list of great coaches that have been in Spokane. In speaking with Matt and Ryan, the objectives of the team, as well as my personal beliefs, lined up perfect and I couldn’t be more excited for the opening of the 2022-23 season.”

✅ Coaching staff: complete! Welcome to Spokane, Stefan Legein!

📰 https://t.co/5y8llDxNHU#GoChiefsGo pic.twitter.com/pLM2E9gxyj

— Spokane Chiefs (@spokanechiefs) July 28, 2022

Legein, who was a well known player in his junior career, joined the Sea Dogs after working with the Ontario Hockey League's Mississauga Steelheads as a video coach.

“We are very excited to have Stefan join the Spokane Chiefs organization to work with Ryan, Dustin (Donaghy) and our players,” Chiefs general manager Matt Bardsley said. “His experience and strengths as a player as well as a coach will be a great addition to our team in our goal of maximizing the players’ development while achieving team success. We would like to thank the Saint John Sea Dogs organization for allowing us to speak with Stefan during this process. Finally, we would like to welcome Stefan along with his wife Shannon, and their three children Emerson, Delilah and MacKinnon to the city of Spokane.”

Simek named to Czechia's Hlinka roster

Saint John Sea Dogs draft pick Pavel Simek has been named to Czechia's roster for the upcoming Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Czechia announced its roster for the under-18 tournament on Monday. Simek was one of 13 forwards named to the team.

👥 V tomto složení míří výběr #U18CZE do Kanady na Hlinka Gretzky Cup, který odstartuje prvním zápasem v neděli 🔜 #narodnitym #jakolev

👉🏻 https://t.co/J51oJSNNHI pic.twitter.com/NYDNn1PYl1

— Bronzový nároďák (@narodnitym) July 25, 2022

The tournament begins July 31 with Czechia taking on Finland. The event ends on Aug. 6. All games will be played in Red Deer.

The Sea Dogs selected Simek in the first-round, 48th overall in this year's CHL Import Draft. He spent last season with the Mountfield HK program in Czechia, recording 10 goals and 34 points in 44 games with the under-20 squad and nine goals and 20 points in 10 games with the under-17 team.

Simek, 17, is listed at 5'10" and 146 lbs.

Canada's roster for the event will feature four players from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League: forwards Mathieu Cataford (Halifax Mooseheads) and Ethan Gauthier (Sherbrooke Phoenix) along with defenseman Dylan MacKinnon (Halifax Mooseheads) and Jordan Tourigny (Shawinigan Cataractes).

Sherbrooke's Stephane Julien will be Canada's head coach.

Titan staying in Bathurst for now

For now, the Acadie-Bathurst Titan are staying in northern New Brunswick.

In a Fix Auto press release, "potential new majority owner" Steve Leal said that the team would be staying in Bathurst with no "immediate plans" to relocate the club.

"We are committed to keeping the team in the community for the foreseeable future," said Leal, the majority owner, president and CEO of the Quebec-based Fix Network World. "There are no plans to take hockey out of Acadie-Bathurst."

The release noted that a "a strategic review of the team and its operations is currently being conducted."

"It would be an honour to be a part of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan team, and I recognize how important the program is to the Chaleur region and Acadian Peninsula," Leal said. "I am also pledging Fix Auto as a primary sponsor for the next five seasons and encourage others to join us in supporting the team through sponsorships as well as attending the games."

Following the news release, the Titan issued a statement.

With our fans uppermost in our hearts, as well as a concern for openness and transparency, the Acadie-Bathurst Titan wishes to acknowledge the press release produced by Fix Network and Mr. Steve Leal. As indicated in the press release, we will continue to negotiate with Mr. Leal in order to develop a solid and trustworthy partnership that will benefit the team.

It is important to note that the Acadie-Bathurst Titan shareholder group is working hard to develop solid ties in order to keep the team in the beautiful Chaleur region. The support of the fans, community, sponsors and partners is essential for the survival of a QMJHL team and we have no doubt that we will be witness to great moments in hockey within Baie des Chaleurs.

Go Titan Go!

