Notebook: Old friends return

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - Some familiar faces will be foes this weekend at TD Station.

The Val-d'Or Foreurs and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies make their only appearances of the season in Saint John on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Both northern Quebec squads have a couple former Sea Dogs on their rosters.

The Foreurs, who have been frequent trading partners of Saint John in recent seasons, feature former Sea Dogs defensemen Nathan Drapeau and Kale McCallum. Drapeau helped the Sea Dogs capture the Memorial Cup in June.

Forward Francis Woods, a 2021 third-round pick of Saint John who did not dress in any regular season games for the club, also plays with Val-d'Or.

The Huskies, meanwhile, include forward Leighton Carruthers and goaltender Thomas Couture. Carruthers was selected third overall by Saint John in the 2020 QMJHL Entry Draft while Couture helped the Dogs win the Memorial Cup a few months ago.

Saturday's game begins at 7 p.m. while Sunday's is a 3 p.m. start.

The Sea Dogs visit Val-d'Or and Rouyn-Noranda in February.

WEEKEND PROMOS

There's a lot going on this weekend, including the return of Gardiner MacDougall.

MacDougall and his UNB Reds, who are ranked No. 1 in Canada, have Sunday off after playing Friday at Acadia University and Saturday at Saint Mary's.

NEW EP
This week on The Hockey News on the Q, Will MacLaren and I are joined by Acadie-Bathurst Titan legend Thomas Beauregard; we take a look at QMJHL prospects in the San Jose Sharks system; Matteo Mann is in the 2023 NHL Draft spotlight; and we take a quick look at some news around the league.

This week with @willmacwriter and @station_nation:
- Thomas Beauregard joins the show @ABTitan
- @VoltigeursDRU
- Will there ever be another 70-goal scorer again in the QMJHL?
- @SanJoseSharks
- 6-foot-6 Matteo Mann @SagueneensLHJMQ
- And more: https://t.co/MgV5EZCbon

— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) November 23, 2022

DAOUST DONE

Some bad news for former Sea Dogs forward Philippe Daoust was delivered on Friday: he is done for the season with a shoulder injury.

A brief #BellevilleSens injury update, with more context from Coach Mann later today:

F Philippe Daoust's season is over, after injuring his shoulder in Utica on Wednesday, while D Kristians Rubins is expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks with hamstring issue.#ForTheB

— David Foot (@FootyOnTheAir) November 25, 2022

Daoust suffered the injury in the Belleville Senators' 3-2 loss in Utica on Wednesday night.

The 21-year-old, who spent the first half of last season in Belleville before being returned to junior, had two goals and five assists in nine games before suffering the injury.

PICARD AN ALL-STAR
Olivier Picard is an all-star.

The former Sea Dogs forward was named to the BCHL's All-Star Tournament earlier this week. According to a news release, the 3-on-3 outdoor all-star event will take place Jan. 21 in Penticton.

The initial list of 18 skaters was chosen by the league's coaches. One player per team was named to the event.

The 20-year-old is having an impressive season with the Victoria Grizzlies, recording 12 goals and 17 points in 20 games heading into this weekend's action. He had 21 points in 62 QMJHL games last season with the Sea Dogs.

“[Picard] is a complete, 200-foot player, who has been good for us and has been rewarded with this league ­selection,” Grizzlies general manager and head coach Rylan Ferster told the Times Colonist. 

“He is deserving of this honour and everyone on the team is happy for him.”

2024 HOSTS
We're one step closer to finding out who will host the 2024 Memorial Cup.

The Ontario Hockey League's Kingston Frontenacs, Niagara IceDogs, Saginaw Spirit, and Soo Greyhounds have all submitted intents to bid for hosting rights of the 2024 tournament. According to the CHL, each team must "submit their bids prior to the January 31 deadline, with the winning bid then announced in March 2023."

Certainly the most noteworthy team to bid is Michael Misa's Saginaw Spirit. No American team has hosted the event since the Spokane Chiefs in 1998.

Of the four clubs, only Sault Ste. Marie (1993) has hosted the Memorial Cup previously.

OTHER THINGS

• Some information about Team Canada's world junior training camp is starting to be released. Canada will hold its camp at Moncton's Avenir Centre Dec. 9-12 and hold practices at St. Stephen's Garcelon Civic Centre Dec. 14-18. It's unclear what will be open to the public.
• Former Sea Dogs forward Kelly Bent has signed with the ECHL's Wichita Thunder. He appeared in 13 games with the Allen Americans last season.
• Toronto Metropolitan University, formerly Ryerson University, will host the 2024 University Cup men's hockey championship. The 2023 event will be held at Charlottetown's Eastlink Centre.