Bowers Not Reporting To Cape Breton

Shane Bowers won’t be reporting to the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles after all.

Bowers, who was one of the top players available in this year’s QMJHL Entry Draft, was selected fourth overall by the Screaming Eagles. It was reported before the draft that he would only report to a select few markets – and Cape Breton wasn’t one of them. The Eagles drafted him anyways, he went on stage, put his jersey on and it sounded like he would report.

Yesterday, the Cape Breton Post broke news that Bowers won’t be reporting to Cape Breton after all, opting for the United States Hockey League. The Halifax native was a third round pick of the Waterloo Black Hawks in the USHL Futures Draft.

Screaming Eagles head coach Marc-Andre Dumont said that he was both surprised and disappointed that Bowers won’t be reporting, especially since he is a Nova Scotia native.

It’s the third straight year that Cape Breton’s top draft pick has not reported to the team, following Nicolas Roy in 2013 and Michael O’Leary last year.

It appears the Eagles aren’t interesting in trading the talented forward, which would allow them to take a compensation pick in next year’s draft.

“We have no intention of trading Shane – he is a top end player who could have a significant impact on our franchise, not just our team,” Dumont told the Post.

“We have no intention of trading Shane,” Dumont added in the Chronicle Herald. “He's a franchise player. We have to keep him and we will keep him.”

So there’s that. We’ll see what actually happens from here.

Bowers would have likely gone first overall to the Sea Dogs if Joe Veleno was not deemed “exceptional” by Hockey Canada. There have been rumours and speculation that the Dogs tried hard to move up in the draft to select Bowers.

Bowers registered 23 goals and 29 assists in 34 games with the Halifax McDonald’s of the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League last season. He added 33 points in 17 playoff games.

Photo: QMJHL

Rifai Heading To Harvard

Not on Saint John’s training camp roster: Marshall Rifai.

It was announced today that Rifai, a Beaconsfield, Quebec native who was an eighth round pick of the Sea Dogs in the 2014 QMJHL Entry Draft, has committed to Harvard University.

98 D Marshall Rifai (@HotchkissPuck) commits to Harvard. Up-tempo, smaller, mobile LSL (QC) product can rush, move puck. 8th rd Q pick (SJ).

— Over The Boards (@OTBPuckWatch) July 29, 2015

Rifai, listed at 5’7” and 137 lbs on Elite Prospects, is a product of the Lac St-Louis Tigres Espoir program. This past season he played United States prep school hockey at Hotchkiss in Connecticut.

Training Camp Roster Released

A total of 60 players have been invited to Saint John Sea Dogs training camp.

The Sea Dogs unveiled their full camp roster today. The full list can be found on their website.

As expected, the roster includes a mixture of returning players, new draftees and free agent invites.

Highlighting the list of fresh faces will be Saint John’s three first round picks from this year’s QMJHL Entry Draft – forward Joe Veleno, goaltender Alex D’Orio and forward Cedric Pare.

On ice sessions of training camp begin on Monday, Aug. 10 at Harbour Station. Their first pre-season game is just a few days later on Thursday, Aug. 13 against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan.

We’ll break down Saint John’s camp roster later.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation

Free Seats For Pre-Season Opener

For the second straight year, it’s not going to cost fans anything to get into the Saint John Sea Dogs’ pre-season opener.

The Sea Dogs officially announced today on social media that tickets to the team’s Thursday, Aug. 13 exhibition game against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan will be free of charge.

Exhibition tickets on sale to season ticket holders @harbourstation. 1st game vs @ABTitan is Fan Appreciation with no charge for admission!

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) July 29, 2015

Last year, an announced crowd of 6,377 watched the Sea Dogs stomp the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 7-2 to open up the pre-season. Although the game was listed as a packed house there were plenty of empty seats.

Season ticket holders can purchase and pick up pre-season tickets now. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Aug. 10 at 10 a.m.

According to the Harbour Station website, a ticket is required for entry to the free Aug. 13 game and can only be obtained at the box office in person.

The Sea Dogs will play six pre-season games in total this year. Along with the Aug. 13 game, they’ll also be playing at Harbour Station on Aug. 22 and Aug. 27 against the Moncton Wildcats.

Huberdeau Returning To The Station

Another current NHL player has been added to the list of confirmed players for the Saint John Sea Dogs alumni game.

The Sea Dogs announced today via social media that former captain Jonathan Huberdeau, now with the Florida Panthers, will take part in the Aug. 8 alumni game at Harbour Station. The game is part of the 2015 Wallace McCain Memorial Alumni Reunion.

Huberdeau is the franchise leader in points, recording 257 in 195 games as a Sea Dog. He also added 69 points in 55 playoff games.

