SEA DOGS NOTEBOOK

BLANCHARD GOT AWAY
According to L’Acadie Nouvelle, the Saint John Sea Dogs were very close to acquiring Remi Blanchard from the Acadie-Bathurst Titan.

“Quebec, Moncton, Saint John and Victoriaville have expressed particular interest in the former star player of the Miramichi Rivermen,” said the newspaper.

According to Blanchard’s father, he has been traded to Drummondville for a third round draft pick and a player to be named later. Blanchard, 19-years old, is leaving the Titan organization after two and a half seasons. A fifth-round pick by the team in 2007, the 5 feet 9 and 190 pound player was considered the quarterback of the club over the past year.

In 171 career QMJHL games with the Titan, he has 21 goals and 88 assists but is a -30.

UNDER-17’S A SUCCESS
PRESS RELEASE
IROQUOIS FALLS, Ont. – Not even a power outage could stop Atlantic from achieving its highest finish at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in four years.

After finishing eighth and ninth at the last two U17 tournaments, Atlantic got a goal and an assist from Ryan Tesink and strong goaltending from Jordan Kennedy as it beat West 4-2 on Sunday in a game delayed 15 minutes at the start of the third period due to a power outage at the Jus Jordan Sports Complex.

Brandon Boutilier and Michael Clarke gave the easterners a 2-0 lead after one period, Tesink made it 3-1 late in the second and Bruce Hornbrook put the game away shortly after the lights came back on as Atlantic finished higher than it had since 2006, when it was sixth in Regina, Sask.

Kennedy was on his game while earning his second win of the tournament, making 34 saves as Atlantic was outshot 36-32 by West. The westerners outshot Atlantic in every period, including directing 15 shots at Kennedy in the third period, when it pressed to get back into the game.

Zachery Franko and Michael St. Croix scored for West, which had not finished as low as eighth since 2004.

Team Atlantic had two Sea Dog affiliate players on their roster in Aiden Kelly and Tyrone Sock.

“Kelly was terrific on the penalty kill and blocked a ton of shots,” said general manager Greg Leland on the Sea Dogs’ Twitter page. “Sock also played well.”

Jonathan Huberdeau and team Quebec captured sixth place. Huberdeau had two goals, one assist, and four penalty minutes in five games played.

THE SCHED AHEAD
The Sea Dogs’ six game home stand (that turned into a five game stand) continues this Wednesday at Harbour Station. Here is this week’s schedule.

Wednesday: vs Moncton Wildcats – 7:00 pm
Brunswick News Rivalry Cup Game Five; make-up game for January 2

Friday: vs Cape Breton – 7:30 pm
T.G.I.F featuring the 97.3 The Wave “Not so extreme team”

Saturday: vs Montreal – 7:00 pm
Sea Dogs Night Out; Montreal’s only visit to Harbour Station this season

Station Nation will have all your pre-game coverage for each game.

TICKET INFORMATION
The Sea Dogs – Wildcats game originally scheduled to take place on Saturday, January 2 will now be played at Harbour Station on Wednesday, January 6 (puck drop: 7pm). Saint John’s January 3 home game against Acadie-Bathurst, meanwhile, has been rescheduled for Wednesday, February 10 (also at 7pm).

Fans that purchased tickets to either of this weekend’s postponed games may use them as they are printed at the corresponding make-up dates.