Sea Dogs sign Ozogany

Andrej Galica/Slovak Ice Hockey Federation

The Saint John Sea Dogs have officially added another piece to their roster.

The team announced on Thursday that Slovakian forward Oliver Ozogany, who was selected by Saint John with the 44th overall pick in this year's CHL Import Draft, has been signed to a QMJHL Scholarship and Development Agreement.

Ozogany is fresh off competing for Slovakia at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton where he posted an assist in five games.

“We’re excited to welcome Oliver to the Sea Dogs. He is a player with a lot of potential,” said Sea Dogs president and general manager Trevor Georgie in a news release. “His experience playing as a 16-year-old in North America with Tri-City will help him in his transition to the CHL. He has been an important player for his country for many years now, and we look forward to him being important to us and our championship aspirations.”

While Ozogany is obviously an import, he's spent the past three seasons playing in the United States, including the 2025-26 campaign in the USHL. In 56 games with the Tri-City Storm last year, he posted nine goals and eight assists.

Listed at 6'2" and 203 lbs, Ozogany has an early birthday and will turn 18 in January.

The Sea Dogs have now signed their top two picks from this year's Import Draft. The team previously signed Czech forward Matyas Cancik.

The team's third pick from this year's Import Draft, Finnish defenseman Vertti Svensk, remains unsigned. A Los Angeles Kings prospect, he would be a massive addition to Saint John's backend – but one that is likely a complicated signing.

Notebook: Arkells comment on jersey choice

Arkells

Following quite a bit of feedback, the Arkells have responded to their unexpected wardrobe choice on Saturday night in Moncton.

Opening for the Jonas Brothers on the Université de Moncton campus, lead singer Max Kerman took to the stage wearing a Saint John Sea Dogs jersey – the same one he wore at Area 506 last year.

"Thought I was making friends in Moncton with the jersey. Oops. Great to see you all!," the band wrote in an Instagram post.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by arkellsmusic (@arkellsmusic)

JOSEPH RANKED SIXTH

Sea Dogs forward Alexis Joseph was ranked sixth in The Athletic's pre-season rankings for the 2027 NHL Draft.

The pressure is certainly starting to heat up on Joseph as his second QMJHL season nears.

"He is a summer birthday, so with continued development he could profile as the kind of center teams covet as a cornerstone piece," writes Wheeler. "But you have to show it on the ice again and again, and he has left me wanting more a little too frequently. I thought about dropping him into Tier 3 here and will if he doesn't pick it up."

NHL.com had a story on Joseph during the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Sea Dogs forward Jamie Glance, meanwhile, was ranked 22nd by The Athletic. Prospect Finnegan Sears was an honourable mention.

Arkells wear Sea Dogs jersey to open Jonas Brothers concert

MONCTON - Saturday's Jonas Brothers concert on the Université de Moncton campus opened with an unexpected scene: a Saint John Sea Dogs jersey.

The Arkells opened for the Jonas Brothers and lead singer Max Kerman took to the stage wearing a unique/unusual Sea Dogs jersey.

An unexpected scene at the Jonas Brothers concert tonight. The Arkells open up the show by wearing a Sea Dogs jersey… in Moncton. pic.twitter.com/3H3fM7oA2L

— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) August 9, 2026

It's not the first time Kerman has worn this Sea Dogs jersey. He wore it at Area 506 last year in Saint John.

Max Kerman of The Arkells wearing a very unusual Sea Dogs jersey at Area 506 last night. pic.twitter.com/DGHjqXZ9kn

— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) August 4, 2025

Always cool to see Saint John being represented by the Arkells – but certainly not what you'd expect to see at a Moncton concert.

Canada captures Hlinka Gretzky gold

Alexis Joseph and Team Canada are 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup champions.

Canada captured the gold medal of the under-18 tournament with an 8-1 victory over the United States on Saturday in Edmonton. The Canadians scored three times in both the first and second periods.

