Notebook: Zboril traded to Blue Jackets

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Former Saint John Sea Dogs defenseman Jakub Zboril is now a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets organization.

Zboril, who has been sliding down the Boston Bruins depth chart over the past couple seasons, has been assigned to AHL's Cleveland Monsters — one of the AHL's top teams.

We have acquired defenseman Jakub Zboril and a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL draft from the Bruins in exchange for Andrew Peeke.

Zboril has been assigned to @monstershockey.

📝 https://t.co/1wz7Luepme@RuoffMortgage | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/t24rLWUuvh

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) March 8, 2024

The 27-year-old has nine assists in 31 games with the Providence Bruins this season. He hasn't appeared in any NHL games this year after playing in 22 last year, 10 the season prior and 42 before that.

Zboril spent three seasons with the Sea Dogs, ending his junior career by helping the club win the 2017 President Cup championship.

PLAYOFF UPDATE

The Sea Dogs woke up this morning sitting outside the QMJHL's playoff picture.

The Quebec Remparts defeated the Gatineau Olympiques 2-1 in a shootout on Friday, moving them two points ahead of the Sea Dogs and taking sole possession of the 16th and final playoff spot.

The Remparts take on the Olympiques again on Saturday while the Sea Dogs will once again face the Cape Breton Eagles. Both clubs have seven regular season games remaining.

Of note, the first tiebreaker is wins in regulation or overtime. The Sea Dogs currently have 16 while the Remparts have 14.

FIGHT

Here's the late-game fight between Matteo Mann and Gabe Smith on Wednesday in Moncton.

Mann was suspended one-game for fighting in the final five minutes of a game that had a two goal or more differential. Smith earned an extra game for accumulating codes.

Recap: Sea Dogs lose 6-1

FINAL: Saint John 1, Cape Breton 6

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SYDNEY, NS - It was basically over before it started on Friday for the Saint John Sea Dogs.

The Cape Breton Eagles scored two goals in the first 51 seconds in a five-goal first period end route to a 6-1 win over the Sea Dogs at Centre 200. Jacob Newcombe had a hat trick in the opening frame and scored another in the third.

Sea Dogs goaltender Justin Robinson was pulled after allowing four goals on 11 shots in just 7:39 of play. Like in recent games, Saint John just couldn't get things together defensively and cost them any chance of winning this game.

After allowing five goals in the opening frame, Saint John outshot Cape Breton 13-3 in the second period but didn't have many quality chances. The teams traded goals in the third with Egan Beveridge scoring just after a power play ended with 6:10 remaining.

The loss was Saint John's seventh straight overall and 11th straight on the road.

Along with Newcombe's four, Cape Breton had goals from Luke Patterson and Olivier Houde. Cam Squires and Tomas Cibulka each had three assists. Jakub Milota made 26 saves in the win.

Patrick Leaver made 17 saves in relief for the Sea Dogs.

These two teams meet again tomorrow night at Centre 200. It'll be the final meeting of the season between the two.

Game Day 61 & 62: at Cape Breton

SYDNEY, NS - Things have not been going well for the Saint John Sea Dogs of late and the challenges won't get any easier.

The Sea Dogs will play back-to-back games against the Cape Breton Eagles tonight and Saturday at Centre 200. Saint John has lost six straight games while Cape Breton continues to try and inch up the Eastern Conference standings.

Saint John, despite this losing skid, still owns the QMJHL's 16th and final playoff spot. They are tied with the Quebec Remparts who will play back-to-back games against the Gatineau Olympiques this weekend.

Game time Friday and Saturday night in Sydney is 7 p.m.

TV/Radio/Stream: None/None/CHL TV

2023-24 regular season records: The Sea Dogs are 17-35-5-3 for 42 points (sixth Maritimes/ninth Eastern/16th QMJHL) while the Eagles are 32-26-1-2 for 67 points (third Maritimes/sixth Eastern/ninth QMJHL).

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 6-1 loss in Moncton on Wednesday. Brody Fournier scored Saint John's lone goal. Patrick Leaver made 32 saves in the loss. The Eagles are coming off a 7-4 home win over the Charlottetown Islanders on Wednesday. Olivier Houde had a hat trick while singles came from Cole Burbidge, Cam Squires, Charles-Antoine Lavallee and Cam MacDonald. Nicolas Ruccia made 27 saves in the win.

