Second half set to begin

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs will begin the second half at a place they've struggled this season: at home.

The Sea Dogs recorded just five wins in 16 home games in the first half. Only the Victoriaville Tigres (3-8-4-0) and the Baie-Comeau Drakkar (3-11-1-1) had fewer home wins prior to the Christmas break.

As the below shows, the Sea Dogs have posted very respectable numbers on the road, adding to what was a frustrating first half for the club.

Home		Away
5-11-0-0 (10 points)	Record	7-7-2-0 (16 points)
50	Goals For	57
70	Goals Against	61
9.8% (18th)	Power Play	21.7% (8th)
85.4% (2nd)	Penalty Kill	83.0% (5th)

Saint John resumes play Sunday sitting 17th overall with a 12-18-2-0 record. It's easier said than done, but improving those home numbers would certainly help the team inch up the standings.

The Sea Dogs have two home games remaining in 2025: Sunday afternoon against the Charlottetown Islanders and New Year's Eve (also an afternoon contest) against the Newfoundland Regiment.

Saint John fans haven't had much to cheer for this calendar year. The Sea Dogs have just seven wins at TD Station (two in the second half of last season and five this season) in 2025.

A few other notes before the second half gets rolling:

• All 18 QMJHL teams resume play on Sunday. They've all been off since Dec. 18.
• The Sea Dogs will host the Islanders on Sunday and then travel to Charlottetown for a rare Monday night game. The Dogs are 1-1-1-0 against the Isles this season – which includes a win on TD Station ice back on Nov. 20.
• The Sea Dogs begin the second half on a three-game losing streak. They've also lost six straight at home, not winning since that Nov. 20 contest.
• The Monday night match in Charlottetown will be Saint John's final road game until Jan. 14. They'll play five straight home games (which includes one at the Aitken Centre) between Dec. 31 and Jan. 11. Three of those five games will be against the Regiment.
• The New Year's Eve game at TD Station will be a 2 p.m. start. It will be Newfoundland's first trip to Saint John.
• Saint John has made just one move since the trade period opened on Dec. 19, dealing veteran forward Jacob Beaulieu to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. 16-year-old forward Nolann Héroux will join the team for the second half, essentially taking Beaulieu's spot on the roster. The trade deadline is Jan. 6.