Are we heading towards a Sea Dogs/Wildcats playoff series?

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Are we poised for an all-New Brunswick matchup in the opening round of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League playoffs?

The Moncton Wildcats, thanks to a seven-game winning streak, have taken over top spot in the Eastern Conference (and the league) while the Sea Dogs, mostly thanks to the Rimouski Oceanic's nine-game losing skid, now sit eighth in the conference.

That's the long way of saying: if the playoffs started today, the Sea Dogs and Wildcats would meet in the opening round.

Saint John would be major underdogs in the series – but that will be the case no matter who they face. A series against the Wildcats would at least offer some intrigue most other opponents wouldn't and hopefully develop more of a rivalry between the two.

Despite being in the league together for over 20 years, the two have never been able to development much of a rivalry beyond geography. The lone playoff matchup between the two  (I'm not counting the 2021 provincial tournament thing) came in the QMJHL final in 2010 – and that was pretty much the only season both have been competitive at the same time.

The Sea Dogs are 1-5-0-0 against the Wildcats this season with their lone win coming way back in October. The two meet again on Friday at TD Station.

Here's what the QMJHL playoffs would look like if they started today.

Eastern Conference

1) Moncton vs 8) Saint John

2) Chicoutimi vs 7) Halifax

3) Cape Breton vs 6) Quebec

4) Newfoundland vs 5) Charlottetown

Western Conference

1) Blainville-Boisbriand vs 8) Rimouski

2) Drummondville vs 7) Victoriaville

3) Shawinigan vs 6) Sherbrooke

4) Rouyn-Noranda vs 5) Val-d'Or

Some fun matchups here, including rivalry series between Moncton/Saint John, Drummondville/Victoriaville and Rouyn-Noranda/Val-d'Or. Newfoundland/Charlottetown would likely be nasty.

The Gatineau Olympiques and Baie-Comeau Drakkar would be the two teams to miss the playoffs. The Rimouski Oceanic would move to the Western Conference side and become the eighth seed.

A reminder that teams will be reseeded based on the overall league standings in the second round.

Flames trade Poirier to Stars

Calgary Wranglers

Jeremie Poirier has a new home.

The Calgary Flames traded the former Saint John Sea Dogs defenseman to the Dallas Stars on Monday in exchange for defenseman Gavin White.

Poirier, who has spent all of this season with the AHL's Calgary Wranglers, was assigned to the AHL's Texas Stars by Dallas.

We have acquired defenseman Jeremie Poirier from the Calgary Flames in exchange for defenseman Gavin White.

Poirier will be assigned to the @TexasStars.

Welcome to #TexasHockey, Jeremie! pic.twitter.com/epijuEBoPb

— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) February 2, 2026

The 23-year-old was a third-round pick of the Flames in the 2020 NHL Draft. He has spent his entire professional career with the Wranglers, recording 18 goals and 84 assists in 198 games over four seasons. The offensive d-man has yet to appear in an NHL game.

This season, Poirier has a goal and five assists 35 games.

Texas currently sits 11th in the 17-team Western Conference with a 20-19-3-1 record. The Stars host the Manitoba Moose on Friday.

Poirier spent four seasons with the Sea Dogs, recording 51 goals and 117 assists in 225 career QMJHL games. He appeared in just 11 playoff games during that span but did help Saint John win the 2022 Memorial Cup on home ice.

Poirier is one of several members of Saint John's 2022 championship team currently playing in the AHL. The others are Philippe Daoust (Belleville Senators), William Villeneuve (Toronto Marlies), Raivis Ansons (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins), Riley Bezeau (Cleveland Monsters) and Vincent Sevigny (Syracuse Crunch).

Recap: Sea Dogs lose 2-0

FINAL: Baie-Comeau 2, Saint John 0

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

FREDERICTON - A night after one of their best offensive performances of the season, the Saint John Sea Dogs were shutout 2-0 by the last-place Baie-Comeau Drakkar on Sunday at the Aitken Centre.

The Sea Dogs, despite limiting the Drakkar to just seven dangerous shots, couldn't buy a goal after tying a season high with seven on Saturday night in Charlottetown. Baie-Comeau had a solid defensive performance, blocking a lot of shots and not allowing Saint John to stay in the offensive zone for long periods.

Saint John trailed 1-0 after the first period. It wasn't until the third when the Sea Dogs were finally able to press at times, outshooting the Drakkar 17-8 in the final 20 minutes. Zachary Morin came the closest to tying the game when he fired a one-timer off the iron.

Jacopo De Luca scored on a wraparound at 14:01 of the third to make it 2-0. Liam Armit scored Baie-Comeau's first period marker.

Goaltender Samuel Caulfield was named first star, making 39 saves to earn his second shutout of the season.

Arseni Radkov made 29 stops in the loss.

The win ended a five-game losing streak for the Drakkar, who were playing their third game in three days. 