The now 22-year-old played a major role in helping the Sea Dogs win three straight regular season titles, back-to-back President Cup championships and a Memorial Cup title.

In 2011, Huberdeau was named the QMJHL playoff and Memorial Cup MVP.

In 196 NHL games with the Panthers, Huberdeau has recorded 38 goals and 75 assists. He won the league’s Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in 2013.

Huberdeau joins Nathan Beaulieu, Simon Despres, Eric Gelinas, Mike Thomas, Michael Kirkpatrick, Jason Cameron, Zack Phillips, Stephen MacAulay and Kevin Gagne as confirmed players for the game. All 10 were part of the 2011 Memorial Cup championship Sea Dogs squad.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation

Beaulieu Added To Alumni Game

Nathan Beaulieu is the latest player to be added to the roster for the Saint John Sea Dogs alumni game on Aug. 8.

Beaulieu, who recorded one goal and eight assists in 64 games with the Montreal Canadiens this past season, played with Saint John from 2008-2012.

Beaulieu recorded 37 goals and 115 assists in 233 regular season games with the Sea Dogs. His 152 points leads all Sea Dogs defensemen in franchise history.

The 22-year-old also registered 12 goals and 36 assists in 61 playoff games, helping the team win three regular season championships, two President Cups and a Memorial Cup.

Beaulieu was a first round pick of the Habs in the 2011 NHL Draft.

The d-man joins Simon Despres, Eric Gelinas, Mike Thomas, Michael Kirkpatrick, Jason Cameron, Zack Phillips, Stephen MacAulay and Kevin Gagne as confirmed players for the game. All nine were part of the 2011 Memorial Cup championship Sea Dogs squad.

The alumni game, which takes place on Saturday, Aug. 8 at 2 p.m. at Harbour Station, is part of the 2015 Wallace McCain Memorial Alumni Reunion. Tickets are on sale now.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation

NHL D-Men Coming To Alumni Game

Two NHL defensemen will be playing on Harbour Station ice next month.

Simon Despres of the Anaheim Ducks and Eric Gelinas of the New Jersey Devils have both confirmed that they will attend the Sea Dogs’ Aug. 8 alumni game. The game is part of the 2015 Wallace McCain Memorial Alumni Reunion.

Despres, the first overall pick in the 2007 QMJHL Entry Draft, played four seasons with Saint John from 2007-2011. In 240 regular season games, the “Big Horse” registered 25 goals and 109 assists. He helped the Dogs win back-to-back regular season championships in 2010 and 2011 and President Cup and Memorial Cup titles in 2011.

The Pittsburgh Penguins traded Despres to the Ducks this past season where he had one goal and five assists in 16 regular season matches. He added a goal and six helpers in 16 playoff games.

Gelinas only played half a season with Saint John in 2011, helping the club clinch a regular season championship along with a President Cup and Memorial Cup title. In 27 games with the Dogs he had three goals and 17 assists. In 19 playoff games, Gelinas added five goals and seven assists.

This past season, the 24-year-old recorded six goals and 13 assists in 61 games with the Devils.

Despres and Gelinas join Mike Thomas, Michael Kirkpatrick, Jason Cameron, Zack Phillips, Stephen MacAulay and Kevin Gagne as confirmed players for the game. All eight were part of the 2011 Memorial Cup championship Sea Dogs squad.

Tickets to the alumni game, happening Saturday, Aug. 8 at 2 p.m., are on sale now.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation

Gagne Coming To Alumni Game

Kevin Gagne will be present at the Saint John Sea Dogs alumni game on Aug. 8 at Harbour Station.

The Sea Dogs announced today via social media that Gagne will be part of the 2015 Wallace McCain Memorial Alumni Reunion. Tickets to the alumni game, happening Saturday, Aug. 8 at 2 p.m., are on sale now.

Gagne joins Mike Thomas, Michael Kirkpatrick, Jason Cameron, Zack Phillips and Stephen MacAulay as confirmed players for the game. All six were part of the 2011 Memorial Cup championship Sea Dogs squad.

Gagne, an Edmundston native, played with Saint John for four-and-a-half seasons. He was traded to the Rimouski Oceanic during the 2012-13 season.

The speedy defenseman helped Saint John win three straight regular season championships, two President Cups and a Memorial Cup. He finished his QMJHL career with 39 goals and 134 assists in 300 regular season games.

Gagne has spent the past two seasons with the American Hockey League’s Norfolk Admirals. In 57 games last year, Gagne posted two goals and six assists.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation

Two More Confirmed For Alumni Game

Two more players have been confirmed for the Aug. 8 Sea Dogs alumni game at Harbour Station.

