Pre-season schedule released

The QMJHL released its 2016 pre-season schedule on Thursday.

The Saint John Sea Dogs are currently scheduled to play nine pre-season games, six of which will take place between Aug. 19-28. With the QMJHL beginning its regular season later this year, the remaining three exhibition matches will happen Sept. 9-17

The Sea Dogs will take part in the first ever “Hub City Showcase” in Moncton, according to the Times & Transcript (paywall). The newspaper reports that each team in the tournament will play three games with the third game being determined based on the tournament standings.

Here’s the schedule for the tournament, which will take place Aug. 19-21 at Moncton’s Superior Propane Centre:

Aug. 19 at 1 p.m. – Charlottetown vs Bathurst

Aug. 19 at 4 p.m. – Halifax vs Saint John

Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. – Moncton vs Cape Breton

Aug. 20 at 1 p.m. – Bathurst vs Halifax

Aug. 20 at 4 p.m. – Cape Breton vs Charlottetown

Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. – Moncton vs Saint John

Aug. 21 at 10 a.m. – Playoff

Aug. 21 at 1 p.m. – Playoff

Aug. 21 at 4 p.m. – Playoff

More details on the event will be released next week, according to the Wildcats website.

It appears similar tournaments involving Quebec based teams will be taking place in Shawinigan, Chicoutimi and Rockland, ON that same weekend.

The Sea Dogs won’t be going to any unusual locations other than North Sydney, where they’ll play their final pre-season game on Sept. 17. Via the QMJHL website, here is Saint John’s full pre-season schedule (which doesn't include the third Hub City Showcase game on Aug. 21):

The Sea Dogs begin regular season play on Sept. 23 in Charlottetown.