Recap: Sea Dogs lose 6-1

FINAL: Moncton 6, Saint John 1

MONCTON - It was another rough night for the Saint John Sea Dogs.

The Sea Dogs struggled at both ends of the ice in a 6-1 loss to the Moncton Wildcats on Wednesday at Avenir Centre. Saint John has now dropped six straight games but continue to cling to the QMJHL's 16th and final playoff spot.

Shawn Carrier, Yoan Loshing, Miles Mueller, Caleb Desnoyers, Sebastian Glas and Alex Mercier scored for Moncton. Jacob Steinman made 23 saves in the victory.

The Wildcats looked faster and stronger than the Sea Dogs from start to finish. The Sea Dogs, once again, struggled to generate quality scoring chances and looked disorganized defensively at times. Goaltender Patrick Leaver kept them in the game in the first period, which saw Moncton outshoot Saint John 19-6. Leaver made 32 saves in the loss.

Body Fournier scored Saint John's lone goal on a power play with 8:47 remaining in the third period — but the game was already out of reach.

The Sea Dogs now head to Cape Breton for two challenging road games against the Eagles. They'll be doing some scoreboard watching this weekend with the Quebec Remparts, who are currently tied with Saint John, facing the Gatineau Olympiques in back-to-back games.

Game Day 60: at Moncton

MONCTON - The Saint John Sea Dogs make one last trip to Moncton tonight.

The Sea Dogs will face the Wildcats tonight at 7 p.m. at the Avenir Centre. Saint John is 1-3-0-0 in Moncton this season with their lone win coming back on Nov. 30.

The Sea Dogs have been struggling of late as they try and cling to the QMJHL's final playoff spot. The team has lost five straight games overall and nine straight on the road.

The Wildcats, meanwhile, have had an underwhelming second half of the season, falling way back of the Maritimes Division leading Halifax Mooseheads. Moncton is 5-4-1-0 in their last 10 games.

TV/Radio/Stream: None/None/CHL TV

2023-24 regular season records: The Sea Dogs are 17-34-5-3 for 42 points (sixth Maritimes/ninth Eastern/16th QMJHL) while the Wildcats are 33-19-4-3 for 73 points (second Maritimes/second Eastern/sixth QMJHL).

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 7-1 loss in Halifax on Saturday. Tyler Peddle scored Saint John's lone goal. Justin Robinson made 34 saves in the loss. The Wildcats are coming off a 5-2 win over the Cape Breton Eagles on Saturday. Natan Grenier, Julius Sumpf, Alex Mercier, Gabe Smith and Miles Mueller all scored for Moncton. Jacob Steinman made 28 stops in the win.

UNB takes AUS title again

MONCTON — The UNB Reds are Atlantic University Sports champions once again.

The Reds won their sixth straight AUS men's hockey title with a 3-0 victory over the Universite de Moncton Aigles Bleus on Tuesday night, taking the best-of-three championship series 2-0.

Both the Reds and Aigles Bleus had already qualified for the University Cup in Toronto. UNB, who has not lost a game all season, will likely be the No. 1 seed.

The Reds feature former Saint John Sea Dogs defenseman Kale McCallum and forward Nick Blagden. They are also coached by Gardiner MacDougall, who led the Sea Dogs to the 2022 Memorial Cup championship.

Low key celebration for the Reds as usual. Nationals or bust. pic.twitter.com/VUsZiaoT3z

— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) March 6, 2024

UdeM finished second in the AUS regular season standings and signs continue to point towards this program having a resurgence. A once dominant hockey program, the Aigles Bleus have fallen on tough times over the past decacde.

UdeM features former Sea Dogs forward Jeremie Jacob.

The University Cup takes place March 14-17 in Toronto. Host TMU will be joined by UNB, UdeM, UBC, Calgary, McGill, UQTR and Brock.

UNB will be looking to win a second straight national title.

The UNB Reds women's team, meanwhile, also won an AUS title on Tuesday, defeating StFX in double overtime to sweep the series.