Thursday, May 29, 2025

Notebook: Mateiko's season ends in a loss

Vincent Éthier / CHL
Eriks Mateiko and the Rimouski Oceanic were eliminated from the Memorial Cup on Wednesday, falling 6-2 to the Moncton Wildcats. The former Sea Dogs captain was the lone Sea Dogs alumnus participating in the event.

Wednesday's game was likely Mateiko's last in the QMJHL. Mateiko had a goal in three games at the tournament after posting seven goals and four assists in 18 playoff games. 


The Wildcats don't feature any former Sea Dogs players but do have a few former coaches on their staff – including Gardiner MacDougall.

The Wildcats face the London Knights in the Memorial Cup semifinal on Friday at 8 p.m. The winner advances to Sunday's championship game against the Medicine Hat Tigers.

PEDDLE NOT SIGNING
Tyler Peddle is reportedly about to become a free agent.

According to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, the Columbus Blue Jackets will not sign the Sea Dogs forward ahead of the June 1 deadline, making him a free agent. Peddle was a seventh-round pick of the Blue Jackets in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Peddle joined the Blue Jackets' AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters, for a short period after Saint John's season ended. He did not appear in any AHL games.

Peddle is eligible to return to Saint John for his overage season. He posted 15 goals and 14 assists in 54 games this past season.

JOB OPENINGS
The Sea Dogs posted a couple job openings last week, both of which are now closed on LinkedIn.

The Sea Dogs are searching for both a Manager, Ticket Sales and Service and an Account Executive, Ticket Sales and Service.


The Saint John Sea Dogs are seeking a successful, motivated and tenured sales professional to focus on selling Saint John Sea Dogs season tickets, group tickets and ticket packages, while providing excellent customer service. The suitable candidate will be a self-starter who can generate sales through proactive sales strategies and creative initiatives that engage all types of fans and has a proven track record of exceeding sales targets.


The Saint John Sea Dogs are seeking a highly motivated and energetic sales professional to focus on selling Saint John Sea Dogs season tickets, group tickets and ticket packages. The suitable candidate will be a self-starter who can generate sales through proactive sales strategies and creative initiatives that engage all types of fans.


CECCHINI SPEAKS
QMJHL commissioner Mario Cecchini had a few interesting things to say in an interview with Jeff Marek on Wednesday.

Cecchini discussed the Memorial Cup in Rimouski, the league's media coverage, the NCAA rule change, US expansion and fighting.

When asked what the QMJHL can do to keep its players from leaving early for the NCAA, Cecchini had some interesting opinions, which included the idea of local businesses sponsoring players as a way to essentially pay them.

The interview starts at 49:00.


CLOSER TO THE GAME
The season finale of "Closer to the Game: Presented by TD" was released last week.

The episode focuses on Saint John's graduating players while departing associate coach Jeff Hansen gives his thoughts on the season and what's ahead. 


BEAULIEU IS BACK
Here's a name that hasn't popped up in some time: Jacques Beaulieu.

The former Sea Dogs head coach and general manager has been named head coach of the Strathroy Jets of the Northern Premier Hockey League. Strathroy is just outside London where Beaulieu once worked as an assistant coach with the Knights.

Beaulieu was with the Sea Dogs for three seasons and was fired after the 2009 campaign. He was named QMJHL GM of the year in 2008. While his name isn't on any trophies, he played a key role in building the foundation of Saint John's glory years from 2009 to 2012.

The 57-year-old was head coach and general manager of the Sarnia Sting from 2011 to 2013. Beaulieu was fired by the Sting after he – and his son Nathan Beaulieu – were charged with two counts of assault after an altercation at a house party. Both pleaded guilty.

"It's a great opportunity for me, I really wanted to get back into the game," said Beaulieu in a news release, via SarniaNewsToday.ca. "Being local and myself being a former Jet, and watching a few games this year, when Bob (General Manager Bob Lalich) and Mark Van Geffen (Team President) approached me, I definitely had some interest."

HYPE VIDEO
The QMJHL dropped a video last week featuring all the Memorial Cup championships the league has had over the past decade or so.



OTHER THINGS
  • Lokomotiv Yaroslavl defeated former Sea Dogs forward Ostap Safin and Traktor Chelyabinsk to win the KHL's Gagarin Cup last week. Safin appeared in 17 playoff games, posting two goals.
  • TD Station was ranked as the 13th best arena in the QMJHL by Stadium Journey, a rough ranking for one of the league's larger buildings.
  • Le Journal de Quebec reports that the Baie-Comeau Drakkar could lose Justin Poirier to the NCAA.
  • This would be a major loss for the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and the QMJHL.
  • CTV via TSN has a story on James Scantlebury, one of the top-ranked players for this year's QMJHL Entry Draft.
  • Moncton will host Hockey Day in Canada on Jan, 17, 2026. The festivities will include a Wildcats home game.

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