MacIntosh scores in pro debut; Smallman, Gauthier updates

York Lions

Aiden MacIntosh has gotten his professional hockey career off to a strong start.

The former Saint John Sea Dogs forward signed a professional tryout agreement with the Southern Professional Hockey League's Evansville Thunderbolts last week.

The Thunderbolts played a three-in-three against the Peoria Rivermen this past weekend and MacIntosh scored in each of the first two games.

FIRST PRO GAME✅
FIRST PRO GOAL✅

WELCOME TO EVANSVILLE, AIDEN MACINTOSH!🚨#EVVatPEO | #WhoseHouse pic.twitter.com/qQrlwGXGcj

— Evansville Thunderbolts Hockey (@evvthunderbolts) February 21, 2026

Nothing is slowing Aiden MacIntosh down as he's now scored in back-to-back games, helping the Evansville Thunderbolts skate to a 3-0 win over the Peoria Rivermen.

The Moncton, NB product has earned himself a key role early into his tenure with the club.
pic.twitter.com/o20qJBNgdq

— Maritime Hockey (@HockeyMaritime) February 22, 2026

MacIntosh spent parts of three seasons with the Sea Dogs, recording 11 goals and 12 assists in 93 QMJHL games. A former Moncton Flyer, MacIntosh spent a lot of his junior career in the Maritime Junior Hockey League where he played with the St. Stephen County Aces, Fredericton Red Wings and Amherst Ramblers.

The 24-year-old has spent the past four seasons with the York University Lions where he registered 12 goals and 12 assists in 92 games.

The SPHL is not a frequent landing spot for former Sea Dogs. The only other former Dog currently playing in the league is Cole Reginato, who has 11 goals and 16 assists in 42 games with the Huntsville Havoc.

A couple other pro hockey notes. The Hershey Bears announced last week that former Sea Dogs captain Spencer Smallman will miss four to six months after undergoing "a surgical procedure to address an on-going shoulder issue."

Smallman, 29, was in his second season with the AHL's Bears where he had four goals and seven assists in 24 games.

Julien Gauthier, meanwhile, was involved in an NHL transaction on Tuesday. The New York Islanders traded the 28-year-old to the St. Louis Blues in a deal that saw Matt Luff go the other way. Gauthier has been assigned to the AHL's Springfield Thunderbirds.

Gauthier, who has dealt with injury issues the past few seasons, had five goals and two assists in 14 games with the Bridgeport Islanders.

Wranglers to wear Saint John Flames jerseys

The Saint John Sea Dogs won't be the only team honouring the Saint John Flames this season.

The AHL's Calgary Wranglers – the current AHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames – announced Monday that they'll be wearing Saint John Flames jerseys for a pair of games next month in honour of the club's 2001 Calder Cup championship.

Rewind the tape🔥

On March 13th & 15th we’re throwing it back to 2001 and honouring the Saint John Flames!!

This jersey marks 25 years since that historic Calder Cup victory and celebrates 90 seasons of The AHL!!

🎟️ https://t.co/hhLkqdSXK6 pic.twitter.com/wYRe9qFP8E

— Calgary Wranglers (@AHLWranglers) February 23, 2026

The Sea Dogs held a Flames Night earlier this season at TD Station and wore a Flames styled jersey that had Sea Dogs colours.

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

The Sea Dogs wore Flames jerseys in 2011 as well, commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Calder Cup title.

The Flames played in Saint John from 1993 until 2003 when they relocated to Omaha, Nebraska. The club moved to five cities after leaving Saint John before settling down in Calgary in 2022, where they play at Saddledome.

Oddly enough, it doesn't look like any former Sea Dogs will be suiting up for the Wranglers when they sport Flames gear. Yan Kuznetsov has spent most of the season with the NHL club while Calgary traded Jeremie Poirier to the Dallas Stars organization earlier this season.

Recap: Sea Dogs win 2-1

FINAL: Saint John 2, Gatineau 1

Dominic Charette/Gatineau Olympiques

GATINEAU, QC - The Saint John Sea Dogs are heading home with a win.

Alexander Donovan scored with 90 seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Sea Dogs to a 2-1 win over the Gatineau Olympiques on Sunday at Slush Puppie Centre. This was the final game of a three-game Quebec road trip for Saint John, who lost in Shawinigan on Thursday and Sherbrooke on Friday.

The win ended a four-game road losing streak for the Sea Dogs.

