Friday, December 30, 2022

Notebook: Highly anticipated "Spice Up Your Game" takes place Saturday

SAINT JOHN - One of the most hyped games of the season takes place Saturday at TD Station.

The Saint John Sea Dogs will host the Moncton Wildcats in a 2 p.m. contest that will feature intermission performances by Wannabe: A Spice Girls Tribute.

"TD Station will be the place to be for an afternoon of hockey, music, and fun, as Wannabe: A Spice Girls Tribute perform during both intermissions," reads a Sea Dogs news release. "A 2 p.m. start time means the whole family can enjoy great hockey and fun performances before the ball drops on NYE."

According to the team, "lower bowl seating is officially limited and there are less than 1,000 total seats remaining."

Door will open at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.

This will be the first time the Sea Dogs have played on New Year's Eve since 2019 due to COVID restrictions.

HURTUBISE'S FUTURE
Cam MacDonald stole the headlines Wednesday when the Sea Dogs made him a late healthy scratch. But overage netminder Nikolas Hurtubise was also a healthy scratch for the game.

Dealing Hurtubise, a President Cup and Memorial Cup champion, isn't simple due to his age. Given the crowded overage goalie market and some injury issues this season, there are certainly some questions about his immediate future.
Sea Dogs president and general manager Trevor Georgie told the Telegraph-Journal (paywall) that "Nik would like the opportunity to challenge for a championship again."

Hurtubise suffered an injury in the off-season and has played in just 11 games with Saint John this season. He posted a 14-4 record to go along with a 2.88 goals against average and a .897 save percentage in the second half with the Sea Dogs last season. After appearing in just one playoff game, he was excellent for Saint John at the Memorial Cup.

BRIDEAU'S NEW GEAR
Sea Dogs goaltender Olivier Brideau has some new gear.
SEA DOGS ON NYE
On Saturday, the Sea Dogs will play on New Year's Eve for a 12th time in franchise history. Saint John is 6-5 all-time in New Year's Eve clashes.

This will be the seventh all-time meeting between the Sea Dogs and Wildcats on New Year's Eve.

2005: No game
2006: No game
2007: No game
2008: 3-2 loss vs Moncton
2009: 4-3 SO win at Moncton
2010: 4-0 win vs Moncton
2011: 5-2 loss at Moncton
2012: 3-1 win vs Moncton
2013: No game
2014: 6-3 win vs Cape Breton
2015: 3-2 win vs Charlottetown
2016: 7-5 loss vs Bathurst
2017: 5-1 loss at Moncton
2018: 4-1 loss vs Charlottetown
2019: 6-4 win at Halifax
2020: No game
2021: No game
2022: TBD vs Moncton

MURPHY AN ALL-STAR
Former Sea Dogs defenseman Matt Murphy has been named to the Western Conference roster for the upcoming ECHL All-Star Classic, which takes place Jan. 16 in Norfolk.

Murphy has five goals and 12 assists in 13 games with the Iowa Heartlanders this season. He's also appeared in three AHL games with the Iowa Wild.

It's looking unlikely that Murphy will play in the game though. He recently signed with the ICEHL's Black Wings Linz.
OTHER THINGS
  • No Sea Dogs games will be featured on CHL TV Game of the Week broadcasts or CHL on TSN broadcasts.
  • The Charlottetown Islanders signed OHL goaltender Dixon Grimes on Wednesday. He backed up Tye Austin in Charlottetown's Wednesday night match against Saint John. Grimes is the son of Jake Grimes, the former head coach of the Cape Breton Eagles.
  • The Moncton Wildcats fell 4-2 to Cape Breton on Wednesday, dropping the Wildcats to 0-3-0-1 against the forever rebuilding Eagles this season.
  • Wildcats defenseman Natan Grenier, a first-round pick of Saint John in the 2019 QMJHL Entry Draft who was dealt in the Philippe Daoust trade last year, returned from injury on Friday. Grenier hadn't played since Nov. 11.
  • Gatineau Olympiques forward Olivier Nadeau made his season debut on Wednesday due to injury. He hadn't played since the Memorial Cup semifinal when he was a member of the Shawinigan Cataractes.
  • At the world juniors, Latvian goaltender Patriks Berzins is committed to play at the University of Maine next season. The 19-year-old has a .921 save percentage with the NAHL's Danbury Hat Tricks this year. There are some interesting names on Maine's 2023 recruiting class.
  • 16-year-old forward Kristers Ansons, the younger brother of former Sea Dogs forward Raivis Ansons, will likely be a key member of Latvia's world junior team next year if the country qualifies for the tournament.
  • All the best to long-time sports writer Bruce Hallihan, who is leaving the Daily Gleaner in Fredericton after 34 years.
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