Sea Dogs Notebook

MEMORIAL CUP

Every team at the 2013 Memorial Cup sits at 1-1 entering action tonight. This evening, the Halifax Mooseheads battle the London Knights at 9pm and tomorrow the Portland Winterhawks take on the Saskatoon Blades.

All the possible scenarios about who advances to which game and how can be found on the CHL website.

The Mooseheads lost their first game of the tournament on Sunday night, a surprising 5-2 loss to the host Blades. The Moose have not lost much all year and they’ll need to rebound quickly.

MACAULAY

Former Sea Dog Stephen MacAulay is having a solid Memorial Cup so far. He sits fifth in tournament scoring entering tonight's game with two goals and an assist in two games.

Playing in his third straight Memorial Cup, MacAulay has two goals and two assists in 10 career games at the national championship. Despite all the success he has had at the junior level, he currently is not affiliated with a NHL club.

“In my mind I think I deserve a shot, hopefully an entry-level deal but if not, maybe something else,” MacAulay told the Chronicle Herald. “I think I’ve done everything I could do but one last Memorial Cup won’t hurt, especially if I play well and do well personally. I’m thankful for the opportunity.”

THE STATION

Forget to post this the other day so... here it is.

Stefan Fournier says the CUC looks an awful lot like Harbour Station in Saint John, N.B.
— Patrick King (@SNPatrickKing) May 17, 2013

MACDONALD

Quite a story on former Sea Dogs defenseman Spencer MacDonald in the Summerside Journal Pioneer. MacDonald was in a walking boot and on crutches last Friday but played for Summerside in their semi-final win on Saturday and championship game loss on Sunday at the RBC Cup.

“This kid is something out of a story in history that will go down forever,” said Caps head coach Billy McGuigan. “This guy was walking around with a boot on in a cast. . . He was on crutches, and then last night (in Saturday’s semifinal game against Surrey) he got hit (in the face) and had gauze in his nose.

“The guys on our team should have learned a lesson from him, and they probably did, that this guy was a warrior. I don’t have enough words to tell you about Spencer MacDonald.”

MacDonald played two regular season games with Saint John in 2010-11 and 63 in 2011-12. He also played in three post-season games with the Dogs in 2012.

PARADE

The Sea Dogs Memorial Cup victory parade, held two years ago, is apparently nominated for “best event” at the 2013 Live Life Awards. The awards will be given out on June 6^th. All details can be found on the Uptown Saint John website.

TWITTER
This is interesting. Numbers as of last Friday.

5 - CHL Top 5 most followed teams on Twitter: Edmonton (16,701), London (16,426), Halifax (13,513), Saint John (11,901),Ottawa (10,027)
— WHL Facts (@WHLFacts) May 17, 2013

Saint John's numbers are solid given the population sizes of the other cities.

AHL PLAYOFFS

Alex Grant and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, after being down 3-0 in their second-round AHL playoff series against the Providence Bruins, have climbed all the way back to force a Game 7 tomorrow night in Providence.

The Penguins forced a seventh game thanks to a 2-1 overtime victory last night. Grant assisted on the game-winner.

Meanwhile, Tomas Jurco and the Grand Rapids Griffins play Game 6 of their series against the Toronto Marlies tonight. The Griffins lead the series 3-2.