Monday night news and notes

TSN’s Bob McKenzie released his final NHL Draft rankings on Monday night.

Sea Dogs defenseman Luke Green was ranked 60^th by McKeznie, which is the same ranking McKeen’s Hockey had and just three slots better than where TSN’s Craig Button listed him.

Auston Matthews was ranked first by McKenzie. The top ranked player from the QMJHL – and Canadian – was forward Pierre-Luc Dubois of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.

The NHL Draft takes place this Friday and Saturday in Buffalo.

Some other news and notes…

• According to the Telegraph-Journal (paywall), and as many pointed out, Sam Povorozniouk’s professional contract is a 25-game tryout with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. The Wolves are affiliated with the St. Louis Blues.
• Sam Cosentino’s mock draft is up on the Sportsnet website. He has Dubois going third overall.
• Keith Gretzky, director of amateur scouting for the Bruins, spoke to the Boston Herald about Jakub Zboril’s season, which saw a decrease in his offensive production.
• This is a big year for Sea Dogs prospect/current goaltender Alex D’Orio, reports La Tribune. D’Orio is friends with Olivier Mathieu, Saint John’s first round pick in this year’s QMJHL Entry Draft.
• The LNAH’s Cornwall River Kings drafted former Sea Dogs defenseman Gabriel Bourret last weekend. Bourret has spent the past three seasons with the Concordia University Stingers.
• Former Sea Dogs head coach Gerard Gallant is the favourite to win the NHL’s Coach of the Year award, according to Bovada. The NHL Awards take place on Wednesday at 8 p.m. on Sportsnet.
• What will the Ottawa Senators do with former Sea Dogs forward Mike Hoffman?
• Speaking of Hoffman, an Ottawa Sport Chek was selling these on the weekend.

Hockey Canada announces camp rosters

Thomas Chabot and Mathieu Joseph have both been invited to Canada’s National Junior Team Summer Development Camp.

Chabot played with Canada at last year’s world juniors and is a lock to make the team – unless he sticks with the Ottawa Senators. Joseph, meanwhile, had an impressive 73 points in 58 games with Saint John last year. The Tampa Bay Lightning prospect will be coming off a leg injury that saw him miss the final two rounds of the playoffs.

Four goaltenders, 14 defensemen and 23 forwards were named to the under-20 camp roster. The players will participate in practices July 30 - Aug. 2 in Toronto before playing in a series against Finland, Sweden,and the United States at the USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich.

This year’s world juniors take place Dec. 26 – Jan. 5 in Toronto and Montreal.

Hockey Canada also named the development camp rosters for the under-18 and under-17 teams.

Sea Dogs forward Joe Veleno and prospect Shane Bowers were both invited to the under-18 camp. Veleno was one of only four players eligible for the 2018 NHL Draft to receive an invite.

Four goaltenders, 16 defencemen, and 24 forwards will participate in practices and three Red-White intrasquad games from July 29 - Aug. 2. 22 players will be selected for Canada’s 2016 under-18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup team. The tournament will be held Aug. 8-12 in Breclav, Czech Republic and Bratislava, Slovakia. 

Lastly, prospect Olivier Mathieu, Saint John’s first round pick in this year’s QMJHL Entry Draft, was selected to attend Canada’s under-17 development camp.

For the under-17 camp, 12 goaltenders, 36 defenceman and 63 forwards will participate in practices and games on one of six teams: Black, Blue, Gold, Green, Red and White.

66 players will be selected to represent Canada on one of three national teams – Team Canada Black, Team Canada Red and Team Canada White – at the 2016 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, which is scheduled for Oct. 30 - Nov. 5 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation

Where will Luke Green be drafted?

Next weekend in Buffalo, Sea Dogs defenseman Luke Green will be selected in the NHL Draft.

There’s not much debate on whether or not he will be drafted. Where in the draft he’ll be taken is the big question.

With some help from Elite Prospects, here’s a look at where the major draft publications have Green ranked:

No. 47 – Future Considerations

No. 51 – The Hockey News

No. 60 – McKeen’s Hockey
No. 63 - TSN (Craig Button)

No. 71 – HockeyProspect.com

No. 88 – ISS Hockey

Green was also ranked 40^th amongst North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s final listings.

