Sea Dogs Notebook

GAME TOMORROW
After Tropical Storm Irene postponed Sunday’s Sea Dogs game in Prince Edward Island, they will head to Charlottetown tomorrow to makeup the match. The contest begins at 7pm.

According to Twitter, Rogers Sportsnet analysts Darren Millard and Doug MacLean were both planning on attending the cancelled Sunday game. Both covered the Memorial Cup tournament for Sportsnet.

Both teams have one win and two losses so far in the pre-season. The two battled on Saturday at the qplex in a chippy affair that was won by Saint John in a shootout.

Please join us - along with Nolan from “Let’s Go Rocket” - as we bring you live coverage of the game on Twitter and on this site.

CAMP UPDATE
A training camp update from SeaDogsTV featuring interviews with Gerard Gallant and Doug MacLean.



MORE REFS
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League announced earlier this week that four officials – two referees and two linesmen – will work every game this season.

“This is a great initiative, especially in regards to player safety,” said the Director of Officiating, Richard Trottier in a release on the league’s website. “The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is the best development league in the world and with the speed of today’s game we needed to adapt. This is excellent news for our teams, our players and our fans.”

Here’s hoping the amount of penalties called this pre-season doesn’t carry over into the regular one.

PROMOTION
The Sea Dogs announced earlier this week that the first 6,000 fans attending the September 8th home opener will receive something for free.

From the release:

The Port City’s major junior squad will kick off the 2011-12 season at home Sept. 8 against the rival Moncton Wildcats. This Season Opening Night is sponsored by founding partners Irving Oil and Moosehead Breweries. The first 6,000 fans in attendance will receive a special limited-edition keepsake of the 2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup championship, compliments of the Sea Dogs and Irving Oil.

Tickets to the home opener as well as all of the Sea Dogs’ other 33 home games went on sale to the general public last Saturday.

CAMERON IS HEALTHY
Jason Cameron is healthy after suffering a bruised kidney in the President’s Cup Final last season, reported the Summerside Journal Pioneer earlier this week. He missed the last couple games of the league final and the Memorial Cup because of the injury.

“I was put on bed rest for about four weeks after I got hurt,” said Cameron. “I missed those four weeks, and I may have had only eight weeks of training.

“There were a lot of things I couldn’t do until I completely healed.”

“I went to the doctor quite a bit during the summer and he was doing check-ups on me. Right now I just have a scar on my kidney, and I’m ready to go.”

Cameron has an assist in two pre-season games so far this year. He wore the captain's 'C' in Saint John's exhibition opener in Moncton.

RICHARD JOINS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Sea Dogs governor Joe Richard was named the First Vice-President of the QMJHL Board of Governors following a unanimous vote.

Here is the QMJHL Executive Committee for the 2011-12 season:

Jean Brousseau – President
Joe Richard – First Vice-President
Louis Brousseau – Second Vice-President
Julien Gagnon – Secretary
Jean Marcotte – Treasurer

PROSPECT PULSE
The very awesome Winnipeg Jets blog ‘Illegal Curve’ had a profile on Michael Kirkpatrick last week. Kirkpatrick, the Sea Dogs’ all-time leading scorer, signed to play with the St. John’s IceCaps this season, the Jets top minor league team.

“I would imagine he will be given plenty of time to hone his game at the American League level and work on strength and the speed of the pro game,” writes Kyle. “Though he is by no means a lock to make the NHL, any time spent with the Jets would be considered a coup for that team’s procurement department.”

It will be interesting to follow Kirkpatrick’s progress this year as he makes the jump to the pro ranks.

DIFFERENT TEAM, SAME PLAN
Former Sea Dogs general manager and head coach Jacques Beaulieu is apparently building his new team, the Ontario Hockey League’s Sarnia Sting, the same kind of way he did with Saint John.

“In Saint John, I did the same thing my first year,” Beaulieu said. “I made some moves and brought in a lot of new players. But I never had the forwards we have here in Sarnia.”

Beaulieu made a lot of noise in the OHL this summer, which the London Free Press breaks down. Sarnia should have a competitive team this season, something Beaulieu did quickly when he took over the GM role in Saint John.

Sting training camp opened today. CTV London has coverage, including some interviews with Beaulieu.



ON HUBERDEAU
The Florida Panthers website had a feature on Jonathan Huberdeau today entitled “Huberdeau Goes About Hockey The Right Way.” Read it here.

GALIEV RANKED SECOND
Corey Pronman of Hockey Prospectus has named Stanislav Galiev the second best prospect in the Washington Capitals system. Evgeny Kuznetsov is ranked first.

“Galiev may have been one of the most improved players in the prospect world this past season,” writes Pronman. “He's a plus skater, with great acceleration, top gear, and work ethic that sees him zoom up and down the ice. He couples that with well above-average puck skills and distribution ability that lets him make highlight reel dekes and passes with notable consistency.”

The Russian forward still needs to work on improving the physical side of his game though.

“He's just so immature physically. He literally bounces off bigger players when he tries to engage along the walls and is easily shoved off the puck.”

Photo Credits: Some website, Marc Henwood/Station Nation