Sea Dogs Notebook

Here’s the President’s Cup making an appearance at the Saint John Ale House last night.

PRE-SEASON

It’s never too early to start thinking about the 2012 pre-season. According to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan Facebook page, the Sea Dogs will play the Titan on August 22 at Complexe sportif S.-A.-Dionne in Tracadie-Sheila. Should be fun.

CANADA/RUSSIA

Some significant news yesterday announced by Hockey Canada. The 2012 Canada-Russia Challenge will replace this summer’s Team Canada world junior summer evaluation camp, with two of four games to be played Monday, August 13 and Tuesday, August 14 at the Halifax Metro Centre.

The first two games will take place in Yaroslavl, Russia, on Thursday, August 9 and Friday, August 10, with the 2012 Canada-Russia Challenge being held to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 1972 Summit Series.

All info, including how to buy tickets, can be found on the Hockey Canada website.

BEST RECENT RUN?

Good read over Buzzing The Net comparing the Sea Dogs’ playoff run to some of the other dominant performances in recent CHL history. One of the things that sticks out is the Sea Dogs’ road record over the past two playoffs.

“Three of the four Sea Dogs losses these past two springs actually came in the friendly confines of Harbour Station,” writes Neate Sager. “They finished 17-1 on the road, while the lone setback coming in overtime of the semifinal series against the Chicoutimi Sagueéneens.”

Saint John outscored opponents 103-39 in 17 playoff games this year for a goal differential of +64. That’s pretty good.

PALOV COLUMN

Willy Palov’s column in Friday’s Chronicle Herald had plenty of Sea Dogs content. One of the interesting items was about Charlie Coyle and how his success may help the league attract more high profile American players.

“The Quebec league implemented a new rule this year requiring all teams to draft at least two Americans, so the positive experience of a high-profile player like Coyle will certainly help with the recruitment,” writes Palov.

Believe it or not, the draft is only a few weeks away.

RETRIBUTION

CBC New Brunswick has an article on the Sea Dogs heading back to the Memorial Cup.

"The most interesting plot twist is that Saint John bid for this Memorial Cup and the fact that they lost it to Shawinigan was pretty controversial based on, obviously, how good the Sea Dogs were on the ice," said The Hockey News’ Ryan Kennedy, "but now they get a chance for revenge.”

The Sea Dogs play Shawinigan on May 23. It’s the final game of the preliminary round.

T-J

Here’s what the cover (half of it, anyway) of the Telegraph-Journal looks like today. Some royal people are coming!

JURCO

Is Tomas Jurco the next big star for the Detroit Red Wing? The Hockey Writers take a look at that.

CTV

CTV Atlantic has some Sea Dogs video on their website which includes interviews with Kevin Gagne, Charlie Coyle, and team president Wayne Long.

BRAVO

A rare RDS article congratulating the Sea Dogs on their incredible three year run that doesn’t complain about the 2009 draft or the Charlie Coyle signing.

ROUSSEL

The Shawinigan newspaper L’Echo de Shawinigan has an article on former Cataractes defenseman Charles Roussel who won his first QMJHL championship with the Sea Dogs on Thursday. Roussel and the Cats lost in Game 7 of the 2009 President’s Cup final to Drummondville.

BLOGS

A few NHL blogs have some stuff on the Sea Dogs’ President’s Cup win.

• Hockey Wilderness (Minnesota)
• Russian Machine Never Breaks (Washington)
• Japers’ Rink (Washington)
• St. Louis Game Time (St. Louis)

TOP CENTERS

Hockey’s Future made a list of the top 10 drafted centers currently playing in the QMJHL. Zack Phillips is No. 1.

“Already signed to an NHL entry-level-deal with the Minnesota Wild, he should start his professional career in the AHL” writes Kevin Forbes. “While he may never become a star player at the NHL level, Phillips has more than enough skill to contribute as a top six forward in a few years time.”

Also on the list is Danick Gauthier at No. 6.