Second round playoff predictions

Mike Bernard/Quebec Remparts

If the first round is any indication, we could be in for a very entertaining playoffs in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.

Three series went to Game 7. There was a major upset with the Val-d'Or Foreurs eliminating the Drummondville Voltigeurs in five games and there was nearly another with the Gatineau Olympiques coming up one win short of pulling off a reverse sweep of the heavily favoured Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

Will the entertainment continue into round two?

Here are my picks.

1. Moncton vs 13. Val-d'Or - Wildcats in 4

The Wildcats will need to respect the Foreurs given what they did to the Voltigeurs. Moncton likely learned some lessons from their Game 2 scare against Saint John, winning the final two matches easily. The Foreurs should have some confidence coming into this – but they are not playing the Voltigeurs here. This will be a massive challenge for them. I expect Val-d'Or to push Moncton at times, but not enough to win the series.

2. Chicoutimi vs 9. Quebec - Sagueneens in 4

I don't feel good about this prediction given how long some of the first round series went. But I do feel good about Chicoutimi, who outscored Halifax 24-4 in the opening round. We could see some tight games here, but the Sagueneens have too much firepower and depth for the Remparts to handle. Always fun to get this matchup in the playoffs.

3. Rouyn-Noranda vs 7. Shawinigan - Huskies in 6

Both are coming off Game 7 victories. Both had their problems in the opening round and I'm not overly confident in either – which makes this a fun series to keep an eye on. I'll take the Huskies.

4. Blainville-Boisbriand vs 6. Newfoundland - Armada in 6

The Armada swept the Victoriaville Tigres in the opening round but there were a couple of close games. They had an up-and-down season, but completing a sweep shows they're on the right track so far in these playoffs. The Cape Breton Eagles gave the Regiment some problems in the first round. Newfoundland will need to keep their cool and stay out of the box, which is what we've been saying about them all season.

I picked five of the eight first round series winners correctly. I had Drummondville, Charlottetown and Sherbrooke all advancing.

Second round matchups are set

Vincent Létourneau/Shawinigan Cataractes

The first round of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League playoffs ended with three Game 7s on Tuesday night.

Here's a quick recap of all three:

• The Quebec Remparts held the Charlottetown Islanders to just 10 shots in the first two periods in a 1-0 win. The Islanders made a push in the third, outshooting the Remparts 12-3, but could not beat goaltender Patrick Déniger. Charlottetown led this series 3-2 coming back to PEI but dropped the final two games on home ice.
• The Gatineau Olympiques came up short of pulling off the reverse sweep, falling 5-0 to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. The Olympiques, who finished 40 points back of the Huskies in the standings, dropped the first three games but shockingly won the next three to make a series out of it.
• The Shawinigan Cataractes knocked off the pesky Sherbrooke Phoenix with a commanding 6-1 win on home ice. The road team had won every game in the series up until Game 7.

With those series now completed, the second round matchups have been confirmed. As a reminder, teams have been reseeded based on the overall standings.

1. Moncton vs 13. Val-d'Or

2. Chicoutimi vs 9. Quebec

3. Rouyn-Noranda vs 7. Shawinigan

4. Blainville-Boisbriand vs 6. Newfoundland

The second round begins Thursday night with the Armada – the franchise formerly known as the St. John's Fog Devils – hosting the Regiment.

Here are the former Sea Dogs still in the playoffs (in no particular order): Vince Elie (Shawinigan), Max Vilen (Moncton), Elliot Dubé (Blainville-Boisbriand), Egan Beveridge (Quebec), Jacob Beaulieu (Blainville-Boisbriand) and Patryk Zubek (Newfoundland).

Chad Bellemare (Sherbrooke) and Tyler Peddle (Charlottetown) had their seasons end in the first round. Bellemare posted three goals and two assists in his series while Peddle, playing his overage season, had three goals.

Baldwin signs ATO with Crunch

JaimeLee Gouthro/Cape Breton Eagles

It looks like Everett Baldwin's season isn't over quite yet.

The American Hockey League's Syracuse Crunch announced Tuesday that the Saint John Sea Dogs defenseman has joined the club on a tryout basis. The Crunch have five regular season games remaining and have already clinched a playoff spot.

The Crunch are the AHL affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Baldwin was a fifth-round pick of the Lightning in last year's NHL Draft.

This move will not impact Baldwin's ability to play NCAA hockey at Providence College. The 19-year-old is committed to play for his hometown school this coming season.

Baldwin will still be able to attend Providence without a problem, even if he plays AHL games. Eligibility rules are different before and after initial full-time enrollment. You can't leave school and play on an ATO and then return, but you can play on an ATO before enrolling. https://t.co/mIfFzMR1kz

— Mike McMahon (@MikeMcMahonCHN) April 7, 2026

Baldwin had an impressive 2025-26 season with the Sea Dogs, posting 15 goals and 29 assists in 62 regular season games. He added two assists in four playoff games.

Baldwin's 15 goals placed him in a tie for the league lead in goals by a defenseman.

The Crunch are back in action on Wednesday night when they host the Rochester Americans.

Notebook: Joseph ranked second in 2027 draft rankings

JaimeLee Gouthro/Cape Breton Eagles

The 2027 NHL Draft hype for Saint John Sea Dogs forward Alexis Joseph continues to grow.

In The Athletic's 2027 draft rankings that were released this week, Joseph was ranked second behind Everett Silvertips defenseman Landon Dupont.

