Notebook: Pre-Season Nearing End

The Saint John Sea Dogs wrap up pre-season play this week with a pair of games against the Moncton Wildcats.

On Thursday, the Wildcats visit Harbour Station for a 7 p.m. match. On Friday, the Dogs and ‘Cats will travel to Bouctouche for a 7 p.m. contest.

Saint John is 3-1-0-0 in exhibition play this year and are tied for the league lead in goals scored with 21. The Wildcats are also 3-1-0-0 but only have a +4 goal differential compared to the Sea Dogs’ +9.

MacAULAY LANDS PANTHERS TRYOUT

For the second straight year, former Sea Dogs forward Stephen MacAulay has been invited to Florida Panthers rookie camp on a tryout.

MacAulay is one of 14 forwards (American Connor Brickley, a 2011 Sea Dogs draft pick, is also on the roster) who will suit up for the Panthers in a rookie tournament that features teams from Tampa Bay, Washington and Nashville. With the Lightning taking part, there’s a chance MacAulay will face Boko Imama and Mathieu Joseph.

The tournament goes from Sept. 12-15. More details can be found here.

MacAulay is one of the most successful players in QMJHL history. With Saint John, the 23-year-old won three regular season titles, two President Cups and a Memorial Cup. There’s no doubt Gerard Gallant and Mike Kelly – who are now with the Panthers – played a role getting MacAulay on the roster.

MacAulay has spent the past two seasons with the Saint Mary’s Huskies. The Huskies are hosting the CIS University Cup this season.

THREE DOGS MAKES ISLES

As expected, three former Sea Dogs have made the Charlottetown Islanders 2015-16 roster.

Defensemen Alex McQuaid and Will Thompson along with forward Oliver Cooper will all be Islanders this season. This will be the second season in Charlottetown for Cooper and Thompson while McQuaid will be playing in his first.

Cooper and Thompson were traded before last season. McQuaid was also traded prior to last season – to the Quebec Remparts – and became an Islander a few weeks ago.

SMITH CRACKS EAGLES

Declan Smith, a fourth-round pick of the Sea Dogs in the 2014 QMJHL Entry Draft, has made the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles’ season opening roster.

Smith was traded to Cape Breton in the Olivier Leblanc deal last season. The 17-year-old centre appeared in three games with the Eagles but was held pointless.

The Antigonish native spent most of last season with the Cape Breton West Islanders of the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League where he registered 18 goals and 24 assists in 34 regular season games.

Smith joins Leblanc as former Sea Dogs on the Screaming Eagles. The two were traded to Cape Breton in exchange for Jason Bell and a first-round pick – which ended up turning into Joe Veleno.

EXCEPTIONAL SIGN

According to Stephane Leroux of RDS, this sign is at the Saint John airport.

En tournage aujourd'hui a Saint John - Photo a l'aéroport de Joseph Veleno "The face of the history" #pasdepression pic.twitter.com/GmDqWUJSHj

— Stephane Leroux (@StephRDSJunior) August 22, 2015

ALUMNI VIDEOS

The Sea Dogs have uploaded some interviews from alumni weekend.

Here’s Mike Thomas:

Ryan Tesink:

SAMMY P

The biggest question mark heading into the regular season: how do you pronounce Povorozniouk? Via our own Kevin Chambers, here is a great video of OHL play-by-play guys giving it a shot.

Off topic, but how sharp are those Kingston jerseys? Solid.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation