Sea Dogs Notebook

PLAYOFFS

The Halifax Mooseheads are heading to the President Cup Final.

The Mooseheads advanced to the QMJHL Final for the first time since 2005 with a wild 9-6 win over the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies on Thursday night, completing a four-game sweep. Halifax is a perfect 12-0 in this year’s playoffs.

Former Sea Dogs forward Stephen MacAulay had three assists in the game to go along with one shot and one hit. MacAulay will play in the President Cup Final for a fourth straight year.

Halifax’s opponent has yet to be determined. In the other semi-final, the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and Baie-Comeau Drakkar are tied 2-2. Game 5 is tonight.

GELINAS

Former Sea Dogs defenseman Eric Gelinas made his NHL debut last night with the New Jersey Devils. He helped the Devils defeat Simon Despres and the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2.

Gelinas was a -1, recorded one shot, and one hit in 15:59 of ice-time.

Gelinas got official coach's lineup sheet from his first NHL game.
— Tom Gulitti (@TGfireandice) April 26, 2013

Meanwhile, Despres had one hit in 18:56 of ice time for the Pens.

Gelinas joins Jonathan Huberdeau, Despres, Charlie Coyle, Nathan Beaulieu, and Mike Hoffman as former Sea Dogs to play in the NHL this season.

THE CAPS SPEAK

Three former Sea Dogs helped the Summerside Western Capitals win the MHL’s Kent Cup earlier this week.

“There are no words to describe the feeling,” defenseman Jason Seed told the Journal Pioneer. “It never gets old and it’s amazing to win another championship. I couldn’t be more proud of these guys.”

“Winning championships is exciting each time you do it. . . It was two good teams going at it, and it was a fun game to play and a fun series,” said Spencer MacDonald.

The Fred Page Cup begins next Wednesday in Truro.

ROCKET

Things are looking good for the PEI Rocket/Islanders franchise as at least one group has made an offer to buy the team and keep it on the Island, The Guardian reports. So that’s good.

Sea Dogs president Wayne Long spoke to The Guardian yesterday about what it could mean if the Rocket/Islanders left PEI.

“To lose the Rocket would be, I think, a pretty severe blow to all of the Atlantic teams,” said Long.

“I don’t think there’s a team in our division that wants to see them leave. Obviously, we compete on the ice, but off the ice I think we all have good relationships and we want to see that team stay right where they are at.”

COMMUNITY

The Sea Dogs did a bunch of stuff in the community this past season. They recapped it all in a press release.

"The community is the biggest building block of any sports team," said team president Wayne Long. "Our community has been a solid building block for the organization and our players recognize the importance of the community."

BEAULIEU

Former Sea Dogs defenseman Nathan Beaulieu won several Hamilton Bulldogs team awards earlier this week. From the Sea Dogs website:

The rookie defenceman took home four of the team’s awards Sunday afternoon. He led the team with 24 assists and tied for the lead with 31 points with Gabriel Dumont for the Hamilton Bulldogs Leading Scorer Award. 

The local media selected co-winners for the Tim Hortons Top Defenceman Award as Beaulieu shared the honour with Jarred Tinordi. Hamilton’s Radio Broadcast Team selected Beaulieu for the Swiss Chalet Top Rookie Award as well. 

Finally, Beaulieu took home top honours, nabbing the Hamilton Spectator Most Valuable Player Award. The award, selected by a vote of the Hamilton Bulldogs players, was punctuated by a six game stint with the big club, the Montreal Canadiens, as he chipped in two assists and had a +5 rating in the span.

The Habs announced on Wednesday that Beaulieu and former Sea Dogs goaltender Robert Mayer were among the eight players called up to the NHL club.

DESPRES

Also earlier this week, former Sea Dogs defenseman Simon Despres was named the Pittsburgh Penguins Michel Briere Rookie of the Year.

Despres, who last played with the Sea Dogs during the 2010-11 season, has played in 32 games with the Penguins this season and has registered two goals and five assists. He played in 27 games with the American Hockey League’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins during the lockout, recording four goals and three assists.

Pittsburgh has a 35-12-0 record and have won the Eastern Conference. They play the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday in their final regular season game.

Photo: Devils Instagram