GAMEDAY 3 - at Screaming Eagles

GAMEDAY

Saint John Sea Dogs vs Cape Breton Screaming Eagles

Tonight, September 16, 2011 at 7:00pm

Centre 200

PREVIEW

SYDNEY, NS – The Saint John Sea Dogs finally get back into game action tonight as they take on the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles at Centre 200. Game time is 7pm.

The Sea Dogs and their depleted lineup had a decent game last Thursday against the Moncton Wildcats, opening the season with a 3-1 loss. The next day in Bathurst things didn’t go as well as the Titan pounded Saint John 8-1.

After being outscored 11-2 in their first two games, the Sea Dogs will no doubt be looking to make some improvements tonight even though their lineup should look nearly the same.

The Sea Dogs’ opponent this evening is off to a 1-1-0-0 start thanks to a win over the Wildcats and a loss to the PEI Rocket. They have been outscored 8-7 in their first two games.

The Eagles are expected to be a team that will play physical and grind. They also have plenty of youngsters as they continue to rebuild.

“I think we got what we wanted out of the kids at camp,” said Cape Breton’s ne head coach, Ron Choules, to the CB Post. “We have them competing hard and playing for each other and that’s the identity we want to bring. There are things to work on here and there, but that’s a progression during the season and we have been progressing, which has been a positive sign.”

Tonight will be the Screaming Eagles’ 15^th home opener.

NOTES: No player on Saint John’s roster has more than two points this season. Alexandre Beauregard, Brock Morrison, Danick Gauthier, Stephen Anderson, and Spencer MacDonald all have one point each… Morrison and Beauregard have scored the only goals for the Sea Dogs… MacDonald has a team high six penalty minutes… Anderson and Beauregard are both a +1… Jason Cameron is a -4. Colin Campbell, Oliver Cooper, Jason Seed, and Devon Oliver-Dares are all a -3… the Sea Dogs have been outscored 11-2 over their first two games… the Sea Dogs’ power play, running at a woeful 6.7%, is ranked 14^th in the league… their penalty kill is running at 50% which is second worst in the league… Quebec, Drummondville, and Val-d’Or are the other QMJHL teams off to 0-2 starts. All three are in action in tonight.

IN NET: Charlie Millen and Sebastien Auger have split duties in net for the Sea Dogs so far this season.

Millen allowed three goals on 26 shots in the Sea Dogs’ 3-1 loss against Moncton last week, giving him a 3.11 goals against average and a 0.885 save percentage.

Auger allowed eight goals 27 shots in Saint John’s 8-1 loss against Bathurst. He has a GAA of 8.00 and a save percentage of 0.704.

WHO’S MISSING: The following players all took part in National Hockey League rookie camps: Stephen MacAulay and Ryan Tesink (both St. Louis), Danick Gauthier and Alexandre Beauregard (both Phoenix), Mathieu Corbeil (Columbus), Stanislav Galiev (Washington), Jonathan Huberdeau (Florida), Tomas Jurco (Detroit), Scott Oke (Dallas), Pierre Durepos (Los Angeles), Ian Saab (Vancouver), Nathan Beaulieu (Montreal), and Zack Phillips (Minnesota).

Also away were Simon Despres (Pittsburgh), Steven Anthony (Vancouver), and Eric Gelinas (New Jersey) who could return as overagers but are more than likely to turn pro.

Rookie camps are over but most of them are going to main camps. Ian Saab was released by the Canucks and Scott Oke tweeted yesterday that he was on his way back to Saint John. It’s not official if either of them will play tonight, though.

LAST GAME: The Sea Dogs are coming off an 8-1 loss in Bathurst last Friday night. Brock Morrison scored Saint John’s only goal. Sebastien Auger allowed all eight goals on 27 shots.

