22 Games That Need To Be Watched

Another season of Saint John Sea Dogs hockey is upon us.

Over the next seven months, the Sea Dogs will play 68 regular season games. That’s a lot of games. Some will be entertaining. Some will be boring. Some will probably get ugly.

In case someone asks us “what 22 games do I need to watch this season?” over the next week, we've made this handy guide. Here are the 22 games we are most looking forward to in 2012-13.

Thursday, September 20 vs Bathurst – Season Opener. Home opener. Banners going up and all that good stuff. Opening night is a beautiful thing.

Wednesday, September 26 vs Moncton – First game of the season between the Sea Dogs and Wildcats. Their pre-season game in Saint John was heated at times. The highly touted Ivan Barbashev should be making his Harbour Station debut.

Saturday, September 29 vs Gatineau – The Dogs will wear their new third jerseys for the first time. It’ll also be Gatineau’s lone regular season appearance in Saint John.

Friday, October 5 vs Halifax – First game of the season against the Mooseheads, a team that has a good chance of winning it all this year. Come see Nathan MacKinnon, Jonathan Drouin, and Zach Fucale because you’ll be hearing about them every five minutes from now until June.

Saturday, October 13 vs Val-d’Or – Bingo night.

Friday, October 19 at Chicoutimi – Saint John plays in Chicoutimi for the first time since Game 4 of the semi-finals. Sags fans are still wound up over the Jonathan Huberdeau hit on Charles Hudon, so there could be a wild environment. And who knows, Huberdeau could be in the Sea Dogs lineup that night.

Friday, October 20 at Baie-Comeau – The Sea Dogs return to Baie-Comeau for the first time since the quarter-finals when Drakkar fans lost their minds and threw garbage on the ice. The Dogs probably won’t get a warm welcome.

Friday, October 26 vs PEI – Pink in the Rink against Alexis Pepin and the Rocket.

Sunday, October 28 vs Chicoutimi – The Sags make their 2012-13 Harbour Station debut. Chicoutimi – Saint John games at the Station always seem to have some interesting moments for whatever reason.

Wednesday, October 31 vs Blainville-Boisbriand – Better than sitting at home and crying over how you are too old to go trick-or-treating.

Sunday, November 4 vs Shawinigan – We’re hoping the Saint John – Shawinigan rivalry lasts for eternity. This will be their first meeting since the Memorial Cup semi-final.

Friday, November 9 at Sherbrooke – Sea Dogs play in Sherbrooke for the first time.

Sunday, December 2 vs Rimouski – First time the Sea Dogs and Oceanic meet since the President’s Cup final.

Saturday, December 8 vs Quebec – The Remparts are the Mooseheads of Quebec this season. They have unlimited stars. Come to see the talent, stay to see how many toilets are smashed.

Monday, December 31 vs Moncton – New Year’s Eve game is always fun.

Friday, January 11 at Rimouski – Sea Dogs return to the ice where they lifted the President’s Cup trophy last season.

Saturday, January 26 vs Sherbrooke – The Phoenix make their first appearance at Harbour Station.

Saturday, February 2 at Shawinigan – The Dogs return to the Bionest Centre for the first time since the Memorial Cup. Will there be fog in the building? Will there be a million air horns? People sitting in the aisles? We’ll find out.

Thursday, February 14 vs Shawinigan – It’s Shawinigan, you guys. Shawinigan.

Wednesday, February 20 vs Halifax – The Mooseheads visit Harbour Station one last time (unless they meet Saint John in the playoffs). Your last chance to see a few big time 2013 NHL Draft prospects.

Friday, March 1 vs Victoriaville – Much like the Sags, the Tigres often provide an entertaining match of hockey when they play at the Station. Saint John and Victoriaville have developed a solid rivalry over the past three seasons and hopefully that continues.

Friday, March 8 vs Bathurst – Last regular season home game for the Dogs. It’s fan appreciation day. Come feel appreciated.

Photo Credit: Marc Henwood/Station Nation