RDS reported in April that Leal was close to acquiring 60% of the Titan. RDS also reported that Leal would like to operate a QMJHL club in Montreal's South Shore region - but that would require a new arena, something that seems several years off (if one ever gets built).

Huberdeau traded to Flames in massive deal

Calgary Flames Twitter

The Saint John Sea Dogs' connections to the Calgary Flames continued to grow late Friday.

In a blockbuster trade, the Flames acquired former Sea Dogs captain Jonathan Huberdeau in a deal that saw Matthew Tkachuk dealt to the Florida Panthers. The Flames also acquired former Halifax Mooseheads defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, Cole Schwindt and a conditional first-round pick.

WE HAVE A TRADE TO ANNOUNCE!

The #Flames have acquired Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Cole Schwindt, and a conditional 2025 first-round pick from the Florida Panthers!

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) July 23, 2022

The Flames dealing Tkachuk comes as no surprise. The surprise is that he was dealt to the Panthers, a team that was not overly rumoured to be interested. Many expected the Flames to struggle to find a good trading partner, but this is a huge haul.

The big risk for Calgary is that they may only get one year out of Huberdeau and/or Weegar. From Sportsnet:

Both Huberdeau and Weegar have one year remaining on their respective contracts before hitting unrestricted free agency. Huberdeau's cap hit for next season is $5.9 million, while Weegar's is $3.25 million.

This deal rejuvenates the Flames who have had a horrendous off-season following their rough playoff loss to the rival Edmonton Oilers. Calgary has lost two of its franchise players in Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau, but the acquisition of Huberdeau and Weegar gives the team some much needed positive vibes.

Notebook: Where will Dwyer land?

Embed from Getty Images

Will Gordie Dwyer be back behind a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League bench this season?

The chances are looking decent.

In a blog post Wednesday, Craig Eagles reported that "two sources have confirmed that Dwyer is the leading candidate for the vacant head coaching position with the Cape Breton Eagles."

The Eagles have been without a head coach since Chadd Cassidy stepped down from his position a couple weeks ago.

Dwyer, who took over as Sea Dogs head coach last summer, was fired by the club following their first-round playoff loss to the Rimouski Oceanic. He also has QMJHL coaching experience with the PEI Rocket/Charlottetown Islanders and Shawinigan Cataractes.

RICHARD SIGNS

Defenseman Jeremie Richard, Saint John's top pick in this year's QMJHL Entry Draft, officially signed with the club on Wednesday.

“Richard is a player that Anthony Stella and our scouting staff were very high on and we are thrilled that we were able to select him at the spot that we did” said Sea Dogs president and general manager Trevor Georgie in a news release. “We have had the chance to get to know him and his family, and are so happy that they will get the opportunity to enjoy his hockey journey close to home, and develop in his home province.”

The Sea Dogs selected Richard in the third-round, 37th overall. Even as a 16-year-old, he'll likely have a fairly prominent role of Saint John's backend with the likes of Vincent Sevigny, Yan Kuznetsov, William Villeneuve, Jeremie Poirier and Nathan Drapeau all moving on.

Richard helped the Moncton Flyers win the Telus Cup this past season. The Moncton native had five goals and 20 points in 28 regular season games with the Flyers.

Several Dogs picks drafted into junior A

Saint John Sea Dogs prospect Reid Calder was taken third overall in this past weekend's Maritime Hockey League Draft.

Calder, 16, was selected by the Grand Falls Rapids. The Saint John native was a seventh-round pick of the Sea Dogs in this year's QMJHL Entry Draft.

Calder spent this past season with the Saint John Vito's, recording 11 goals and 10 assists in 26 games. He added three goals in seven playoff games.

A few other players with Sea Dogs connections were drafted into the MHL on the weekend.

