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

Recap: Sea Dogs lose 7-3

FINAL: Moncton 7, Saint John 3

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs' season came to a close on Wednesday at TD Station.

The Moncton Wildcats defeated the Sea Dogs 7-3 in Game 4 of their first round Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League playoff series, completing a sweep.

The Wildcats, as regular season champions, will now face the lowest remaining seed that advances in the second round of the playoffs. Moncton is looking to repeat as QMJHL champions.

The Sea Dogs, meanwhile, have not won a playoff series since capturing the President Cup championship in 2017. They've made the playoffs five times (including the 2021 provincial tournament thing) since then but have lost in the first round each time.

With the exception of Game 2, which required overtime, this series wasn't overly close and it was clear the Wildcats are several steps above the Sea Dogs. That was evident again on Wednesday with Moncton scoring seven straight goals before Saint John was able to net three in the third when the game was well out of reach.

Preston Lounsbury scored a pair of goals for Moncton while singles came from Alex Mercier, Gavin Cornforth, Teddy Mutryn, Gabe Smith and Kuzma Voronin. Rudy Guimond made 19 saves in the win.

Angelo Fullerton, Zachary Morin and Olivier Groulx scored for Saint John. Arseni Radkov made 32 stops in the loss.

Recap: Sea Dogs lose 6-0

FINAL: Moncton 6, Saint John 0

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - It took the Moncton Wildcats over 59 minutes to score against the Saint John Sea Dogs on Saturday.

On Tuesday, the Wildcats needed just nine seconds – and it was a sign of things to come. Moncton scored three times in the first period in a 6-0 win over the Sea Dogs at TD Station to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven first round series.

The Wildcats can complete the series sweep on Wednesday night in Saint John.

The game felt like it was over quick with the Wildcats jumping out to a quick start. Kuzma Voronin opened the scoring and then Alex Mercier and Gavin Cornforth scored less than a minute apart halfway through the period. Shots ended 12-3 in favour of the Wildcats in the first.

Starts have been an issue for the Wildcats in this series – but you wouldn't know it by Tuesday's performance. The Sea Dogs scored first in both games one and two.

Saint John had a better showing in the second and third periods but the game was out of reach. Arseni Radkov was pulled in the second period after allowing five goals on 15 shots. Rafaël Courchesne made 24 saves in relief.

Voronin had a pair of goals for Moncton while singles came from Mercier, Cornforth, Simon Binkley and Preston Lounsbury. Rudy Guimond made 22 saves in the win.

Sea Dogs debut dark Under Armour jerseys

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs debuted a new look on Tuesday at TD Station.

For the first time, the Sea Dogs took to the ice in their dark Under Armour jerseys, featuring the club's blue, black and grey colours. Tuesday's playoff match against the Moncton Wildcats was Saint John's first home game since the jerseys arrived.

After waiting nearly all season for the corrected Under Armour jerseys to arrive, Saint John debuted their new white jerseys on March 20 in Sydney – the final weekend of the regular season. The club has worn the new white jerseys on the road four times.

Sea Dogs debuting the dark Under Armour jerseys tonight. pic.twitter.com/fy0euiyT7t

— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) March 31, 2026

The majority of teams across the CHL have been wearing Under Armour jerseys since opening night in September. Saint John announced on Sept. 18 that the new jerseys would be delayed.

Two teams in the QMJHL – the Sea Dogs and Halifax Moosheads – had been wearing old CCM jerseys all season. The CCM logos were covered over.

It was announced last May that Under Armour would replace CCM as the CHL's official jersey provider. The switch hasn't come without problems. A number of teams reportedly had errors with their new looks. 

The Sea Dogs unveiled their updated logo and mockups of the new jerseys at an event during the summer. The Sea Dogs had been wearing the same styled jersey since the 2009-10 season.