Recap: Sea Dogs lose 3-0

FINAL: Charlottetown 3, Saint John 0

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - The offensive struggles continued on Friday for the Saint John Sea Dogs.

Saint John recorded just 11 dangerous shots in a 3-0 loss to the Charlottetown Islanders at TD Station. This was the fifth time this season the Sea Dogs have been shutout and the second time in the past four games.

Ross Campbell, Matthew Butler and Simon Hughes all scored for Charlottetown. Donald Hickey made 27 saves to earn his first career QMJHL shutout.

Charles-Edward Gravel made 29 stops on 30 shots in the first two periods. Justin Robinson played the third period and was busy, allowing a goal on 14 shots. Robinson was named the game's third star for his relief appearance.

Saint John's continued offensive struggles were, like Sunday's loss to the Halifax Mooseheads, complimented with some lapses in the defensive end, which led to several odd man rushes for the Islanders. The Sea Dogs have plenty to work on ahead on Sunday's home game.

The Islanders grabbed a 1-0 lead at 6:29 of the first when Campbell banged in a rebound. Charlottetown had a couple of other excellent chances in the opening frame – which included missing a wide open net on a power play – but only led by one after one.

In the second, Saint John generated some pressure on a power play but continued to struggle at getting pucks on net. The Sea Dogs had 11 shots in the middle frame but gave up 17 – including a couple dangerous odd man chances.

At 16:03 of the third – and not long after the Islanders made some contact with Robinson – Butler scored his 12th of the season to give Charlottetown a 2-0 advantage.

The Sea Dogs pulled Robinson in the final couple minutes. Hughes iced the game with an empty net goal at 19:10.

Game Day 40: vs Islanders

SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs play the second game of a five-game home stretch tonight at TD Station.

The Sea Dogs will look to make a lot of improvements from last Sunday's 5-1 loss to the Halifax Mooseheads, a game that saw them struggle at both ends of the ice from start to finish. It's been a rough stretch for the Sea Dogs who have just one win so far in the second half.

The Sea Dogs host a Charlottetown Islanders team that had a five-game winning streak come to an end last night in Moncton. The Isles have found new life in the second half following a number of roster tweaks. They sit three points ahead of the Sea Dogs in the standings, making every remaining game between the two an important one.

Game time tonight is 7 p.m. The Sea Dogs will be wearing "Style & Flow" themed jerseys.

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

2024-25 regular season records: The Sea Dogs are 17-22-0-0 for 34 points (fifth Maritimes/ninth Eastern/14th QMJHL) while the Islanders are 17-20-2-1 for 37 points (fourth Maritimes/eighth Eastern/13th QMJHL).

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 5-1 loss to the Halifax Mooseheads on Sunday at TD Station. William Yared scored Saint John's lone goal. Justin Robinson made 35 saves in the loss. The Islanders are coming off a 5-2 loss in Moncton last night. Ethan Montroy and Maxwell Jardine scored Charlottetown goals. Nicolas Ruccia made 27 saves in the loss.

Sea Dogs unveil "Style & Flow" jerseys

The Saint John Sea Dogs have unveiled their latest theme night jersey.

On Friday night, the Sea Dogs will host "Style & Flow Night" with social media star Coach Chippy in attendance. The jerseys were Coach Chippy approved, according to the Sea Dogs.

Time to flow. 🌊🐶

Coach Chippy-approved Style & Flow jerseys have arrived and they're FIRE. Want to get your hands on one these beauties? Our online auction is now LIVE!

Bid now » https://t.co/J1M68RUIHO#GoDogsGo pic.twitter.com/DjN8r7Gtcy

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) January 16, 2025

The Sea Dogs announced Thursday evening that lower bowl tickets to the game – which is against the Charlottetown Islanders at 7 p.m. – were nearly sold out.

Fans at Friday's game will have the opportunity to meet Coach Chippy in-person during the game for autographs, photo opportunities and more.

Saint John had their largest home crowd of the season this past Sunday, welcoming 4,002 fans to their game against the Halifax Mooseheads.

The Sea Dogs have worn a number of themed jerseys this season, including Stampede at the Station, Pink in the Rink, Throwback Night and Christmas at the Station.

Where are they now?

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Eriks Mateiko made his Rimouski Oceanic debut on Wednesday night.

The former Saint John Sea Dogs captain recorded three shots, four hits and a -1 rating in the Oceanic's 3-2 overtime loss to the Halifax Mooseheads at Colisée Financière Sun Life.

Mateiko was placed on Rimouski's second line with former Mooseheads Mathieu Cataford – who, as a member of Team Canada, faced Mateiko at this year's IIHF World Junior Championship – and Lou Levesque. 

