Sea Dogs Notebook

AIRPORT

So this is currently located at the Saint John Airport.

@station_nation Got a pic of it for you. pic.twitter.com/MkwERb8AFe
— Jay Hawk (@JayHawkDown) August 16, 2013

WEEKEND

This is as big of a weekend as weekend’s can get in August in Sea Dogs land.

The inaugural Wallace McCain Memorial Alumni Weekend is taking place which will be highlighted by tomorrow’s game between the Sea Dogs Alumni and UNB Varsity Reds Alumni. The game takes place at 1:30pm at Harbour Station and tickets are still available.

Following the Alumni Game, there will be a Family Fun Fair in the parking lot before the Sea Dogs host the Acadie-Bathurst Titan in pre-season action at 7pm.

On Sunday, the Sea Dogs, 1-1 in exhibition play so far, travel to Bathurst to battle the Titan at 3pm.

TESINK

The Blainville-Boisbriand Armada announced Wednesday that former Sea Dog Ryan Tesink has been named an assistant captain.

Tesink will wear an ‘A’ along with Aaron Hoyles, Christopher Clapperton, and Marc-Olivier Roy. Olivier Picard will be the team’s captain.

There is a chance of course that Tesink, 20, could play pro hockey this season in the St. Louis Blues organization. The Saint John native played in just six regular season and four playoff games with the Armada following his trade last winter because of an injury we just don’t want to discuss anymore.

CLOUTIER

Former Sea Dogs defenseman Guillaume Cloutier – an overager - was released by the Chicoutimi Sagueneens this week. Where he will play this season is unknown.

As per @daveainsley, Guillaume Cloutier told him this week that if it does not work out in Chicoutimi he was hopeful of finding a new team.
— Jeremy Fraser (@hockeyscene_JF) August 18, 2013

Cloutier was third-round pick of Saint John in the 2010 QMJHL Entry Draft. He played in 36 games with Saint John, recording two goals and five assists. He was traded in January of 2011 to Chicoutimi in exchange for Eric Gelinas.

Last season, Cloutier had three goals and 13 assists in 48 games with the Sags.

NEWFOUNDLAND

The Telegram had an article yesterday about the amount of Newfoundland players that are still at QMJHL Training Camps.

The Sea Dogs still have Newfoundlanders Nathan Noel, Connor Donaghey, Marcus Cuomo, and Michael Abbott at camp. The team cut goaltender Christopher Smith on Monday.

NOEL

And speaking of Noel, the Sea Dogs website has an article on him.

On people mispronouncing his last name:

“It happens all the time,” said Noel with a laugh. “I don’t mind though.”

HOFFMAN

Mike Hoffman was named the seventh best prospect in the Ottawa Senators system by NHL.com on Tuesday.

"I think he's in the mix to fight for a spot on the team," Sens director of player personnel Pierre Dorion said. "It's unfortunate that he got injured last year, but he showed against one of the better teams in the League [the Boston Bruins] that he can be a force with his speed and his forechecking ability and his ability to get on the puck. I think he showed he's got the promise to be an NHL player."

BEAULIEU

Nathan Beaulieu was named the top prospect in the Montreal Canadiens system by NHL.com.

Beaulieu, who played in six games with the Habs last season, will be playing in Saturday’s Alumni Game at Harbour Station.

JURCO

Tomas Jurco was named the fourth best prospect in the Detroit Red Wings system by NHL.com.

Jurco recorded 14 goals and 14 assists in 74 regular season American Hockey League games last season. He also had eight goals and six assists in 24 playoff games, helping the Grand Rapids Griffins win the Calder Cup.

“Jurco may have scored the biggest goal of the season for Grand Rapids when he got the winner late in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals,” writes David Kalan. “He will probably be in Grand Rapids again this season, but his dynamic offensive skills could earn him a call to Detroit at some point.”

CRADDOCK

Former Sea Dogs defenseman Rory Craddock has been named the captain of the Central Ontario Jr. C Hockey League’s Clarington Eagles.

Craddock was signed by the Sea Dogs as a free agent at the beginning of the 2011-12 season to help replace all of the players who were attending NHL camps. He played in two games, recording no points, two penalty minutes, and a -1 rating.

The Bowmanville, Ontario native also played in 30 games with the Gatineau Olympiques in 2010-11.