• Saint John Knights defenseman Reed Pettipas, a 14th-round pick of the Sea Dogs in this year's QMJHL Entry Draft, was taken in the fourth-round, 48th overall by the Campbellton Tigers. 
• Moncton Flyers defenseman Jeremie Richard, Saint John's top pick in this year's draft (third-round), was selected in the ninth-round, 103rd overall by the Amherst Ramblers. 
• Cape Breton West Islanders forward Campbell MacIntyre, a 14th-round pick of the Sea Dogs in this year's draft, was taken in the 10th-round, 109th overall by the Ramblers.
• Former Sea Dogs forward Leighton Carruthers was a 10th-round pick of the Pictou County Weeks Crushers. Carruthers was a first-round pick of Saint John in the 2020 QMJHL Entry Draft and was later traded to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

18-year-old forward Marco Martin of the Moncton Flyers was taken first overall by the Edmundston Blizzard.

There was also a trade in the MHL involving current Sea Dogs forward Olivier Picard, who had his rights swapped from South Shore to Campbellton. It's a notable move given that Picard will be an overage player this coming season and the Sea Dogs may not have room for the veteran forward.

Francis, Bezeau ink AHL deals

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Two members of the Saint John Sea Dogs' Memorial Cup championship team have signed American Hockey League deals.

Forward Ryan Francis has signed a one-year, one-way deal with the Laval Rocket, AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens, while forward Riley Bezeau has signed a one-year, one-way contract with the Charlotte Checkers, affiliate of the Florida Panthers.

Francis just completed his overage season and, after not being signed to an entry-level deal by the Calgary Flames and going undrafted last week, was an unrestricted free agent. Bezeau, meanwhile, had one more year of junior eligibility remaining.

Both Francis and Bezeau will be taking part in NHL development camps.

Francis, who started this past season with the AHL's Stockton Heat, had 25 goals and 65 points in 54 regular season games with Saint John. He had a goal and an assist in four playoff games and added two goals and six points in four matches at the Memorial Cup.

The Laval Rocket announced on Monday that the team has agreed to terms on a one-year, one-way AHL contract (2022-23) with forward Ryan Francis.#GoRocket pic.twitter.com/z17uRhSdqa

— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) July 11, 2022

Bezeau was a 12th-round pick of the Sea Dogs in the 2018 QMJHL Entry Draft and wasn't a regular in the league until the COVID-impacted 2020-21 season. The local boy certainly played the role of a third liner to perfection, playing a physical style while also contributing offensively. Bezeau had 11 goals and 27 points in 56 regular season games and another two goals and two assists in the playoffs.

The Panthers have signed forward Riley Bezeau to a one-year AHL contract

➡️ https://t.co/jEChA47LZQ pic.twitter.com/AqZ7s0iouI

— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) July 11, 2022

Bezeau, who wore an 'A' on his sweater, will certainly be remembered for his Memorial Cup performance, dropping the gloves against the Edmonton Oil Kings and then scoring in the championship game.

Bezeau turning pro certainly helps ease some of the log jam of overage players the Sea Dogs have heading into next season. 

Two Sea Dogs picks taken in NHL Draft

Two Saint John Sea Dogs draft picks were selected in this year's NHL Draft.

Forward Ben MacDonald, a second-round pick of the Sea Dogs in the 2020 American draft, was selected in the third-round by the Seattle Kraken. Forward Michael Callow, meanwhile, a 14th-round pick of the Sea Dogs in the 2020 QMJHL Entry Draft, went in the fifth-round to the Anaheim Ducks.

MacDonald, a Weston, MA native, spent last season at the Noble & Greenough US prep school where he recorded 14 goals and 29 points in 22 games. He has committed to playing in the BCHL next season with the West Kelowna Warriors. He is expected to play at Harvard University in 2023-24.

Welcome to the fam! 🦑

With the 91st overall pick, the #SeaKraken select Ben MacDonald. pic.twitter.com/OlqWnPCJ0y

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) July 8, 2022

Callow, a South Boston native, recorded 26 goals and 41 points in 25 games with the St. Sebastian's US prep school last season. He is committed to Harvard as well, beginning next season.

We nab winger Michael Callow of St. Sebastian's School in Massachusetts in the fifth round (154th overall). #DucksDraft | @Honda pic.twitter.com/TTJUoOxixK

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) July 8, 2022

It's unlikely either will join the Sea Dogs, especially where they are Harvard commits.

Notebook: COVID and the Cup

Vincent Ethier/CHL

Did you contract COVID-19 at the 2022 Memorial Cup?

