Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Notebook: Nathan Beaulieu retires

Marc Henwood/Station Nation
One of the all-time great Saint John Sea Dogs defensemen has hung up his skates.

32-year-old Nathan Beaulieu announced his retirement from professional hockey last week. He appeared in just eight games last season, all in the KHL.

Beaulieu hasn't played an NHL game since the 2022-23 season when he appeared in 52 contests with the Anaheim Ducks. He has spent the past two seasons overseas.

It was a solid pro hockey career for Beaulieu, appearing in 471 career NHL games split between the Ducks, Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres, Winnipeg Jets and Pittsburgh Penguins. He was a first-round pick of the Habs in the 2011 NHL Draft.
Beaulieu spent four seasons with the Sea Dogs and was part of the group that played in three straight league finals and back-to-back Memorial Cups, winning two QMJHL championships and a national title.

He is the son of former Sea Dogs head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu, who selected his son in the fourth-round of the 2008 QMJHL Entry Draft.

TRADE PERIOD OPENING
The QMJHL's summer trade period opens Aug. 1 and will run for a few weeks.
The Sea Dogs haven't been overly active on the trade front in recent years, but with such a large camp roster, perhaps we'll see some moves to make space for others. But also: maybe not. This is great analysis.

FIRST OF AUGUST
One of the new realities for the CHL: Aug. 1 is about to become an intriguing day on the calendar.

This is when a new college hockey recruiting window opens. Schools have been allowed to speak to this group of players since Jan. 1.

One of the players likely to draw a lot of interest south of the border is Sea Dogs forward Alexis Jospeh, who was selected first overall in June's QMJHL Entry Draft.
The Grand Forks Herald has listed 30 Americans to watch heading into the recruiting window. One of the players listed is Finnegan Sears, a USNTDP commit who was drafted in the sixth-round of this year's QMJHL Entry Draft by Saint John.

MANN INTERVIEW
Former Sea Dogs defenseman Matteo Mann was a recent guest on Puck Junkies.



SCANZANO TRADED
Defenseman Cruz Scanzano, who appeared in 13 games with the Sea Dogs last season, has been traded from the BCHL's Powell River Kings to the Blackfalds Bulldogs.
Scanzano appeared in 20 games with Powell River last season, recording a goal and six assists.

The 17-year-old was a second-round pick of Saint John in the 2024 QMJHL Entry Draft. He remains on Saint John's protected list but he did not attend this summer's development camp.

CARRUTHERS TO UNB
Former Sea Dogs forward Leighton Carruthers has committed to the UNB Reds for this coming season.

“Fredericton is home for me. I was born there, a couple of years before my family moved to Halifax,” said Carruthers in a Reds news release. “And UNB has a reputation unlike any other school. They’ve had tremendous success on and off the ice, which is something I always strive for.”

Carruthers, who was selected third overall by the Sea Dogs in the 2020 QMJHL Entry Draft, recorded three goals and an assist in 30 games during the COVID season of 2020-21. He was then traded to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies where he would spend parts of the next four seasons.

The 21-year-old ended his junior career with the Flin Flon Bombers this past season, posting nine goals and 10 assists in 18 games. He added five goals and an assist in five playoff games.

OTHER THINGS
  • The Sea Dogs website has a recap of how Alexis Joseph, Nolann Héroux and Jase MacPherson all performed at Team Canada's under-17 development camp last week. The Hockey News has a story on Joseph's impressive showing.
  • Former Sea Dogs goaltender Jonathan Lemieux has earned a one-year contract extension with the AHL's Abbotsford Canucks. Lemieux did not appear in any AHL games last season. He played 40 games with the ECHL's Kalamazoo Wings.
  • I haven't seen this officially official anywhere, but it's been reported that former Sea Dogs head coach Gerard Gallant is heading to the KHL, where it's believed he'll lead Kunlun Red Star. Shockingly, it looks like Mike Kelly will be joining him.
  • Gardiner MacDougall has been named an assistant coach for Team Canada's world junior team. London's Dale Hunter will be the head coach.
  • Some Alex Grant news:
  • Big signing for the Charlottetown Islanders: Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Brady Peddle, the younger brother of Sea Dogs overage forward Tyler Peddle. Peddle spent last season with the USHL's Waterloo Black Hawks and is committed to Michigan State for the 2026-27 season.
  • Moncton Wildcats associate coach Dustin Friesen has been named head coach of the WHL's Calgary Hitmen.
  • UNB Reds associate coach Josh Hepditch has been named an assistant coach with the Halifax Mooseheads.
  • Former Moncton Wildcats head coach John Torchetti has joined the USHL's Tri-City Storm.
  • The NCDC schedule has been released. St. Stephen's St. Croix Seawolves will play their first home game on Sept. 19 against Blacks Harbour's Eastern Charlotte Kingfishers. The two will meet the next night in Blacks Harbour. 
  • Speaking of the Seawolves, Terry Watt has been named the club's head coach and general manager. The 39-year-old was head coach of the NAHL's Minnesota Mallards last season.
Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)