The Washington Capitals prospect was officially traded to Rimouski on Jan. 6 but was held out of the Oceanic lineup last weekend to give him some additional rest following a heavy workload with Team Latvia at this year's world juniors.

In 23 games with Saint John in the first half of the season, Mateiko registered 14 goals and five assists. He remains the team's goal scoring leader despite not playing since Nov. 29.

A few other updates on players who are no longer with the Sea Dogs...

• Forward Parker Forlin made quite a return to the OJHL's Niagara Falls Canucks. In his first game back with the club on Jan. 9, the forward recorded two goals and an assist. He has three goals and a helper in three games since returning to Ontario. The OJHL even made a hype video.

  Parker Forlin returns to the Canucks in time for their "Playoff Push", catch the update on the latest episode of "OJ Reels" for January 11th, 2025. @NF_Canucks #ParkerForlin #PlayoffPush #OJReels #HockeyUpdates pic.twitter.com/zQ28bJGnb0

  — OJHL (@OJHLOfficial) January 11, 2025

• Forward Coen Miller made his BCHL debut on Saturday, recording two assists in the Powell River Kings' 8-7 overtime loss to the Victoria Grizzlies. Defenseman Cruz Scanzano also had two assists for the River Kings in that game, giving him three helpers in four games since joining the BCHL club.  
• Defenseman Giuliano Caputo is back with the QJHL's Terrebonne Cobras where he's recorded two assists in four games. Caputo spent last season with the Cobras where he registered five assists in 47 contests.
• Swiss forward Florian Schenk is back with SC Bern Future U20 where he's already recorded a goal and seven assists in three games. He recorded eight goals and 17 helpers in 42 games with the club last year.
• Forward Dennis Lominac, who appeared in seven games with the Sea Dogs early this season, now has a goal and two assists in six games with the BCHL's Vernon Vipers. Lominac was lighting up the MHL before heading west, posting five goals and 19 assists in 11 games with the Summerside Western Capitals.

Three Sea Dogs make latest NHL Central Scouting list

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Three Saint John Sea Dogs cracked NHL Central Scouting's second list of the season.

Sea Dogs forward Zachary Morin was the highest ranked, placing 47th overall amongst North American skaters for the 2025 NHL Draft. Morin currently sits second in team scoring and third in QMJHL rookie scoring with 10 goals and 17 assists in 32 games.

Forward Olivier Groulx, meanwhile, was ranked 137th while forward Elliot Dubé was 171st.

Groulx, who netted his first career QMJHL hat trick on Saturday night in Halifax, has 10 goals and 15 assists in 39 games this year. Dubé has six goals and 10 assists in 39 contests, placing him 11th in QMJHL rookie scoring.

After a few down years, this is expected to be a decent draft for the QMJHL. Moncton Wildcats forward Caleb Desnoyers was the highest ranked QMJHL skater at No. 7 followed by Justin Carbonneau of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada at No. 13 and Bill Zonnon of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies at No. 29.

In total, 41 players from the QMJHL were ranked.

Defenseman Matthew Schaefer of the Erie Otters was ranked No. 1 followed by Boston College forward James Hagens and Saginaw Spirit forward Michael Misa.

The full list of North American skaters can be found here.

Notebook: Home cooking

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs played a pair of games in less than 24 hours – in two different provinces – this weekend.

The Sea Dogs played the Halifax Mooseheads on Saturday night at Scotiabank Centre, made the four hour drive home after the game and were then right back at it against the Moose on Sunday afternoon at TD Station.

The team won't have to worry about bus trips for a bit. Sunday's game was the first of five straight at TD Station.

Sunday, Jan. 12 vs Halifax - 5-1 loss

Friday, Jan. 17 vs Charlottetown

Sunday, Jan. 19 vs Quebec

Thursday, Jan. 23 vs Chicoutimi

Friday, Jan. 24 vs Rimouski

The Sea Dogs will then play four straight games on the road – three of which will be in Quebec – before playing five straight at home again.

BONNET HERE TO STAY

17-year-old defenseman Julien Bonnet is expected to remain with the Sea Dogs for the remainder of the season. He has been added to the team's online active roster.

Bonnet, a seventh-round pick of Saint John in the 2023 QMJHL Entry Draft, has already appeared in 13 games with Saint John this season. He's been held scoreless.

Bonnet joined the team on a few occasions this year as an injury replacement. He's been close to a regular in the club's lineup since early December.

The 6'02", 183 lbs defenseman has also played 11 games with the QJHL's Gatineau Flames this season, posting a goal and four assists in 11 games.