The team announced today via social media that forwards Zack Phillips and Stephen MacAulay have both confirmed that they will attend the event.

The Aug. 8 game, which will take place at 2 p.m., is the marque event of the 2015 Wallace McCain Memorial Alumni Reunion. Tickets are now on sale.

Phillips, a Fredericton native, was a first round pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2011 NHL Draft. His was traded by the Wild to the Boston Bruins this past season. In 16 games with the AHL’s Providence Bruins, Phillips recorded three goals and eight assists.

Phillips spent three seasons with the Sea Dogs from 2009-2011, helping the team win a President Cup and Memorial Cup championship in 2011. According to Elite Prospects, he is third all time in team scoring with 219 points in 192 games.

MacAulay is one of the winningest players in league history, appearing in four straight President Cup finals and three straight Memorial Cups. He won four regular season titles, three President Cups and two Memorial Cups.

MacAulay is fourth all time in games played as a Sea Dog, appearing in 255 games over parts of five seasons. He played with the Saint Mary’s Huskies last season.

Phillips and MacAulay join Mike Thomas, Michael Kirkpatrick and Jason Cameron as players confirmed for the alumni game.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation

We Are Hiring

Hello. We are looking for an Assistant Editor/Writer for this blog. Full details:

We are looking for a dedicated, hard working and innovative individual that will assist the Editor-in-Chief (EIC) in daily operations of the blog. The primary roles of the Assistant Editor/Writer will be to assist the EIC in writing/editing a variety of content, edit/post content written by other contributors and generate/plan future story ideas.

Duties will include - but are not limited to - the following:

• Writing, editing and posting original written content on Station Nation in a timely manner
• Editing and posting content written by other contributors – including post-game coverage
• Follow the editorial guidelines set by the EIC
• Either attend or watch (via webcast) the majority of Sea Dogs games live and, when needed, post updates on the @SeaDogsLive Twitter account and Station Nation Facebook page
• Find fan-centric news items to write about
• Use search engines, social media and other resources to find news tips and stories on the current team, past players and prospects
• Represent Station Nation in a professional manner on social media sites and other hockey blogs
• Develop relationships with NHL bloggers to assist in our coverage of Sea Dogs alumni and their coverage of prospects
• Follow NHL and sports blogs on a daily basis to find new opportunities and trends that could be brought to the junior hockey blogosphere.

Qualifications:

• Must have the ability to write and edit one's own work and edit the work of others (a.k.a. unreal writing skills)
• Must be able to attend or watch (via webcast) the majority of Sea Dogs games live
• Knowledge of digital media – specifically blogs – and what kinds/types of written material they typically produce
• Ability to discover news worthy items and produce appropriate content for them
• Must have a sense of humour and be able to show that in writing
• Any kind of experience in journalism is considered a strong asset
• Blogging experience of any kind is considered a strong asset
• Must have a strong interest in all aspects of sports writing
• Strong understanding of hockey rules, junior hockey and the NHL player development system
• General knowledge of the Sea Dogs and QMJHL is a strong asset
• Experience with video capturing and editing is considered an asset
• Experience with graphic design is considered an asset
• Must know the difference between Saint John and St. John's

This is an unpaid volunteer position (a QMJHL webcast account will be provided). This position is ideal for a student looking to gain journalism/writing experience and/or someone who is very passionate about sports writing.

Those interested in this position can email stationnation@yahoo.ca with “Assistant Editor/Writer” in the subject line. Please include a strong pitch as to why you are the ideal person for this position and what qualifications/experience you have. 

We also encourage those who may not know a ton about the Sea Dogs/QMJHL but meet the other qualifications to apply. If you fall into this category, please indicate why you feel you will be able to quickly learn about the team and league.

We thank all those who are interested. Only the individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.

Chabot Added To Summer Showcase

Sea Dogs defenseman Thomas Chabot has been added to the Hockey Canada's National Teams’ Summer Showcase event.

Chabot, a first round pick of the Ottawa Senators in this year’s NHL Draft, replaces Mitchell Vande Sompel of the Oshawa Generals who is injured.

Chabot will take part in the national junior team portion of the Summer Showcase, which takes place August 1-6 in Calgary. 40 players were invited to the development camp. 

From the Hockey Canada website:

In addition to the Summer Showcase hosted in Calgary at the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park, Chabot and camp invitees will monitored during the first few months of the 2015-16 season and at the CHL Super Series to determine who will be invited to Canada’s National Junior Team selection camp in December. In total, 22 players will be selected to represent Canada at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship, Dec. 26, 2015 to Jan. 5, 2016 in Helsinki, Finland.

