PRE-SEASON GAMEDAY: at Moncton

PRE-SEASON GAMEDAY

Saint John Sea Dogs vs Moncton Wildcats

Tonight at 7pm

Radio: None | Webcast: None | TV: None | Live: @station_nation

JK Irving Centre – Bouctouche, NB

PREVIEW

BOUCTOUCHE – The Saint John Sea Dogs kick off their final weekend of pre-season play tonight against the Moncton Wildcats.

This evening’s 7pm tilt in Bouctouche is the first part of a home-and-home series between the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League rivals. The Sea Dogs and Wildcats will wrap up pre-season play on Sunday afternoon at 3pm at Harbour Station. The two will also meet next Friday in Moncton – a game that will be Saint John’s season opener.

Saint John training camp was on hiatus last week. They haven’t played an exhibition game since August 25^th, a 5-1 loss in Bathurst.

The Titan are the only team the Sea Dogs have played so far. Saint John has a 2-2 record entering play this evening and have been outscored 15-14. The Sea Dogs are still led by second year forward Matthew Highmore who has one goal and three assists for four points in two exhibition games.

Meanwhile, the Wildcats enter action tonight with a solid 5-1 record. They have outscored opponents 30-20. Moncton is led by Liam Hynes who has four goals and four assists for eight points in five pre-season games.

The ‘Cats are entering the first year of a rebuilding stage following a disappointing first-round playoff exit this past Spring. Despite not having many high picks in June’s QMJHL Entry Draft, the Wildcats managed to select and sign some quality American players.

With plenty of young and new faces on the Sea Dogs and Wildcats, hopefully this weekend’s games set up a good rivalry between the two for this season and the seasons to come.

LAST GAMES

The Sea Dogs are coming off a 5-1 loss in Bathurst on Sunday, August 25^th. Michael Abbott had Saint John’s only goal. Sebastien Auger made 15 saves while Antoine Landry made 15 as well.

The Wildcats are coming off a 5-2 win over the Charlottetown Islanders on Wednesday in Moncton. Josh Pugsley, Conor Garland, Liam Hynes, Lucas Batt, and Stephen Johnson all scored for the ‘Cats. Alex Dubeau made 18 saves in the win.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Sea Dogs went 5-3-0-0 against the Wildcats last season while Moncton went 3-4-1-0 against Saint John.

Their last meeting was on March 13^th in Moncton where the Wildcats beat the Sea Dogs 6-1.Yannick Veilleux had three goals, Christophe Lalonde two, and Stephen Johnson one for Moncton. Brett Malone had Saint John’s only goal. Cole Holowenko made 17 saves in the win while Sebastien Auger made 40 in the loss.

NOTES

• The Sea Dogs have been outshot 159-110 in four pre-season games.
• Despite being outshot 59-28 in second periods this pre-season, the Sea Dogs have outscored opponents 8-5 in middle stanzas.
• Today’s Telegraph-Journal gives the impression that Lukas Walter, a 20-year old forward from the WHL who is on a tryout with the Sea Dogs, will play tonight.

OUT OF TOWN

Cape Breton at Charlottetown - 7:00 PM ADT

Blainville-Boisbriand at Sherbrooke - 7:00 PM EDT

Victoriaville at Drummondville - 7:30 PM EDT

Gatineau at Ottawa (OHL) - 7:30 PM EDT

NEXT GAME

The Sea Dogs and Wildcats meet again on Sunday afternoon at 3pm at Harbour Station.