This was the final meeting of the season between the Sea Dogs and Drakkar and Baie-Comeau managed to earn three points. Saint John won 4-3 in overtime in Baie-Comeau back in December.

Game Day 46: vs Drakkar

Mike Bernard/Charlottetown Islanders

FREDERICTON - The Saint John Sea Dogs will be looking to ride some momentum this afternoon at the Aitken Centre.

The Sea Dogs are coming off a big 7-3 win over the Charlottetown Islanders last night at Eastlink Centre, a victory that saw them grab a 4-0 lead in the first period. While the Islanders didn't do themselves many favours last night, credit to the Sea Dogs for taking advantage – which isn't something they've always been able to do this season.

Saint John ended a four-game losing skid last night and will look for their second straight win today when they host the last-place Baie-Comeau Drakkar. Game time is 3 p.m.

The Drakkar have lost five straight games and sit 10 points back of the Sea Dogs.

This will be Saint John's third and final regular season game at the Aitken Centre this season. They are 1-1-0-0 so far in the Capital City Series, falling to the Cape Breton Eagles but earning a win over the Gatineau Olympiques.

Stream/TV/Radio: FloHockey/None/Sea Dogs Audio Network

Records: The Sea Dogs are 17-24-4-0 for 38 points (eighth Eastern/15th QMJHL) while the Drakkar are 11-30-4-2 for 28 points (10th Eastern/18th QMJHL).

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 7-3 win in Charlottetown last night. Dylan Rozzi and Zachary Morin each had a pair of goals while singles came from Olivers Murnieks, Alexander Donovan and Angelo Fullerton. Rafaël Courchesne made 31 saves in the win. The Drakkar are coming off a 5-0 loss in Moncton last night. Samuel Caulfield made 40 saves in the loss.

Recap: Sea Dogs win 7-3

FINAL: Saint John 7, Charlottetown 3

Mike Bernard/Charlottetown Islanders

CHARLOTTETOWN - That's why you play the games.

The Saint John Sea Dogs rolled into Eastlink Centre on Saturday and put an unexpected thumping on the Charlottetown Islanders, earning a 7-3 road win to end a four-game losing streak.

The Sea Dogs led 4-0 after the first period – a period that saw just about everything go wrong for Charlottetown and Saint John took advantage. Saint John's first goal came on a mistake by goaltender Donald Hickey; the next two came on a five-minute power play after Owen Conrad was given a major and game misconduct for a cross check on Julien Wasmer; and the fourth was a shorthanded breakaway goal that came courtesy of an Islanders turnover.

Shots were 15-5 in favour of the Sea Dogs in that opening period, a frame that saw Saint John go 2/6 on the man advantage.

Any chance of an Islanders comeback attempt was put to rest just 2:54 into the second period when Dylan Rozzi scored to make it 5-0.

The Islanders were able to net three – one in the second and two in the third – and heavily outshoot the Sea Dogs in the third period but were never able to get back into it.

Saint John finished the game 3/7 on the power play and scored two shorthanded goals. Charlottetown went 2/8 on the man advantage. 

Rozzi and Zachary Morin both had a pair of goals for Saint John while singles came from Olivers Murnieks, Alexander Donovan and Angelo Fullerton. Rafaël Courchesne made 31 saves in the win.

Nathan Leek, Matthew Butler and Ivan Ryabkin scored for Charlottetown. Hickey was pulled after allowing four goals on 14 shots in the first period. Jack Carter allowed three goals on 18 shots the rest of the way.

Notebook: Dogs to honour Fredericton Canadiens

For a second time this season, the Saint John Sea Dogs will wear some AHL inspired threads.

Back in November, the Sea Dogs wore Saint John Flames jerseys that were redesigned to match the Sea Dogs' current blue, black and grey colours. On Sunday, the team will wear the blue, white and red of the Fredericton Canadiens.

The team teased the jerseys that they'll wear Sunday afternoon at the Aitken Centre earlier this week.

All set for our final game of the #CapitalCitySeries in Fredericton on Sunday. 🟦⬜️🟥

⏰ 3:00 p.m.
📍 Aitken Centre
🎟️ https://t.co/YCQn2csIhF#GoDogsGo pic.twitter.com/WELx0hrZIE

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) January 30, 2026

The Canadiens played at the Aitken Centre in the 1990s. They relocated to Quebec City in 1999.

This will be the sixth time this season the Sea Dogs wear a speciality jersey. They are 1-4-0-0 so far.

Nov. 15 vs Quebec (4-0 W) - Pink in the Rink 

Nov. 21 vs Wildcats (8-4 L) - Saint John Flames Night 

Dec. 7 vs Wildcats (4-2 L) - Christmas Jerseys 

Dec. 17 vs Mooseheads (4-3 L) - Christmas Jerseys

Jan. 24 vs Phoenix (6-3 L) - Superhero Jerseys

Sunday's game will also be Saint John's third and final regular season match in Fredericton. They are 1-1-0-0 in the Capital City Series so far.