Along with the usual development camp stuff, Team Canada will play two exhibition games against the Czech Republic and Russia. 

Former Sea Dogs defenseman Olivier LeBlanc, a Columbus Blue Jackets prospect who was traded to the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles this past season, was also invited.

Sea Dogs prospects Alex D’Orio and Joseph Veleno will take part in the under-17 team portion of the showcase. Meanwhile, Luke Green was invited to the under-18 camp.

More details on the showcase can be found on the Hockey Canada website.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation

Zboril Signs Entry Level Contract

Sea Dogs defenseman Jakub Zboril signed an entry-level contract with the Boston Bruins on Wednesday.

Zboril, selected 13^th overall by the Bruins in this year’s NHL Draft, recorded 13 goals and 20 assists in 44 regular season games with Saint John last season. He added one goal and two assists in five post-season matches.

Although the Bruins seem to be sort of rebuilding, the 18-year-old Zboril will likely return for another season of junior.

In other news, former Dogs defenseman Eric Gelinas has re-signed with the New Jersey Devils, inking a two-year contract worth $3.15 million total, according to NorthJersey.com.

From NorthJersey.com:

Gelinas, 24, will make $1.5 million in 2015-16 and $1.65 million in 2016-17 for a salary cap hit of $1.575 million per season. After the one-way deal expires, Gelinas would become a restricted free agent again and be one year away from being eligible to become an unrestricted free agent.    

The deal means Gelinas and the Devils will avoid going to arbitration.

The 24-year-old recorded six goals and 13 assists in 61 games with the Devils last season. 

Gelinas spent the second half of the 2010-11 season with Saint John, helping the team win the 2011 Memorial Cup.

Meanwhile, Mike Hoffman and the Ottawa Senators are scheduled to head to arbitration on July 30.

Photo via Bruins website

Three Players Confirmed For Alumni Game

Three Memorial Cup champions have been confirmed as 2015 Wallace McCain Memorial Alumni Reunion participants.

The Sea Dogs announced yesterday that forwards Mike Thomas, Michael Kirkpatrick and Jason Cameron have all confirmed that they will be in attendance for the Aug. 8 alumni game.

Thomas, who captained Saint John to the 2011 Memorial Cup title, played with the Sea Dogs from 2006-2011. The New Maryland native is the franchise leader in games played. His last season of competitive hockey was in 2013-14 when he played with the UNB Varsity Reds.

Kirkpatrick played with the Dogs from 2007-2011. According to Elite Prospects, he is second all-time in franchise scoring with 251 points in 266 games. Kirkpatrick has spent the past four seasons playing with the StFX X-Men.

Cameron spent four seasons with Saint John from 2010-2014. He played with the St. Thomas Tommies last season.

Tickets to the Aug. 8 game are now on sale to the general public at the Harbour Station box office.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation

Reports: Noel Invited To Ducks Camp

Sea Dogs F Nathan Noel, passed over in the #NHLDraft2015, has earned himself an invite to Anaheim's Main Camp after a walk on at Rookie Camp

— Kris Abbott (@EastlinkKris) July 10, 2015

Green Featured In "Futures List"

Sea Dogs defenseman Luke Green has gained more early attention for the 2016 NHL Draft.

Green was one of the players listed in NHL Central Scouting’s Futures List - the players were not ranked - for North America and Europe. The listings was released today.

"The list is based on the body of work that we saw from the players during 2014-15," NHL director of Central Scouting Dan Marr told NHL.com. "A number of these players will be changing teams for 2015-16 and that will be reflected in our preliminary players to watch list in September."

Green was one of nine players from the QMJHL to make the list and one of three to be featured on NHL.com. Here’s what the website had to say about him:

The Sea Dogs led all teams in the Canadian Hockey League with a franchise record seven players selected in the 2015 draft. Green (5-11, 174) might be the best of this year's group. He had 30 assists and 36 points in 60 regular-season games for the Sea Dogs last season when he played big minutes and exhibited good mobility and vision on a young team.

Both HockeyProspect.com and Future Considerations have Green ranked 26^th overall for the 2016 draft.

UPDATE: Also...

@station_nation Sea Dogs prospect Jamie Armstrong (HS- CT) is also listed. But will he arrive at SJ's training camp in August???

— Lorne Webster (@LDub023) July 10, 2015

Sea Dogs Sign Ontario Free Agent

The Sea Dogs announced yesterday the signing of yet another large human being.

The team announced that they had signed 18-year-old free agent forward Dawson Theede. The Whitby, Ontario native is listed at 6’3” and 209 lbs. He is expected to join the team in August for the opening of training camp.