NOTES: William Carrier leads the Screaming Eagles in scoring with four points – two goals and two assists… his two goals are a team high… Carrier, Loic Leduc, and Jordan McInnis are all tied for the team lead in assists with two… Leduc is a Cape Breton best +4… no player on the Eagles has a rating below -1… the Eagles have been outscored 8-7 in two games… Stephen Woodworth has a team high seven penalty minutes… Cape Breton has yet to connect on eight power play chances this season… the Eagles’ penalty kill is running at 63.6%, good for 11^th in the QMJHL.

IN NET: Alexandre Veronneau has played in both games for Cape Breton this year. He has a 1-1 record with a 4.00 goals against average and a 0.818 save percentage.

WHO’S MISSING: Between injuries and NHL camps, the Eagles roster is a bit of mess right now.

According to the Eagles website, “rookie defenseman Jean-Simon Deslauriers will be lost for between six to eight weeks with an upper body injury. Forward Olivier Jodoin is out for at least one week for what is also being described as an upper body injury. Today, another rookie defenseman Jacob Arsenault has been placed on the disabled list for at least one week with an upper body injury.”

Also, Connor Rogers is listed as day-to-day. Logan Shaw took part in Florida Panthers camp this past week and is not expected to play tonight. Veteran defenseman Morgan Ellis is taking part in Montreal Canadiens training camp and will not play.

WHO’S NEW: The Eagles signed former Lewiston Maineiac and Fredericton native Zach Shannon earlier this week. Also, John Walsh was recalled by the team, Felix Jerry will return from a suspension, and Blake Millmen is expected to play after taking part in Phoenix Coyotes rookie camp.

CB NATIVES: The Cape Breton Post had an interesting little tidbit in today’s paper. Kyle Farrell, Connor Rogers, and John Walsh of the Eagles and Brock Morrison, Colin Campbell, and Kraig Pasher all played with the Cape Breton Tradesmen at one point.

“I’ve been talking to the boys and they’ve been asking if I’ll be playing,” said Rogers to the CB Post. “It’s going to be funny seeing them on the ice during warmup, but once the puck drops, they’re on the other team and we’re all going to have to deal with it and get down to business.”

LAST GAME: Cape Breton is coming off a 7-4 loss in PEI last Saturday. Denis Kindl and William Cochrane scored singles while William Carrier had a pair. Alexandre Veronneau allowed seven goals on 23 shots.

Best Screaming Eagles Video We Could Find On YouTube: No words for this.

THE LAST MEETING

The last time these two teams met, the Sea Dogs won 4-0 and ended the Screaming Eagles’ season.

Saint John swept Cape Breton in the first round of last year’s playoffs in what was a rather dull matchup.

Ironically, Jason Seed, Aidan Kelly, and Jason Cameron were all healthy scratches in Game Four. The three will be looked upon tonight to play some key minutes.

OUT OF TOWN

Saint John at Cape Breton - 7:00 PM ADT
Acadie-Bathurst at Halifax - 7:00 PM ADT
Rouyn-Noranda at Drummondville - 7:00 PM EDT
Chicoutimi at Quebec - 7:00 PM EDT
Baie-Comeau at Victoriaville - 7:00 PM EDT
Gatineau at Blainville-Boisbriand - 7:30 PM EDT
Rimouski at Val-d'Or - 7:30 PM EDT

THE RINK

Venue: Centre 200

Capacity: 4,881

Reg. Season Average Attendance: N/A

QMJHL Arena Guide

MEDIA GUIDE

Radio (Sea Dogs): News 88.9 FM

Live Web Feed: Telus

Television: None

Post-Game Coverage: Station Nation, Telegraph-Journal, Cape Breton Post

Live Coverage: Follow Station Nation on Twitter (www.twitter.com/station_nation) or check out the SN Live Blog on this site for live coverage of this evening’s game.

AFTER THE BUZZER

The Sea Dogs host the PEI Rocket on Sunday at 3pm at Harbour Station.

Photo Credits: Marc Henwood/Station Nation, Marc Henwood/Station Nation, Marc Henwood/Station Nation, Eagles website