Donovan's goal came quickly after a faceoff win in the offensive zone. The Olympiques nearly tied it late but Arseni Radkov made a great cross crease stop to keep Saint John in front. 

Angelo Fullerton also scored for Saint John, who were playing without Alexis Jospeh and William Yared. Oliver Groulx had assists on both goals. Radkov made 29 saves in the win as Saint John was outshot 30-19.

Justin Blais scored Gatineau's lone goal. Danai Shaiikov made 17 saves in the loss.

This was a key regulation win for Saint John, who didn't allow Gatineau to earn any points. The Sea Dogs are now six points ahead of the Olympiques in the overall standings.

Game Day 55: at Gatineau

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

GATINEAU, QC - In what is certainly not the biggest hockey game being played today, the Saint John Sea Dogs will look to end their three-game road trip on a winning note at Slush Puppie Centre.

The Sea Dogs have dropped the first two games of this Quebec trip, losing in Shawinigan on Thursday and Sherbrooke on Friday. They carry a four-game road losing streak into this afternoon's game against the Gatineau Olympiques, which will have a 4 p.m. AT puck drop.

The Sea Dogs and Olympiques are separated by just four points, making this an important game for playoff positioning.

Stream/TV/Radio: FloHockey/None/YouTube

Records: The Sea Dogs are 19-30-5-0 for 43 points (eighth Eastern/15th QMJHL) while the Olympiques are 17-31-4-1 for 39 points (eighth Western/16th QMJHL).

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off an 8-5 loss in Sherbrooke on Friday. Angelo Fullerton scored twice for Saint John while singles came from Alexander Donovan, Everett Baldwin and Jabez Seymour. Arseni Radkov was pulled in favour of Rafaël Courchesne in the second period. The Olympiques are coming off a 6-3 loss to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada on Friday. Justin Boisselle scored twice for Gatineau while Simon Xavier-Cyr added a single. Finn Moffett made 31 saves in the loss.

Recap: Sea Dogs lose 8-5

FINAL: Saint John 5, Sherbrooke 8

Vincent Levesque Rousseau/Sherbrooke Phoenix

SHERBROOKE, QC - The Sherbrooke Phoenix scored four times in the second period and went on to beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 8-5 on Friday at Palais des Sports Léopold-Drolet.

Ilya Kolmakov had a hat trick for the Phoenix; Jayden Plouffe and Thomas Rousseau each scored twice; and Lois Poirier added a single. Parker Stockseth made 29 stops in the win.

Angelo Fullerton scored twice for Saint John while Alexander Donovan, Everett Baldwin and Jabez Seymour had solo markers. Arseni Radkov had a rough night, allowing five goals on 23 shots and was pulled midway through the second period. Rafaël Courchesne allowed three goals on 13 shots in relief.

The Sea Dogs played without leading scorer Alexis Joseph, who was a late scratch.

Saint John trailed 2-1 after one but the wheels really fell off in the second period with the Phoenix grabbing a 5-1 lead at one point.

The Sea Dogs were able to get five goals, which is a positive, but the game was mostly out of reach when they were scored.

Saint John, who has been better on the road than at home for much of the season, has now dropped four straight road games.

Game Day 54: at Sherbrooke

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SHERBROOKE, QC - The Saint John Sea Dogs will be looking for a 60-minute performance tonight.

The Sea Dogs fell apart in the third period last night, allowing four goals and 17 shots in a 6-2 loss to the Shawinigan Cataractes. The Sea Dogs had played a fairly solid road game until the third.

Saint John will look for a better performance tonight against the Sherbrooke Phoenix. Game time is 8 p.m. AT.

The Phoenix sit nine points ahead of the Sea Dogs in the overall standings.

This is the second of three games for the Sea Dogs on this Quebec road trip. They close things out on Sunday in Gatineau.

Stream/TV/Radio: FloHockey/None/YouTube

Records: The Sea Dogs are 19-29-5-0 for 43 points (eighth Eastern/15th QMJHL) while the Phoenix are 24-24-4-0 for 52 points (sixth Western/12th QMJHL).

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 6-2 loss in Shawinigan last night. Julien Wasmer and William Yared scored for Saint John. Rafaël Courchesne made 29 saves in the loss. The Phoenix are coming off a 4-1 home loss to the Val-d'Or Foreurs last night. Jayden Plouffe scored Sherbrooke's lone goal. Kyan Labbé only faced 17 shots in the loss.