Report: BOG to vote on Titan relocation

The QMJHL's return to Newfoundland and Labrador is likely to get the stamp of approval this week.

Jeff Marek reports that the league's board of governors is expected to approve the sale and relocation of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan to St. John's.

At the QMJHL BOG meeting this week expect a vote to pass on the sale and relocation of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan to a group in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

— Jeff Marek (@JeffMarek) December 8, 2024

This has been rumoured for a few months but it's been quiet in recent weeks. But it's believed to have been quiet because it's been a done deal for a while. Officials in St. John's have been saying all the right things without really saying much of anything.

The QMJHL left St. John's in 2008 after three seasons of the Fog Devils. Ironically, 15 years ago, the Titan were nearly bought and relocated to St. John's. 15 year later it looks like that is actually going to happen.

The St. John's squad will face the same logistical and financial issues that the Fog Devils, AHL and ECHL teams all faced. But, this time around, there seems to be a recognition that this is it. Ownership, government, sponsors and fans know that it's either make the QMJHL work or have no high level hockey playing at Mary Brown's Centre.

This will, obviously, have an impact on the QMJHL's schedule. The Saint John Sea Dogs, for example, aren't going to be able to make a mid-week day trip to St. John's like they do to Bathurst currently. In the Fog Devils days, teams would fly over and play two or three games before returning home. The Fog Devils would typically play three to six road games during a trek to the mainland. 

While it's a happy time for hockey fans in Newfoundland, it's s sad moment for fans in northern New Brunswick. Unfortunately, this move has felt inevitable for awhile. The Titan have been for sale for nearly a year, and nobody can say the QMJHL hasn't given the market a chance over the last decade.

Bathurst is currently averaging a league low 1,550 fans per game.

Recap: Sea Dogs lose 3-2

FINAL: Saint John 2, Moncton 3

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - Despite a strong performance against one of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League's top teams, it wasn't enough on Sunday at TD Station.

The Saint John Sea Dogs' third period woes continued, allowing two goals in the final frame in a 3-2 loss to the Moncton Wildcats. Saint John's recent losses have all seen the team struggle in third periods.

The Sea Dogs – who were missing five regulars from their lineup due to injuries – led 2-1 after two periods. Markus Vidicek tied the game at 11:29 of the third and then Gabe Smith redirected a Yoan Loshing pass at 17:00 to give Moncton a 3-2 advantage.

Juraj Pekarcik scored Moncton's other goal. 19-year-old Rudy Guimond made 37 stops to earn his first QMJHL win in his first start.

Zachary Morin scored both of Saint John's goals. Justin Robinson made 36 stops in the loss.

The Sea Dogs, especially given that they were missing some key players, deserved at least a point in this game – but it wasn't meant to be. Saint John continues to give Moncton troubles this season.

Saint John is now two games below .500 (14-16-0-0) with two games remaining before the holiday break.

Game Day 30: vs Wildcats

MONCTON - The Saint John Sea Dogs welcome the Eastern Conference leading Moncton Wildcats to town this afternoon.

The Wildcats are coming off just their fifth loss of the season, falling 4-1 on home ice to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies yesterday afternoon. The Sea Dogs, meanwhile, are coming off a 5-0 loss in Cape Breton on Friday that saw them once again struggle to produce offensively.

The Sea Dogs have had some success against the Wildcats this season, posting a 2-2-0-0 record against Gardiner MacDougall's squad.

Game time this afternoon at TD Station is 3 p.m.

TV/Radio/Stream: None/Sea Dogs Radio/CHL TV

2024-25 regular season records: The Sea Dogs are 14-15-0-0 for 28 points (third Maritimes/sixth Eastern/11th QMJHL) while the Wildcats are 21-5-2-0 for 44 points (first Maritimes/first Eastern/second QMJHL).

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 5-0 loss in Cape Breton on Friday. Charles-Edward Gravel made 35 stops in the loss. The Wildcats are coming off a 4-1 home loss to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies yesterday afternoon. Yoan Loshing scored Moncton's lone goal. Jacob Steinman made 35 saves in the loss.

Recap: Sea Dogs lose 5-0

FINAL: Saint John 0, Cape Breton 5

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SYDNEY, NS - Third periods have been interesting for the Saint John Sea Dogs of late.

On Saturday in Halifax, the Sea Dogs blew a 2-1 third period lead in a 3-2 loss to the Mooseheads. Then on Wednesday against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, the Sea Dogs scored three times in the final frame in a 4-1 victory.

The third period woes returned on Friday at Centre 200 where the Sea Dogs allowed four third period goals in a 5-0 loss to the Cape Breton Eagles.

The Sea Dogs entered the third down 1-0 despite being outshot 20-9 through 40 minutes of play. Saint John was once again without veteran forwards Eriks Mateiko and Tyler Peddle, who are key contributors to the team's offense.

The Sea Dogs recorded just 19 shots in the loss with only seven of those shots being classified as dangerous. 

Charles-Edward Gravel made 35 saves in the loss.

Jacob Newcombe scored a pair of goals for Cape Breton while singles came from Will Murphy, Lucas Romeo and Cole Burbidge. Jakub Milota earned the shutout victory.

Game Day 29: at Cape Breton

SYDNEY, NS - It's hard to believe, but the Saint John Sea Dogs will play their final road game of the first half tonight at Centre 200.

The Sea Dogs will face the Cape Breton Eagles this evening at 7 p.m. Saint John will play their three remaining games of the first half on home ice.

While most would consider the Sea Dogs to be a pleasant surprise this season, the opposite can be said for the Eagles. Cape Breton is just 11-13-2-1 in a season they were expected to be amongst the best in the Eastern Conference. The Eagles will be one of the most intriguing teams to watch during the QMJHL's trade period.

TV/Radio/Stream: None/None/CHL TV

2024-25 regular season records: The Sea Dogs are 14-14-0-0 for 28 points (third Maritimes/sixth Eastern/11th QMJHL) while the Eagles are 11-13-2-1 for 25 points (fourth Maritimes/seventh Eastern/12th QMJHL).

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 4-1 win over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan on Wednesday. Matteo Mann, William Yared, Reid Calder and Zachary Morin all scored for Saint John. Charles-Edward Gravel made 29 saves in the win. The Eagles are coming off a 5-2 loss in Moncton on Sunday. Joseph Henneberry and Emile Ricard had Cape Breton goals. Jakub Milota made 34 saves in the loss.

Recap: Sea Dogs win 4-1

FINAL: Bathurst 1, Saint John 4

Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - After blowing a third period lead in a loss on Saturday, the Saint John Sea Dogs made up for their mistakes on Wednesday.

The Sea Dogs scored three times in the third in a 4-1 victory over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, breaking a 1-1 tie after 40 minutes.

Matteo Mann, William Yared, Reid Calder and Zachary Morin all scored for Saint John while Olivier Groulx recorded two assists. Charles-Edward Gravel made 29 saves in a first star performance.

While the final score may not indicate it, this was another close contest between these two. Yared gave the Sea Dogs a 2-1 lead at 11:46 of the third period, getting a piece of the puck after it bounced in the air off of Titan netminder Joshua Fleming.

Saint John added to their lead at 17:43 when Calder put in the rebound of a Nate Tivey shot. Morin secured the win with a long empty net goal at 18:53.

Shots were 44-30 in favour of Saint John, who were once again missing their top two forwards in Eriks Mateiko and Tyler Peddle.

The win pushes Saint John back to the .500 mark with a 14-14-0-0 record.

For Bathurst, Maddex Marmulak scored the club's lone goal on a breakaway in the first period. Fleming made 40 stops in the loss.