If you did, you are certainly not alone.

As Global News reported this week, "in its latest weekly COVID-19 update, Public Health reported 286 COVID-19 cases confirmed by PCR tests, and 483 positive self-reported POCT tests in Zone 2 alone."

COVID (seemingly, anyways) started to become a problem in the second half of the Memorial Cup. With the exception of players and hockey operations staff, everyone at ice level was asked to wear a mask for the final few days of the tournament. That rule was not in place when the event began.

From @BJMCBC: of the 1,915 new COVID-19 cases reported in NB in the past week, 769 are in the Saint John region.

That’s just confirmed/reported cases. The real number is much higher. Mask up buds 😷 https://t.co/gCQcgHMKrQ

— Julia Wright (@thewrightpage) July 5, 2022

Very few masks could be spotted at TD Station, which hosted some of the largest indoor gatherings since the pandemic began. Many fans and tournament attendees have reported their positive cases on social media over the past week.

“I wouldn’t necessarily use the word blame," chief medical officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell told Global in an interview on Tuesday. "Again, I think the risks increase when you’re in indoor settings, we’ve always known that, and they decrease in outdoor settings. So, when people make choices about gathering, and who they’re gathering with, and whether they’re wearing a mask, etcetera.”

Stay safe out there, folks.

UP NEXT FOR DUFOUR

In an interview with the New York Post, William Dufour said his goal at New York Islanders training camp this fall is to make the NHL club.

“For sure I’m going for it, going to camp with a purpose,” Dufour said. “Everybody’s going there to make the team for sure. I’m gonna do everything I can to try and have a spot and get the results in September.”

If he doesn't make the big club out of camp, Dufour will likely start the year with the American Hockey League's Bridgeport Islanders.

Two Sea Dogs invited to Swiss WJC camp

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Saint John Sea Dogs defenseman Vincent Despont is looking forward to his second season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

"Next season, I will be one of the leaders of the team and I will have more playing time," he told to La Liberté, via Swiss Hockey News.

Despont appeared in 41 games with Saint John this past season, recording five assists. He played in just one playoff game. The 19-year-old was used sparingly throughout the year, especially after the holiday trade deadline, but should see a much larger role this coming season with most of Saint John's defense core moving on.

The 19-year-old defenseman could have a busy summer. Despont was one of 37 players invited to Switzerland's world junior summer camp. The final roster will feature 25 players. 

According to Swiss Hockey News, the team will travel to Finland on July 22 for a pair of exhibition games. They'll fly to Edmonton on Aug. 1 to prepare for this summer's World Junior Hockey Championship, which takes place Aug. 9-20.

Sea Dogs goaltender Noah Patenaude was also invited to the camp. Patenaude, who appeared in one game for Switzerland at the 2021 tournament, was one of five goaltenders to earn an invite.

Both Despont and Patenaude were left off the Switzerland roster that competed in the cancelled event at New Year's. Despont was injured at the camp while Patenaude suffered what proved to be a season ending injury before attending.

MacDougall named Summerside Lobster Carnival parade marshal

Vincent Ethier/CHL

In extremely PEI news, the City of Summerside has announced that now former Saint John Sea Dogs head coach Gardiner MacDougall has been named parade marshal for the Summerside Lobster Carnival parade.

The parade takes place this Saturday beginning at noon and will also feature Sea Dogs defenseman Charlie DesRoches and equipment manager Tyler Jay. MacDougall, DesRoches and Jay are all PEI natives.

From the City of Summerside Facebook page:

The City of Summerside is pleased to announce that Gardiner MacDougall who just recently claimed a national CHL title by winning the Memorial Cup will be the official Parade Marshall for the Summerside Lobster Carnival parade for 2022.

The Callbecks Home Hardware Summerside Lobster Carnival Parade is taking place on Saturday, July 9th beginning at 12:00pm commencing at the Holland College Summerside Campus, heading through the historic downtown Summerside via Water Street before turning right onto Central Street, continuing until turning left onto Notre Dame Street, before finally arriving on Greenwood Drive. Gardiner will be accompanied by the Memorial Cup, as well as player PEI native Charlie DesRoches and Sea Dogs Trainer Tyler Jay also of PEI.

