Thursday, December 31, 2015

2015 Year In Review

Ah, 2015. It was a year of trades, a year of first round draft picks, a year of suspensions, and a year of exceptionalism. Here's a look back at some of the biggest Sea Dogs stories and events from the year that was.

Jan. 5 - the Sea Dogs made a couple of huge trades, which included shipping out captain Olivier LeBlanc and bringing in Bokondji Imama and Jason Bell. Oh, and they acquired Drummondville's first round pick from Cape Breton.

Jan. 12 - Mark Tremaine was named Sea Dogs captain.

Jan. 27 - Shane Bowers was ranked as the top prospect available for the 2015 QMJHL Entry Draft. Maybe the Sea Dogs will draft him!

Feb. 5 - The Sea Dogs are struggling right now, you guys. And we got to use a fantastic photo.

Feb. 12 - Changes have been made to the QMJHL website. Repeat - CHANGES TO THE Q SITE.

Feb. 16 - Bokondji Imama gets suspended four games for pushing an official. That will definitely be his longest suspension of 2015.
Feb. 19 - Nathan Beaulieu scored his first NHL goal. Montreal's offence will be fine!

March 2 - the Sea Dogs clinched a playoff spotSimon Despres was traded to Anaheim and Zack Phillips was dealt to Boston.

March 6 - Garbage video we took of an unreal Luke Green goal.
March 10 - Bokondji Imama suspended two games. Surely his last suspension of 2015.

March 12 - the University Cup began in Halifax. It almost killed me! Good times!

March 13 - the Sea Dogs were officially entered into the lottery for the QMJHL's first overall draft pick. If only Joe Veleno was made available. IF ONLY.

March 21 - the Sea Dogs will play the Baie-Comeau Drakkar in the first round of the 2015 playoffs.

April 4 - the Sea Dogs were been eliminated by the Baie-Comeau Drakkar in the first round of the 2015 playoffs. 

April 9 - for the fifth time in team history, the Sea Dogs will select first overall in the QMJHL Entry Draft.

April 11 - Stanislav Galiev scored his first NHL goal.

April 14 - it's announced that the Sea Dogs and head coach Ross Yates have parted ways. DRAMA TIME. According to a blog post I wrote, it wasn't a surprise.
April 18 - there was an electric atmosphere at Fredericton's Aitken Centre to see a round two playoff game between the Wildcats and Mooseheads.

April 26 - Nathan Noel, Thomas Chabot and Team Canada won under-18 bronze.

May 5 - Joe Veleno is seeking exceptional player status to enter the QMJHL Entry Draft as a 15-year-old. OH MY.

May 10 - Joe Veleno is denied exceptional player status. OH MY.

May 22 - we enter the bizarro world: Danny Flynn is named head coach of the Sea Dogs.

May 29 - there's a chance Joe Veleno could still be granted exceptional player status. You don't think...

June 4 - Joe Veleno is granted exceptional player status. OH MY.

June 5 - the Sea Dogs acquire 20-year-old goaltender Marc-Antoine Turcotte.

June 6 - Joe Veleno is drafted first overall by Saint John, becoming the first exceptional status player drafted into the QMJHL. The Sea Dogs pick Alex D'Orio and Cedric Pare later in the first round. Here's a full look at Saint John's 2015 draft class.

June 11 - Paul Boutilier is named a Sea Dogs assistant coach.

June 16 - the 2015-16 season schedule is out and Sunday games are dying and this is a good thing.

June 26 - Jakub Zboril and Thomas Chabot are selected in the first round of the NHL Draft.

June 27 - five more Sea Dogs are picked in the NHL Draft. Meanwhile, the undrafted Nathan Noel and Bailey Webster receive camp invites.

June 30 - Saint John picked Oliver Felixson with the 25th overall pick in the CHL Import Draft and - the seemingly forgotten about - Frantisek Hrdinka 85th overall.

Aug. 7 - the Sea Dogs sign Sam Povorozniouk.

Aug. 8 - Team McCain defeats Team McGraw 9-8 at the Sea Dogs alumni game. Big game from Jonathan Huberdeau.

Aug. 10 - training camp started.

Aug. 11 - $32 pizza.

Aug. 12 - Blade Mann-Dixon is traded to Moncton. He'll probably record a win against Saint John at some point... maybe... probably...

Aug. 17 - Jack vanBoekel is traded to Val-d'Or.

Aug. 20 - it's official: Saint John sends first round picks Alex D'Orio and Cedric Pare back to midget.

Sept. 1 - Saint John's season opening roster is announced.

Sept. 4 - are the Sea Dogs... favourites to win the QMJHL???

Sept. 11 - the internet says the Sea Dogs will have a good team this season.
Sept. 12 - Joe Veleno scores his first QMJHL goal. Exceptional stuff.

Sept. 17 - eight members of the Sea Dogs head off to main NHL training camps.

Sept. 25 - Spencer Smallman is named captain of the Sea Dogs.

Oct. 6 - it took Joe Veleno only a couple weeks to get handed a suspension by the league. Welcome to the QMJHL.

Oct. 13 - three Sea Dogs are suspended following a nasty game against Blainville-Boisbriand.

Oct. 16 - in unfortunate news, Samuel Dove-McFalls will need knee surgery.

Oct. 19 - Sea Dogs president Wayne Long becomes MP for the Saint John-Rothesay riding.

Nov. 6 - this goal by Thomas Chabot.
Nov. 19 - Mathieu Joseph scores twice in Team QMJHL's 6-4 victory in the final game of the Canada Russia Series.

Dec. 2 - Sea Dogs-Titan game in Bathurst is postponed after Nicolas Dumulong is run over by his own car.

Dec. 10 - the Sea Dogs acquire 20-year-old defenseman Matt Murphy from the Quebec Remparts.

Dec. 11 - Sea Dogs-Mooseheads game was a complete mess.
Dec. 13 - Bokondji Imama is suspended for the final time in 2015, this time for a whopping 15 games.

Dec. 15 - TIMO TIME IN SAINT JOHN???

Dec. 20 - Thomas Chabot is named to Canada's world junior team. Also, Julien Tessier and Jason Bell have been traded.

Dec. 31 - going all the way back to this morning, Chris DiDomenico wins Spengler Cup with Team Cup.

Photos: Marc Henwood/Station Nation

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