Wednesday night notes: MacDonald a healthy scratch in Sea Dogs win

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - Cam MacDonald was a late healthy scratch for the Saint John Sea Dogs on Wednesday night.

MacDonald, who has been used a defenseman for the past couple weeks, was originally listed on Saint John's top defense pairing with Nate Tivey. But the 19-year-old was later classified as a healthy scratch.

Given that this is trade season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the move is quite noteworthy.

MacDonald would likely get the biggest return of any of Saint John's veteran players. In his third season in the QMJHL, MacDonald has 16 goals and 13 assists in 27 games. He had four goals and four assists in his final three games before the league's holiday break.

A fifth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2021 NHL Draft, there's a possibility MacDonald could return to junior hockey for his overage season in 2023-24. He has not been signed by the Lightning.

20-year-old goaltender Nikolas Hurtubise, who has battled injuries all season, was also listed as a healthy scratch by the Sea Dogs on Wednesday.

The QMJHL's trade deadline is Jan. 6. The Sea Dogs are back in action on Friday in Bathurst.

In other Wednesday news...

• Team Canada rebounded from their opening night loss at the IIHF World Junior Championship, hammering Germany 11-2 in Halifax. Former Sea Dogs forward Joshua Roy had a goal and an assist in the win while Regina Pats forward Connor Bedard recorded seven points. Canada plays Austria on Thursday night.
• Group B, playing in Moncton, remains wild with Slovakia pulling off a 6-3 upset win over the United States. Peter Repcik of the Charlottetown Islanders had a goal for Slovakia. Switzerland and Finland remain tied atop Group B with four points each.
• Wednesday attendance numbers: Slovakia/United States - 6,438 and Germany/Canada - 10,263.
• Vincent Despont and Team Switzerland take on the United States in Moncton on Thursday at 5 p.m.
• At the Spengler Cup Wednesday, former Sea Dogs forward Ostap Safin scored in HC Sparta Praha's big 9-2 win over HC Davos. In the earlier game, former Sea Dogs defenseman Joona Lehmas and IFK Helsinki fell 7-3 to HC Ambri-Piotti. Chris DiDomenico and Team Canada, who are 0-2 so far, take on Orebro HK in quarterfinal play on Thursday. The other quarterfinal matchup has HC Davos facing IFK Helsinki.

Defensemen have done an excellent job of generating offense and Prague has its second goal of the game.

Michal Moravcik's point shot was tipped in by Ostap Safin for the 2-0 goal. #SpenglerCup pic.twitter.com/JjFJVWz8Z9

— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) December 28, 2022