Mayor Basil Stewart, City Council and the Carnival Committee are pleased and honoured to have this local area Canadian Champion Coach and the Memorial Cup in Summerside for the parade.

Gardiner has an amazing coaching career with university hockey, and now what he and his team were able to accomplish for Saint John has made us proud Atlantic Canadians.

MacDougall, 62, is officially from Bedeque, PEI, which is about 15 minutes from Summerside.

MacDougall's coaching tenure with the Sea Dogs is officially over - but it was certainly a memorable few weeks. He'll be back behind the UNB Reds bench in the fall.

If you're thinking of heading to Summerside for the parade, note that it is Cavendish weekend, so traffic will be heavy and accommodations will be scarce.

A magical couple weeks

Vincent Ethier/CHL

Folks, I've written a lot of words about the Saint John Sea Dogs over the years.

It's now been one week since the final game of the 2022 Memorial Cup, and honestly, I'm still having a hard time putting into words what a magical two weeks we all just took part in.

When the Memorial Cup was awarded to Saint John, quite a few people from previous host cities reached out to me. They were all aware of my many hockey travels and they all told me the same thing: having the Memorial Cup in your city will be an event you'll cherish forever.

I didn't think much of it at the time. And like a typical Maritimer, I downplayed my expectations, unsure of whether a city in these parts would get behind an event centered around junior hockey.

Those people who reached out to me were right. And boy, were my doubts proven wrong.

I found out quickly that we were in for a special couple weeks. I think that moment clicked for everyone at a certain time during the event. For me it was the Cup Arrival. A ton of people showed up on the waterfront in the rain to watch a helicopter lower the Memorial Cup onto a coast guard boat. Even more people showed up (and the rain even stopped!) to watch the trophy parade down Water Street to the Area 506 Waterfront Container Village.

It only got better from there. This truly felt like a major, major event that took over the city. I've been to Memorial Cups in the past where you could easily walk around a city and not know the event was happening. But not here. This was a big deal and you could feel it.

I feel uniquely qualified to comment on this Memorial Cup. I've been to all the major music festivals in Atlantic Canada. I've been to several Memorial Cups and World Junior Hockey Championships. I've been to NHL playoff games. I've been to several NHL outdoor games. The 2022 Memorial Cup was a world class hockey event, and every person involved - and even every person in the city - should feel extremely proud of what they accomplished.

More news and notes from the '22 draft

After making first-round picks in each of the past four Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Entry Drafts, the Saint John Sea Dogs had to have a lot more patience this year.

The Sea Dogs didn't make their first pick until the third-round, selecting defenseman Jeremie Richard from the Telus Cup champion Moncton Flyers. Saint John made just two picks in the first five rounds.

It's the first time since 2017 that the Sea Dogs didn't make a first-round selection. That was the same year the Sea Dogs were coming off a President Cup championship and a trip to the Memorial Cup. This is the price you pay for going all-in - and the Sea Dogs are likely okay with that given the banners that are/will be hanging inside TD Station.

Along with the Sea Dogs, the Drummondville Voltigeurs and Sherbrooke Phoenix had to wait until the third-round to make their first selections. The Quebec Remparts didn't pick until the fourth-round.

Saint John's 2017 draft class proved to be on the underwhelming end. The team will certainly be hoping for better luck with this year's class - and given some of the scouting reports from HockeyProspect.com, there are a few guys who may end up being steals.

Sea Dogs select 14 in 2022 QMJHL draft

The Memorial Cup champions used their first pick of the 2022 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Entry Draft to select a Telus Cup champion.

With the 37th overall pick, the Saint John Sea Dogs selected Moncton Flyers defenseman Jeremie Richard.

The 6'00", 182 lbs d-man recorded five goals and 20 points in 28 regular season games with the Flyers this past season. He added another goal and three helpers in seven playoff games. Richard also had a goal and five assists in seven games at the Telus Cup, helping the Flyers become just the second Atlantic Canadian team to win the national championship.

