Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Sea Dogs Notebook

TOMORROW
The Sea Dogs are back in action tomorrow night against the PEI Rocket. Game time is 7pm at Harbour Station.

Saint John will look to end a six-game losing skid while PEI has won three straight. Both teams have something to play for down the stretch – the Sea Dogs are trying to get into the playoffs and the Rocket are trying to get home-ice advantage in the first-round.

The Guardian reports today that forward Yan-Pavel Laplante is expected to make his season debut tomorrow. He has missed all season with a shoulder injury. He had 21 points in 57 games last year.

The Sea Dogs are asking fans to bring donations of nutritious cereal (pictured) or breakfast bars to tomorrow’s game. All cereal collected will go to the breakfast programs at seven Community/PALS Schools in the city of Saint John. The only request is that the cereals be healthy and nutritious.

STATS
Interesting piece of info in Sam Cosentino’s latest column over at Sportsnet.ca. The Sea Dogs have the best winning percentage in the Canadian Hockey League in games that go into extra time.

Saint John is 5-1 in overtime games and 3-0 in shootouts for a .889 winning percentage. Their only extra time loss came last Saturday in Shawinigan when the team lost in overtime.

The Barrie Colts are the second best team with a .833 winning percentage.

WECKWORTH
Sea Dogs defenseman David Weckworth has been named the Sea Dogs’ student of the month for January. Weckworth is a student at UNBSJ.

“The scholastic players UL Mutual demonstrate each and every month their commitment towards education. At UL Mutual, we encourage their good work”, said UL Mutual President and CEO, Jacques Desbiens, in a league release.

This initiative’s goal, which was developed by the QMJHL and its member clubs, is to recognize student athletes’ performances both on the ice and at school. The players are selected for their school results, their implication, the school-hockey conciliation, their team spirit and their on-ice performances.

HADE
The Sherbrooke Phoenix announced via their website on Tuesday that former Sea Dog Benjamin Hade has left the team. The defenseman was traded to Sherbrooke in exchange for a 2014 fourth-round pick during the holiday trading period.

Hade had a goal in eight games with Sherbrooke. He had an assist in 12 games with Saint John this season prior to being dealt.

Hade was a fourth-round pick of Saint John in the 2010 QMJHL Entry Draft.

HUBERDEAU
Jonathan Huberdeau scored his third goal of the season last night in Winnipeg.


Huberdeau now has three goals and three assists in nine games with the Florida Panthers.

COYLE
Minnesota Wild head coach Mike Yeo liked what he saw from Charlie Coyle in his NHL debut.

"It was a real good debut," Yeo told the Star Tribune.

He apparently impressed the Wild enough to earn a promotion. He skated on the team’s top line with Zach Parise and Mikko Koivu today at practice, replacing Dany Heatley.

“Yeo said these were just lines for practices and no guarantees for Thursday's game against Vancouver, but I certainly suspect that will stick for the game,” writes Michael Russo.

MACAULAY
Metro Halifax had an article on former Sea Dog and current Halifax Moosehead Stephen MacAulay today. MacAulay said he learned a lot from Mike Thomas.

“He didn’t have the most skill in the world,” said MacAulay of Thomas. “But he gave an honest effort every night. He would do anything for his teammates, block shots, make big hits, and fight when he had to.

“I’ve always tried to be a little like that, a selfless teammate.”

The 20-year old has six goals and six assists in 12 games with the Moose.

DESPRES
The Pittsburgh Tribune Review had an article on Simon Despres earlier this week.

“With Simon Despres, you have to go through those learning experiences — and we've seen this with Kris and Alex Goligoski, other good defensemen we've had — he is still learning. He still needs some consistency to his game, and he's still in that process,” said head coach Dan Bylsma.

Despres has two goals, two assists, 14 penalty minutes and a plus-4 rating in eight games with the Pens this season.

SAUVE
The good old Kalamazoo Gazette had an article on former Sea Dogs defenseman Yann Sauve earlier this week. Sauve is on a rehab stint with the East Coast Hockey League’s K-Wings.

“He should play in every situation for us,” K-Wings coach Nick Bootland said. “He was injured in Chicago and was assigned to us to gain confidence. He should be a minute muncher.

“When he has the puck on his stick, with his size (6-foot-3, 215 pounds), skating and stature, you can see that he doesn’t belong here.”

Sauve had an assist in 12 games with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. In five games with Kalamazoo he has two goals.

No comments:

Post a Comment