IN STATION NATION, WHAT A SUMMER IT WAS

It wasn't that hot, it rained a lot, but it certainly was not boring. Yes, we are talking about the summer (and spring) of 2009, also known as the off-season. Here is a recap on the off-season that was.

• It began with the end of an embarrassing season, as the Sea Dogs were swept by the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in the opening round of the post-season. We also said goodbye to overagers Shea Kewin, Payton Liske, and Sea Dogs all-time leading scorer Ryan Sparling. The Sea Dogs said farewell to europeans Robert Mayer and David Stich.
• It's official, the Lewiston Maineiacs are not moving to Fredericton. The Maineiacs decide to stay put and rebuild the franchise.
• Former Saint John Sea Dog goaltender Travis Fullertom backstops the UNB Varsity Reds to a national championship.
• The Sea Dogs fire head coach/general manager and the franchises all-time wins leader Jacques Beaulieu. Beaulieu said he was "blindsided" by the firing.
• Payton Liske wins the QMJHL scholastic player of the year award.
• The Sea Dogs hire Gerard Gallant as head coach and Mike Kelly as Director of Hockey Operations.
• Former Sea Dog Shea Kewin lands with the Dalhousie Tigers to play university hockey.
• Alex Grant and Chris DiDomenico are set to battle in the QMJHL Presidents Cup Final.
• Chris DiDomenico breaks his leg in Game 3 of the Presidents Cup final, ending his season.
• Drummondvile wins the Presidents Cup in seven games over Shawinigan to advance to the Memorial Cup. The Windsor Spitfires, Kelowna Rockets, and host Rimouski Oceanic join them.
• Jacques Beaulieu moves back to London to become an assistant coach with the Knights.
• Yvon Vautour and Marc Hussey are named the new Sea Dogs assistant coaches.
• The Windsor Spitfires do the impossible and win the 2009 Mastercard Memorial Cup.
• The Sea Dogs acquire Mike Hoffman and Nicholas Peterson to complete the DiDomenico/Grant deals done in January.
• The Sea Dogs select Pierre Durepos and Jonathan Huberdeau in the opening round of the draft. The Sea Dogs also acquired the rights to Zach Phillips from Lewiston.
• Fredericton native Zach Phillips signs with the Sea Dogs.
• Durepos, Aiden Kelly sign with the Sea Dogs. The signing took place at the Kelly home.
• Simon Despres becomes the first Sea Dogs player to be drafted in the first round of the NHL draft, going 30th to Pittsburgh.
• Mike Hoffman, Nicholas Peterson, and Steven Anthony also selected in the NHL draft.
• The Sea Dogs decide not to draft Kabanov in the CHL Import Draft. Instead, they draft Stanislav Galiev and Tomas Jurco first and fourth overall, respectively.
• David Stich earns an invite to Blackhawks prospects camp.
• Ryan Sparling commits to the St. Francis Xavier University hockey program.
• Kirkpatrick, Thomas get NHL camp invites by the Wild and Flyers.
• The Dalhousie Tigers sign former Dog and speedy winger Francois Gauthier.
• Saint John forward Matthew Stoddard chooses Mooseheads camp over the Dogs.
• The Sea Dogs sign Galiev, Jurco to contracts.
• Mathieu Gingras is traded to Lewiston, reportedly to finalize the Phillips trade.
• Mike Hoffman chooses not to report to Saint John training camp.
• Jonathan Heberdeau signs with Saint John.
• Dogs acquire Will Johnston from the Montreal Junior for a draft pick.
• Phillip Richer is traded to Baie-Comeau for an eighth round pick, Simon Giroux traded to Baie-Comeau for a second rounder, Marc-Antoine Gelinas acquired for an eighth round pick, and the Stoddard deal is completed with Saint John getting a seventh round pick.
• Galiev arrives in Saint John and receives word a few days later he has been cleared to play by the IIHF. Jurco had signed a deal a few weeks prior.
• Sea Dogs end the 2009 pre-season with a record of 4-2.

It was indeed a summer to remember as a new era of Sea Dogs Hockey begins Friday night. Happy Labour Day Station Nation.