Richard was ranked 32nd by HockeyProspect.com and 40th by QMJHL Central Scouting.

"Richard is also very effective in the offensive zone," writes HockeyProspect.com. "His main weapon is his heavy shot from the point. He can fire a quick, accurate snapshot from the top of the circles or a strong slapshot to create scoring chances. He moves well along the blue line and uses fake shots to open lanes for himself. He’s good at keeping the puck in the zone to maintain offensive pressure. He also has good vision and delivers smart passes to open teammates. He can be used on the power play or the penalty kill effectively. He looks to be a second pairing defenseman at the next level and could be used on the special teams."

The Sea Dogs will certainly need some new bodies on their backend for the upcoming season. With Vincent Sevigny aging out; Nathan Drapeau traded; and Yan Kuznetsov, Jeremie Poirier and William Villeneuve all likely turning pro, Saint John's top-six will look significantly differently (and will also be much younger).

News and notes from the opening round

The Cape Breton Eagles selected defenseman Tomas Lavoie with the first overall pick in the 2022 Quebec Major Junior Hockey Entry Draft.

Former Eagles forward Pierre-Luc Dubois announced the pick at Cape Breton's draft party on Monday night. Lavoie was in attendance.

BREAKING: The Cape Breton Eagles have selected defenceman Tomas Lavoie of the Collège Esther-Blondin Phénix with the first overall pick at the 2022 @QMJHL Entry Draft. @CBEHockey #CapeBreton #Eagles #Sydney #qmjhl #lhjmq #Saltwire pic.twitter.com/WJlFafd6ej

— Jeremy Fraser (@CBPost_Jeremy) July 4, 2022

The 16-year-old recorded seven goals and 21 assists in 34 games last season.

Lavoie was the No. 1 ranked player by QMJHL Central Scouting and No. 4 by HockeyProspect.com.

Cape Breton made three picks in the opening round. Along with Lavoie, the Eagles selected forwards William Shields (11th) and Thomas Desruisseaux (13th). It's the first time Cape Breton has made three picks in the first-round of a draft.

The full list of first-round selections can be found on the QMJHL website. Rounds 2-14 and the American draft will take place Tuesday beginning at 10 a.m. Atlantic.

Watch: 2022 QMJHL Entry Draft

It's (virtual) draft day in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

The first-round of the 2022 QMJHL Entry Draft takes place tonight at 8 p.m. Atlantic. The Cape Breton Eagles will select first overall.

Coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. on Eastlink Community TV, which will thankfully be streamed on YouTube again this year.

Reports: Reynolds could be on the move

Vincent Ethier/CHL

It certainly looks like Peter Reynolds could be the next Saint John Sea Dog to be moved.

In a blog post Monday, Craig Eagles wrote that "a source is reporting that Peter Reynolds will be heading to the Sherbrooke Phoenix when the trade window opens today. The proud Frederictonian, will be reunited with former Sea Dogs team and first overall draft pick Joshua Roy."

Jerome Gaudreau, who covers the Phoenix for La Tribune, is also reporting that the Phoenix are working on a deal to acquire the Memorial Cup champion.

Jour de repêchage. Le Phoenix travaille fort pour conclure une transaction amenant un deuxième joueur de centre, après Cole Huckins. Peter Reynolds est la cible. Deux vétérans qui combleraient en partie le départ de Anctil et Parent à l'attaque. pic.twitter.com/bZ9PalQanU

— Jérôme Gaudreau (@JeromeGaudreau) July 4, 2022

Reynolds was a second-round pick of the Sea Dogs in the 2019 QMJHL Entry Draft. He's recorded 33 goals and 70 points in 91 career QMJHL games.

The 19-year-old nearly averaged a point-per-game in his first season in the league but saw that number decline this past year, mainly because he was pushed further down the lineup after Saint John loaded up at the deadline. He seemed to find his groove under Gardiner MacDougall and looked very good on the team's third line at the Memorial Cup. He finished the tournament with two goals and an assist, which included an empty net goal in the championship game.