In 41 games with the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Cobourg Cougars, Theede recorded 17 goals and 10 assists to go along with 70 penalty minutes. He was named an OJHL Second-Team All-Prospect last season as well.

Theede also played four games with Team Canada East at the World Junior ‘A’ Hockey Challenge last year, recording no points.

In 2013-14, Theede registered 23 points in 28 games with the Whitby Wildcats midget AAA team.

Sea Dogs general manager Darrell Young showed last year that he is a big fan of dipping into the Ontario free agent market. Theede is also a big body, which is something Young has certainly been putting a focus on when acquiring players.

Photo: Sea Dogs website

Alumni Week Details Released

The Sea Dogs unveiled details for the 2015 Wallace McCain Memorial Alumni Reunion today.

From the team’s release:

The reunion is scheduled for Saturday, August 8th through Sunday, August 16th. It features two main events sandwiched around the start of Sea Dogs' training camp for the 2015-16 QMJHL season.  

The Sea Dogs will hold an alumni game on Saturday, August 8th, at 2 p.m. at Harbour Station, featuring dozens of players from the franchise's first ten years. Sea Dogs alumni will make up both teams. A silent auction will be held throughout the game.  

Tickets for the alumni game are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 4-14, taxes and fees included. Children 3-and-under are free. Tickets are general admission and will be available at the Harbour Station Box Office on Monday, July 13th.  

A postgame autograph session with alumni will take place at Harbour Station, followed by a reception and live auction at Rocky's Sports Bar beginning at 8 p.m.

The reunion is in support of the Children's Wish Foundation and the Saint John Regional Hospital Auxiliary's Brighten Group.

The team previously held an alumni game in August of 2013 and featured a team made up of former Sea Dogs taking on a UNB Varsity Reds alumni squad. The game was quite popular amongst fans and it was great to see many of the team’s former stars return to Harbour Station. Hopefully many of the fan favourites will be able to make it back again this year.

The rosters for this year's game will be announced at a later date.

The reunion wraps up with the inaugural Sea Dogs Open Water Swim on Sunday, August 16th, at 9 a.m. at the Renforth Wharf Beach in Rothesay. More details on that can be found here.

The team also announced today that training camp will begin on Sunday, August 9th with the arrival of players.

Grant Signs With Coyotes

Former Sea Dogs captain Alex Grant has signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Arizona Coyotes.

From the Coyotes website:

The 26-year-old Grant registered 6-27-33 and 57 penalty minutes (PIM) in 58 games with the Binghamton Senators (AHL) last season. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound native of Antigonish, NS has totaled 2-0-2 and a plus-three rating in two career NHL games with the Anaheim Ducks.  

Grant was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fourth round (118th overall) in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

The Coyotes’ American Hockey League affiliate is the Springfield Falcons.

Grant, the first overall pick in the 2005 QMJHL Entry Draft, played three-and-a-half seasons with the Sea Dogs before being traded to the Shawinigan Cataractes during the 2008-09 trading period.

Galiev Re-Signed By Caps

The Washington Capitals announced yesterday that they have re-signed former Sea Dogs forward Stanislav Galiev.

According to the team’s website, the two-year, $1.15 million contract is two way during the 2015-16 season and one way during the 2016-17 season.

The 23-year-old Russian made his NHL debut with the Caps this past season, recording a goal in two games. He also had a breakout season with the American Hockey League’s Hershey Bears, posting 25 goals and 20 assists in 67 games.

A third-round pick of the Capitals in the 2010 NHL Draft, Galiev posted 65 goals and 144 points in 151 regular season games with the Sea Dogs over three seasons. He added 34 goals and 80 points in 57 playoff games.

Meanwhile, the Columbus Blue Jackets announced today that they have signed former Sea Dogs enforcer Brett Gallant to a two-year, two way deal.

Green Projected As 2016 First Rounder

Luke Green is projected to be a late first round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, according to a couple of very early draft rankings.

Both Future Considerations and HockeyProspect.com have released their top 30 for next year’s draft. Green, the first overall pick in the 2014 QMJHL Entry Draft, was ranked 26^th by both websites.

In his rookie season with the Sea Dogs, the defenseman lived up to the hype and posted six goals and 30 assists in 60 games.

It’ll be interesting to see if Green can inch up the rankings as the season goes on, much like Thomas Chabot did this year. Saint John’s defense core has plenty of talent with Green, Chabot, Jakub Zboril, Bailey Webster, Oliver Felixson and others.

American forward Auston Matthews was, not surprisingly, ranked first for the 2016 draft by both websites. Also, as you can see in the rankings, it doesn’t look like it will be a strong year for the QMJHL.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation