DIVISION EVERYTHING THAT WAS PROMISED

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Atlantic was expected to be one of the best in the country this season. It has been everything promised and more.

As of today we have had a coach fired, a ridicules general manager contract extension, surprising return of players from pro tryouts, a penalty shot decide a game in regulation, a controversial suspension, and a massive losing streak to start a season.

Just to get a sense of how tough the division is, the first place team and the fifth are separated by only three points.

The Saint John Sea Dogs currently sit atop the standings of the six team division. Ten games into the 68 game season, the Sea Dogs are 6-3-1-0. In those ten games the Sea Dogs are 5-1-0-0 against Atlantic division opponents, a strong record considering the competition. Against Quebec based teams the Sea Dogs are 1-2-1-0.

But if we take a look at the results, these first ten games could have gone in a different direction. The Sea Dogs have played in two overtime games and are 1-1 with a win at home over Cape Breton and a loss on the road to Shawinigan. Saint John has also played in two shootouts and won both, one against Acadie-Bathurst and one against Moncton.

So let's imagine if luck had not gone Saint John's way in those four extra time games. The Dogs would sit second last in the Atlantic division with a record of 3-7-0-0. Not to say the Dogs have had luck as major contributor considering the team lost Mike Hoffman and Mike Thomas after only one game.

Here is a look at the first ten games:

Biggest Surprise: The return of Mike Hoffman and Nicholas Petersen is among the biggest surprises in the Canadian Hockey League. Many publications had them both playing for their NHL rights holders AHL affiliate.

Honorable Mention: Kevin Gagne and his point production. The second year defenseman has eight assists in ten games.

Biggest Disappointment: It was hoped by all Sea Dogs fans that Yann Sauve would return from Vancouver Canucks camp with his head plated firmly on the ice. Unfortunately, he is back to his old ways of making sloppy and lazy defensive plays. The Canucks 2008 second rounder will have to have a strong campaign to have a chance to play for the Manitoba Moose next season.

Honorable Mention: The goaltending duo of second year goaltender Karel St-Laurent and overage veteran Marc-Antoine Gelinas has been subpar to say the least. The two net minder's goals against average are 3.80 and 3.57, respectively.

Atlantic division standings before tonight's games (games played in brackets):

Team	Wins	Loses	OT Loses	SO Loses	Points
Saint John (10)	6	3	1	0	13
PEI (10)	5	3	0	2	12
Moncton (8)	5	2	0	1	11
Bathurst (9)	4	3	1	1	10
Cape Breton (8)	4	2	1	1	10
Halifax (9)	1	8	0	0	2