"Joseph, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 QMJHL draft, is a big, strong, athletic, pro-built at an early age center with skill and a strong skating stride," writes Scott Wheeler. "He was dominant at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in November, leading Canada Red to gold and the tournament in goals with six in five games, and has been a top player on a rebuilding under-.500 team in Saint John this year, playing to above a point per game."

Joseph finished his rookie season with 24 goals and 36 assists in 54 games. He added three assists in four playoff games.

Sea Dogs draft picks Jamie Glance and Finnegan Sears were both honourable mentions in the rankings. Both played with the USNTDP this season. Glance is committed to Boston University for the 2027-28 season while Sears is committed to Boston College.

MCCALLUM TURNS PRO

Former Sea Dogs defenseman Kale McCallum has signed with the ECHL's Trois-Rivieres Lions, it was announced this week. He made his debut on Friday, recording two shots in a 2-1 win over the Maine Mariners.

McCallum spent this past season with the NCAA's Providence College Friars where he posted five goals and nine assists in 31 games.

The 24-year-old spent parts of the previous three seasons with the UNB Reds.

McCallum, who played with the Saint John Vito's and at Rothesay Netherwood, spent the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons with the Sea Dogs before being traded to the Val-d'Or Foreurs.

Eagles stay alive on a wild Friday night

Jonathan Roy/Quebec Remparts

KALAMAZOO, MI - A wild Friday night. Here's a recap.

• The Cape Breton Eagles erased a 4-1 third period deficit to defeat the Newfoundland Regiment 5-4 in overtime, keeping their season alive and sending the series back to St. John's for a Game 6 on Sunday. Maxime Sauthier netted the game-winner just 22 seconds into overtime.

  🚨#88 Maxime Sauthier
  🍎#16 Lucas Romeo
  🍏#77 Samuel Kupec
  22 second into overtime#DefendTheIsland pic.twitter.com/lllI6IiTC6

  — Cape Breton Eagles (@CBEHockey) April 4, 2026

• Tyler Peddle and the Charlottetown Islanders are a win away from advancing to the second round. Ivan Ryabkin had a goal and an assist to help the Islanders defeat Egan Beveridge and the Quebec Remparts 3-2 at Videotron Centre. Charlottetown leads the series 3-2 heading into Game 6 on Monday at Eastlink Centre.
• Chad Bellemare scored to help the Sherbrooke Phoenix defeat Vince Elie and the Shawinigan Cataractes 6-1 and take a 3-2 series lead. The Phoenix went 4/7 on the power play. The major drama came off the ice with Shawinigan making Felix Lacerte, who finished fifth in QMJHL regular season scoring, a healthy scratch. Game 6 is Sunday in Sherbrooke.
• The Gatineau Olympiques held the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies to 14 shots in a 4-1 win, staying alive in the series once again. The Huskies lead the series 3-2. Game 6 is Sunday in Gatineau.
• The Val-d'Or Foreurs completed the upset of the Drummondville Voltigeurs, winning 5-3 to take the series in five games. The Volts finished the regular season with 27 more points than the Foreurs.
• In the Maritime Junior Hockey League playoffs on Thursday:
• The Edmundston Blizzard defeated Ben Cross and the Chaleur Lightning 4-2 to take a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 is Saturday.
• The Summerside Western Capitals tied Game 1 with 30 seconds remaining in regulation but ultimately lost 2-1 in overtime to the Truro Bearcats. Game 2 of that series is on Saturday.
• At the under-18 Atlantics in Quispamsis, Jase MacPherson allowed five goals on 28 shots in the Kensington Wild's 5-4 loss to Newfoundland's Pinnacle Growlers. In the night game, Eliot Tozer had a goal as the Saint John's Vito's defeated the Wild 7-4.
• And in Kalamzaoo tonight where I watched the Toledo Walleye defeat the Wings 6-2, former Sea Dogs goaltender Jonathan Lemieux had an eventful game. Along with allowing five goals on 32 shots, Lemieux took a delay of game penalty for flipping the puck out of play and was not happy when a goaltender interference review didn't go his way. Lemieux slapped his stick on the ice and was yelling his thoughts at the official (there was only one referee). When the period ended, Lemieux tossed his stick into the neutral zone in frustration.

  Watching Toledo/Kalamazoo tonight. Former Sea Dog Jonathan Lemieux starting for the Wings.
  
  Yes, those are Margaritaville jerseys. Yes, the goal posts are green. pic.twitter.com/AWA3rCAZ8y

  — Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) April 3, 2026

Three sweeps completed in QMJHL playoffs

FORT WAYNE, IN - What a wild night at the historic Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

The Wheeling Nailers were up 6-2 entering the third period against the Fort Wayne Komets and ultimately won 8-5. It was a battle between two of the top teams in the ECHL with Wheeling sitting third and Fort Wayne sixth.

Former Sea Dogs forward William Dufour was one of the best players on the ice and could have finished the game with four or five points. He posted two assists in the loss along with four shots and a -3 rating.

Some positive Sea Dogs news tonight: William Dufour has two assists in this Komets/Nailers game I’m at. pic.twitter.com/L2LbN0gSiS

— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) April 2, 2026

The 24-year-old has posted impressive numbers with the Komets. He now has eight goals and 18 assists in 22 games.

As for the rink itself, it definitely gives a Kitchener Memorial Auditorium vibe – an old barn that underwent a major expansion but still has some of its old school features. Announced attendance was 5,893, although there was maybe half of that actually in the building