"Earlier this year, I would not have been out there for the last five minutes and now I have two empty net goals in the Memorial Cup,” Peter Reynolds. @SJSeaDogs @sjtimesglobe @TJProvincial

— Kevin Barrett (@KevinBarrettNB) June 30, 2022

The Phoenix were one of the QMJHL's top teams this past season and are looking for a repeat performance. They acquired Calgary Flames prospect Cole Huckins from the Acadie-Bathurst Titan on Saturday, who is also a Fredericton native.

The 2022 QMJHL Entry Draft begins Monday night with the first-round. Rounds 2-14 and the American draft will be held Tuesday.

Sea Dogs light on high picks for 2022 draft

If you're a Saint John Sea Dogs fan watching the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Entry Draft over the next couple days, you'll need to have some patience.

The Sea Dogs, at this time, aren't scheduled to pick until the third-round, 37th overall. Saint John currently has just two picks in the first five rounds of this year's draft.

It's the price a team pays when going all-in, which the Sea Dogs did big time during the holiday trade period. It's the first time since the 2017 QMJHL Entry Draft - which happens to be the last time the Sea Dogs went all-in - that the club won't be picking in the first-round.

A focus for the club over the next year will be restocking its draft pick cupboards. At this time, the Sea Dogs don't have any first- or second-round picks until 2025. Saint John should, however, be able to get some 2023 and 2024 picks in deals they make in the coming months.

Via the French fan boards, here's Saint John's pile of picks for the next three drafts.

2022

3CAP-4RIM-6MON-7-7VIC-8-9-10MON-10GAT-11-12-12VIC-13 -14

2023

6-10-11-13-14

2024
5-6VDO-7-8-9-11-12-13-14

One bonus for the Sea Dogs is that they managed to keep a lot of the prospects they picked in last year's draft. Goaltender Olivier Brideau (second-round pick), forward Cole Burbidge (second-round), forward Vince Elie (second-round), defenseman Nicolas Bilodeau (fourth-round) and maybe even more members of Saint John's 2021 draft class will be penciled into the team's opening night lineup.

During the holiday trade period, the Sea Dogs dealt two of their top picks in last year's draft: defenseman Natan Grenier (first-round) and forward Francis Woods (third-round).

The first-round of the 2022 QMJHL Entry Draft takes place Monday night beginning at 8 p.m. Atlantic. The QMJHL's YouTube channel will be streaming the virtual event.

Rounds 2-14 and the American draft will be held on Tuesday beginning at 10 a.m.

Notebook: Overagers get first touch

Vincent Ethier/CHL

The Saint John Sea Dogs' overage players were the first to lift the Memorial Cup on Wednesday.

After accepting the trophy from CHL president Dan MacKenzie, captain Vincent Sevigny handed the hardware off to forward Ryan Francis. Francis then passed the Cup to Philippe Daoust.

Here's the full trophy raising order from Wednesday's celebrations.

Vincent Sevigny

Ryan Francis

Philippe Daoust

William Villeneuve

Jeremie Poirier

William Dufour

Charlie DesRoches

Josh Lawrence

Brady Burns

Nikolas Hurtubise

Yan Kuznetsov

Raivis Ansons

Riley Bezeau

Olivier Picard

Marshall Lessard

Nicholas Blagden

Peter Reynolds

Thomas Couture

Cam MacDonald

Connor Trenholm

Zach Welsh

Noah Patenaude

Nathan Drapeau

Vincent Despont

Nico Laforge

Jacob Chantler

Hunter Gartley

After his skate around, Hunter Gartley handed the trophy to head coach Gardiner MacDougall.

Sea Dogs make trio of trades

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

It's the end of an era for the Saint John Sea Dogs.

The Sea Dogs traded 20-year-old forward Josh Lawrence to the Cape Breton Eagles on Wednesday, completing the Connor Trenholm deal that the two teams made in January. The Eagles then flipped Lawrence to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. 

Lawrence, who has spent the past four seasons in Saint John, recorded 192 points in his Sea Dogs career, placing him 10th all-time. He leaves the Sea Dogs having appeared in 196 consecutive games, one game short of Jeremie Poirier's franchise record.

