Sea Dogs alumni on the move

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Fresh off capturing a Calder Cup championship, former Saint John Sea Dogs defenseman William Villeneuve has re-signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Villeneuve signed a two-year deal with the Leafs, the club announced on Wednesday.

From the team's release:

Villeneuve, 24, skated in 61 games with the Marlies last season, recording 30 points (3 goals, 27 assists) while adding 23 points (2 goals, 21 assists) in 24 playoff games en route to a Calder Cup championship. In 226 career AHL games, he has collected 120 points (12 goals, 108 assists). Villeneuve made his NHL debut on April 11, 2026, against the Florida Panthers.

The 24-year-old has spent his entire pro career with the Maple Leafs organization, which was highlighted by a Calder Cup title with the Marlies last month.

A few other Sea Dogs alumni happenings from the past few weeks...

• Josh Lawrence is on the move yet again, signing with HK Olimpija Ljubljana of the ICEHL (which features clubs from around Central Europe). The 24-year-old spent last season in Russia and Slovakia, which was capped off by helping HK Nitra win the Slovak Extraliga. Since turning pro, Lawrence has played in Switzerland, Finland, Russia, Slovakia and now Slovenia.
• Tomas Jurco is returning home, signing with his hometown team, HC Kosice of the Slovak Extraliga, earlier this month. The 33-year-old has spent most of the past five seasons in the KHL and had a brief stint in Switzerland. Jurco hasn't played in a Slovakian league since he was a teenager.
• Nathan Beaulieu has been named an assistant coach of Florida Atlantic University’s Division Il hockey club, which is based in Boca Raton. According to the University Press, Florida Atlantic is coming off a College Hockey South DII Championship. Beaulieu spent last season as an assistant coach at Saint Mary's University.
• Fresh off helping the Florida Everblades win an ECHL championship, Oliver Cooper has signed with the Fredericton Express of the Beausejour Senior Hockey League. The 31-year spent all of last season in the ECHL, recording 25 points in 65 regular season games and another five points in 19 post-season contests. Cooper is a Fredericton native who played four seasons with UNB.
• Aiden MacIntosh is heading overseas. After finishing his final season at York University and helping the Evansville Thunderbolts win a SPHL championship, the 25-year-old has signed with Montpellier in France for the 2026-27 season.
• Former Sea Dogs assistant coach Stefan Legein is returning to the AHL's Belleville Senators for another season. This will be Legein's third season as an assistant with Belleville.