Joseph, who was dropped to Canada's fourth line for this game, was held pointless on Saturday and finishes the tournament with a goal and two assists in five games. The Saint John Sea Dogs forward was held pointless in Friday's semifinal victory as well.

Canada finished the event with a perfect 5-0 record, which included winning all three games in the preliminary round.

GAME OVER! IT'S GOLD IN EDMONTON! 🇨🇦🇺🇸

MATCH FINI! MÉDAILLÉS D’OR À EDMONTON! 🇨🇦🇺🇸

📊 https://t.co/hU5AoHBg95
📊 https://t.co/EdF5Cx7RiP #HlinkaGretzkyCup | #CoupeHlinkaGretzky | @UpperDeckSports pic.twitter.com/iGvecpEZDn

— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) August 9, 2026

Forward Oliver Ozogany and Slovakia, meanwhile, lost 3-2 to Finland in Saturday afternoon's bronze medal game. The Slovaks blew a 2-0 first period lead in the loss.

Ozogany, who was selected by the Sea Dogs in this year's CHL Import Draft, appeared in all five of Slovakia's games, registering one assist.

The only other Sea Dog taking part in the tournament was forward Matyas Cancik, who played in just one game after suffering an injury in Czechia's opener. The Czechs finished in sixth-place.

Catching up on alumni happenings

Embed from Getty Images 

Simon Despres is back in North American.

The 35-year-old signed with the ECHL's Fort Wayne Komets earlier this week. A professional hockey veteran, Despres has never appeared in an ECHL game.

“Simon has played at every level in our game and has had success. He’s played in the best leagues in the world alongside some of the best players in the game,” said Komets head coach Ben Boudreau in a news release. "He is a big-body defenseman with an ability to move the puck and produce points while being a physical presence and dominating defensively.”

Despres spent most of last season with the EIHL's Fife Flyers where he posted a goal and 10 assists in 41 games. He also appeared in 12 games with the Australian league's Melbourne Ice and nine games in the LNAH with the Saint-Hyacinthe Bataillon.

Despres hasn't spent a full season in North America since his final NHL campaign in 2016-17, where he appeared in just one game with the Anaheim Ducks. Despres struggled with concussions, ultimately ending his NHL career at 193 games.

The first overall pick in the 2007 QMJHL Entry Draft, Despres spent four seasons with the Saint John Sea Dogs which ended with a Memorial Cup title in 2011.

Following his NHL career, Despres has played in the KHL (Russia), DEL (Germany), SHL (Sweden), ICEHL (central Europe), EIHL (UK) and AIHL (Australia).

Joseph, Ozogany advance at Hlinka Gretzky Cup

Hockey Canada Images

Alexis Joseph and Team Canada will take on Finland in the semifinals of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup on Friday.

Canada improved to 3-0 at the tournament with a 7-4 win over Sweden on Wednesday. They opened the event with a 7-3 win over Switzerland on Monday and followed that up with a 6-1 victory over Slovakia.

Joseph, who has been playing on Canada's second line with Brock England and Ryerson Edgar, has a goal and two assists in the three games. His goal came in Wednesday's win.

They don’t ask how 🗣️

Alexis Joseph picks up his first of the tournament on a deflection off his leg to extend Canada’s lead on the power play!#GoDogsGo | #HlinkaGretzkyCup pic.twitter.com/yBimP8EgRw

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) August 6, 2026

The other semifinal will feature Slovakia taking on the United States. The bronze and gold medal games will take place on Saturday.

The Slovaks feature forward Oliver Ozogany, who was picked by the Sea Dogs in this year's CHL Import Draft. Ozogany, who has been skating on Slovakia's top line, has recorded an assist in three games.

Forward Matyas Cancik, who was also a 2026 CHL Import Draft pick of Saint John and a recent signee, has appeared in just one game with Czechia after suffering an injury in the team's tournament opener. The Czechs will face Switzerland in the fifth-place game on Friday.