The Fredericton native is coming off the best season of his QMJHL career, recording 31 goals and 101 points in 68 regular season games. After playing on a line with 56-goal man William Dufour in Saint John, he'll join an Armada team that has acquired 55-goal man Patrick Guay.

Lawrence had two goals and six points in four Memorial Cup games. He'll always be remembered for his goal in the Memorial Cup final, which proved to be a key insurance marker in Saint John's 6-3 win over the Hamilton Bulldogs.

5-2. Off this beauty of a one-t by Josh Lawrence. 😬#MemorialCup | @SJSeaDogs pic.twitter.com/43hMlGQHSQ

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) June 30, 2022

The trading of Lawrence truly signals the end of an era for the Sea Dogs. Lawrence was one of the key players taken by the Sea Dogs in the 2018 QMJHL Entry Draft, a class that also included William Villeneuve, Jeremie Poirier, Brady Burns, Charlie DesRoches and others.

In exchange for Lawrence, the Sea Dogs received 18-year-old forward Jack Campbell (not the Maple Leafs goaltender), a seventh-round pick in 2024 and an eighth-round pick in 2024. Both of those picks originally belonged to Saint John.

First trade period takes place Saturday

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

The Saint John Sea Dogs' roster will look significantly different next season. In fact, it may look quite a bit different by next week.

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League will have a trade window open on Saturday between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Atlantic. A number of rumoured/reported deals around the league are expected to be made official, including some involving the Sea Dogs.

Le Citoyen reports that defenseman Nathan Drapeau will be heading to the Val-d'Or Foreurs in exchange for a couple draft picks. This deal will complete the trade made during the holidays involving Marshall Lessard.

Drapeau, 17, appeared in 66 regular season games with Saint John and all of the team's playoff and Memorial Cup games. He was used sparingly in the playoffs and Memorial Cup, but likely would have seen an increased role next year if he were to stick around.

Other trades the Sea Dogs made over the holidays presumably had similar future considerations attached to them. We'll see how things shake down on Saturday and again during the QMJHL Entry Draft, which takes place virtually Monday and Tuesday. At this time, the Sea Dogs won't be making their first selection until the third-round.

Three players that definitely won't be back with the Sea Dogs are forwards Ryan Francis and Philippe Daoust along with defenseman Vincent Sevigny, all three of whom have aged out.

William Dufour, Raivis Ansons, Yan Kuznetsov, Jeremie Poirier and William Villeneuve will all likely play professional hockey next season. Even with those players turning pro, the Sea Dogs still have a surplus of 2002-born players which will need to be sorted out.

It's going to be a busy off-season for Saint John as the rebuild begins.

Sea Dogs pick two forwards in Import Draft

The Saint John Sea Dogs made two selections in Friday's CHL Import Draft.

The Sea Dogs selected 17-year-old Czech forward Pavel Simek in the first-round and 16-year-old Latvian forward Eriks Mateiko in the second-round.

Simek spent last season with the Mountfield HK program in Czechia, recording 10 goals and 34 points in 44 games with the under-20 team. He's listed at 5'10" and 148 lbs. He also had a goal and two assists in 15 games with the Czechia under-17 team this season.

Pavel Šimek enters the zone with speed and scores on a quick wrist shot. pic.twitter.com/oOyklo9f9c

— Czech Prospects (@CZprospects) November 4, 2021

Mateika, who spent last season with the SK Riga program in Latvia, is a big body forward, listed at 6'04" and 187 lbs. He appeared in four games with Latvia at the IIHF Under-18 World Championship, recording two goals.

What a way to kick things off! @lhf_lv goes up 1-0 over @SwissIceHockey thanks to Eriks Mateiko! #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/f1vBpxmLSq

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) April 26, 2022

Mateika is the first Latvian to be drafted by the Sea Dogs in franchise history.

This was the third straight year that the Sea Dogs selected two players in the Import Draft.

Saint John's current import players, Russian defenseman Yan Kuznetsov and Latvian forward Raivis Ansons, are expected to graduate to the professional ranks for the 2022-23 season. Kuznetsov is a Calgary Flames prospect while Ansons is with the Pittsburgh Penguins.