NCDC expansion teams have names, logos

Charlotte County's new junior hockey teams now have names and logos.

The NCDC officially announced Tuesday that the St. Stephen-based franchise will be called the St. Croix Seawolves while the Blacks Harbour-based squad will be named the Eastern Charlotte Kingfishers. Both teams have the same owner, Ted Colley.

From the NCDC:

The Seawolves name was submitted by a resident of Lachine, Que. Season tickets were awarded to the winners of both team-naming contests, but as the resident lived far from St. Croix, N.B., that winner was happy to see the season tickets instead go to a member of the St. Croix community.

The Kingfishers were the name of a local minor hockey team more than 30 years ago. That name was submitted three times, so there was an extra draw to select the winner of the season tickets.

Both teams will play in the New England Division of the NCDC, along with the fellow expansion Woodstock Slammers and Presque Isle Frontiers. The league has an updated footprint on their website.

It's been challenging to find information or updates on either team, but there is a Facebook page setup for the St. Criox franchise where they've posted a number of player signings.

• Acquired '07 F Zach Rushton from the Jersey Hitmen for future considerations. Rushton spent this past season with the MHL's Fredericton Red Wings and appeared in a QMJHL game with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan the season prior.
• Signed '06 F Balint Lobenwein, who comes "via Lake Forest Academy in Chicago, Illinois and the Hungarian U20 National Team."
• Signed '06 G Sawyer Russell, who played last season with Trenton (OJHL), Valley (MHL) and Edmundston (MHL).
• Acquired '07 D Michael Conlon, '05 D D.J. Ott and '07 D John Crawford from the Jersey Hitmen for 2-2025 NCDC tenders.
• Acquired '06 Forward Ralfs Veidemanis, '05 Forward Brooks Cogswell and '06 Forward Ty Izadi from the Ogden Mustangs for 2-2025 NCDC tenders.

The Facebook page also shared some information on the team's schedule, writing that "we are playing eight games against each divisional opponent. We are also participating in two US-based showcases and will be playing a home-and-home series against each team in the New England Division."

The NCDC announced it was expanding into New Brunswick last month.