Sea Dogs forward Nathan Noel and defenseman Oliver Felixson are also candidates to have their names called next Saturday. Noel, passed over in last year’s draft, was ranked 171^st by NHL Central Scouting while Felixson was 189^th.

Defenseman Marshall Rifai (123^rd), a Harvard commit, and forward Jamie Armstrong (124^th), a Northeastern commit, could also be selected. Both players have their CHL rights owned by Saint John.

The 2016 NHL Draft takes place Friday and Saturday in Buffalo. Sportsnet will have live coverage.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation

Dempsey joining UPEI Panthers

Former Sea Dogs forward Mitchell Dempsey has committed to the University of Prince Edward Islanders Panthers for the 2016-17 season.

Excited to be  joining @UPEIMensHockey  #panthers

— Mitch Dempsey (@mitchdempsey95) June 16, 2016

Last season, Dempsey played in 27 games with the MHL's Summerside Western Capitals as an overager, recording 12 goals and 16 assists. He added two goals and four assists in 13 playoff games.

Dempsey, a seventh-round pick of the Boston Bruins in the 2013 NHL Draft, spent the 2014-15 season with the Sea Dogs after not being claimed in the OHL. In 60 games with Saint John, the left winger registered eight goals and 17 assists in 60 games.

Mitchell Dempsey is on his way to the UPEI Panthers for 2016-17. Big power-forward. Former Boston Bruin property. pic.twitter.com/YSRMqPtNts

— Victor Findlay (@Finder_24) June 17, 2016

The Panthers play their first game of the 2016-17 Atlantic University Sport season on Oct. 5 in Moncton.

Povorozniouk signs professional contract

Embed from Getty Images

According to Sam Povorozniouk, Sam Povorozniouk has signed a professional contract.

Where Povorozniouk has signed is not known, but the American Hockey League logo does appear on the piece of paper in this tweeted photo.

Very happy to sign my first professional contract. Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way! pic.twitter.com/oNsLxwN2x4

— Sam Povorozniouk (@spovo95) June 16, 2016

The 21-year-old had a breakout overage season with the Sea Dogs last year, recording 39 goals and 23 assists in 68 regular season games. He added 14 goals and 11 assists in 17 playoff contests.

A native of Northbrook, IL, Povorozniouk played four seasons in the OHL before being picked up by Saint John, putting up 47 goals and 74 assists 249 games.

Unsurprisingly, there was speculation that the right winger could be heading to a CIS school.

Today in the rumour mill: Sam Povorozniouk could be destined for the OUA next season. 39 goals in the Q this year, likely a south OUA team.

— Victor Findlay (@Finder_24) May 11, 2016

Where Povorozniouk has signed will surly be known shortly.

Pre-season schedule released

The QMJHL released its 2016 pre-season schedule on Thursday.

The Saint John Sea Dogs are currently scheduled to play nine pre-season games, six of which will take place between Aug. 19-28. With the QMJHL beginning its regular season later this year, the remaining three exhibition matches will happen Sept. 9-17

The Sea Dogs will take part in the first ever “Hub City Showcase” in Moncton, according to the Times & Transcript (paywall). The newspaper reports that each team in the tournament will play three games with the third game being determined based on the tournament standings.

Here’s the schedule for the tournament, which will take place Aug. 19-21 at Moncton’s Superior Propane Centre:

Aug. 19 at 1 p.m. – Charlottetown vs Bathurst

Aug. 19 at 4 p.m. – Halifax vs Saint John

Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. – Moncton vs Cape Breton

Aug. 20 at 1 p.m. – Bathurst vs Halifax

Aug. 20 at 4 p.m. – Cape Breton vs Charlottetown

Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. – Moncton vs Saint John

Aug. 21 at 10 a.m. – Playoff

Aug. 21 at 1 p.m. – Playoff

Aug. 21 at 4 p.m. – Playoff

More details on the event will be released next week, according to the Wildcats website.

It appears similar tournaments involving Quebec based teams will be taking place in Shawinigan, Chicoutimi and Rockland, ON that same weekend.

The Sea Dogs won’t be going to any unusual locations other than North Sydney, where they’ll play their final pre-season game on Sept. 17. Via the QMJHL website, here is Saint John’s full pre-season schedule (which doesn't include the third Hub City Showcase game on Aug. 21):

The Sea Dogs begin regular season play on Sept. 23 in Charlottetown.