Thursday, February 9, 2012

Sea Dogs Notebook

THE MIXER


King Mazda was the place to be on Wednesday night as the Sea Dogs held a team autograph session at the dealership. Photo courtesy of Kyle Ferguson

SCHOLASTICS
St. Malachy’s High School student Jonathan Huberdeau has been named the Sea Dogs’ scholastic player of the month for January. The Sea Dogs captain tweeted this yesterday.

“Just finished my last exam of high school in NB !! #2highschooldiploma #toooldforthatbutstillproud thanks @stmguidance for everything !!!!”

One player from each QMJHL team is selected each month. The players are selected for their school results, their implication, the school-hockey conciliation, their team spirit and their on-ice performances.

PROMOTIONS

This Sunday,”the team will combine two popular annual themes, as the Journée des Francofans meets the Valentine's Day Spectacular at Harbour Station. The theme for the 3 p.m. game against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan is “From Saint John With Love.” Fans will be able to purchase bread, wine and cheese, there will be live music and mimes, and the first 400 female fans will receive a carnation courtesy of the Sea Dogs. In addition, Ganong Bros. Limited will be providing free chocolates.”

The February 17 contest that will air nationally on Sportsnet is also Country Music Night at Harbour Station. Fans are encouraged to wear cowboy boots and hats, on-air personalities will be in attendance and of course, country music will be played throughout the game. Country night plus national television will make for an interesting combo. Here's hoping Rob Faulds wears a cowboy hat. 

Fans looking for the absolute best value of the season can take advantage of a Toonie Night on Tuesday, Feb. 21. Youth upper-bowl tickets to the 7 p.m. game against the Halifax Mooseheads are available for just $2 (plus $1 service charge) with the purchase of an adult ticket. The savings continue on Sunday, Feb. 26, as fans can take advantage of special Family Day pricing to purchase four tickets for only $46.

Then on Tuesday, February 28, the exciting conclusion of the Brunswick News Rivalry Cup will take place.

VILLEMAIRE
The news site “Le Reflect” had an article on Maxime Villemaire yesterday – one that wasn’t related to his player card signing drama.

Apparently Sean Couturier and Guillaume Latendresse (we assume Guillaume as the article never mentioned his first name) called Villemaire to advise him to stay in the Q. He also talks about the opportunity to play for a contender.

SUSPENDED
Here’ the reasoning for the Jason Cameron suspension, as per the QMJHL website:

- His opponent was in a vulnerable position
- The player at fault: came from the blind side and hit his opponent’s head with his shoulder; propelled himself upwards to get at his opponent’s head; did not have much speed; and was at his first offence.
- The player was injured

The reasoning for the Jonathan Racine suspension:

- His opponent was in a vulnerable position and no longer had the puck
- The player at fault: traveled a good distance, gained speed and propelled himself towards the top; as he was about to miss his target, he hit the player with his fist and edge of his stick; and was at his first offence
- There was no injury.

BEAULIEU

“Beaulieu makes his return to the honour roll by helping to guide the Saint John Sea Dogs to a perfect week while factoring in each goal the team scored,” writes SeriousFan09. “Beaulieu would contribute two assists on Friday night in what became an eventual 3-2 shootout win over Drummondville.  Beaulieu would match his contribution on Saturday night as he once again marked two assists to help Saint John edge a 2-1 victory over the Shawinigan Cataractes. The week also marked the first time in two months that Beaulieu has scored points in consecutive games, while raising him to 10th overall in QMJHL defensive scoring. Beaulieu was drafted in the 1st round, 17th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2011 Entry Draft.”

Beaulieu now has eight goals and 26 assists in 39 games this season. If you read Peter McGuire’s column in Tuesday’s Telegraph-Journal, you’ll know that Beaulieu is closing in on some team records.

COYLE
Sea Dogs forward Charlie Coyle was an honourable mention for Hockey Future’s January prospect of the month. Morgan Ellis of the Shawinigan Cataractes was named the top prospect.

“Coyle has continued to shine with the defending Memorial Cup champion Sea Dogs having scored five goals with three assists and a plus five-rating in six games for the month of January,” writes David Thicke. “The big winger has found himself on the team's top line with fellow Minnesota Wild prospect, Zach Phillips and Jonathan Huberdeau (FLA) where they have found pretty good chemistry. He has used his size and speed along with his abilities on the boards to make time and space for his talented linemates. Coyle should continue to put up good numbers and help the Sea Dogs to defend their Memorial Cup Title again this year.”

HUBERDEAU
The Florida Panthers blog “The Rat Trick” has an articleon Jonathan Huberdeau.

“I’m glad with the move that Dale Tallon made by keeping Huberdeau in juniors and developing into a bigger stronger player,” writes David Rodriguez. “It will be interesting too see what will happen to Huberdeau next offseason and whether or not he’ll make this squad; but that’s a ways away from now. All we can hope for is a healthy Huberdeau and a player who has a knack for piling up points, after all he did lead the Panthers with 4 points in 5 games during the pre-season. Won’t be too long from now that we’ll be seeing Huberdeau jerseys all over the Bank Atlantic Center on a nightly basis.”

How ‘bout those Panthers this season?

JURCO FAN
London Knights forward Andreas Athanasiou got the Tomas Jurco treatment at this year’s CHL/NHL Top Prospects game. He was filmed by NHL.com while performing some unreal tricks with the puck.


"I watched a few videos of what Tomas Jurco (the Saint John Sea Dogs forward and Detroit Red Wings prospect from Slovakia) has done in the past," Athanasiou said to the London Free Press earlier this week, "and he's unbelievable."


HIGHLIGHTS
Here are the highlights from Friday’s Sea Dogs game in Drummondville, because you are probably dying to see them.

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