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Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Alumdate: Hot starts in the AHL

Matthew Highmore isn't the only Saint John Sea Dogs alumnus off to a hot start in the American Hockey League.

Highmore leads the Rockford IceHogs in scoring with three goals and five points through three games. He also sits second in AHL rookie scoring - one point behind former Charlottetown Islander Daniel Sprong.

The IceHogs might be the favourite AHL club of Sea Dogs fans right now. Tomas Jurco sits second on the team in scoring - and he setup Highmore's first AHL goal in the team's season opener on Oct. 7 in Cleveland (yes, Brett Gallant had a fight in that game).

The IceHogs received another former Sea Dog on Wednesday with the Chicago Blackhawks assigning Nathan Noel to the club. Noel has yet to play anywhere this season after suffering a knee injury at Blackhawks training camp.

In Belleville, Thomas Chabot is back from the big club, joining former Sea Dog Chris DiDomenico. DiDomenico, who spent a few years in the AHL and ECHL before going to Europe, has a Senators high three goals and two assists.

Alex Grant, meanwhile, is off to a fairly good start with the Iowa Wild. His first goal of the season came in the first period against Rockford on Oct. 8 - a period that saw Highmore score twice and Jurco record an assist. It's neat to see all three generations of Sea Dogs playing in the same game.

Here's a look at all the former Sea Dogs currently playing in the AHL.

AHL
PlayerTeamGPGoalsAssistsPoints
Matthew HighmoreRFD3325
Chris DiDomenicoBEL4325
Tomas JurcoRFD3134
Thomas ChabotBEL2112
Alex GrantIA4112
Mathieu JosephSYR5011
Bokondji ImamaONT2000
Eric GelinasLAV2000
Brett GallantCLE3000
Simon BourqueLAV3000
Jakub ZborilPRO3000
Julien GauthierCHA3000
Spencer SmallmanCHA----
Nathan NoelRFD----

This is a significant amount of Sea Dogs alumni compared to past years.

Highmore, Chabot, Noel, Mathieu Joseph, Bokondji Imama, Simon Bourque, Jakub Zboril, Julien Gauthier and Spencer Smallman are all in their rookie pro seasons.

Imama had his first pro fight on Oct. 7 in San Antonio, which the camera guy just refused to zoom in on for some reason.



Smallman started the season on the ECHL Florida Everblades' roster but was recalled to the Charlotte Checkers on Oct. 11. He has yet to play for either club - although Callum Booth, Michael Kirkpatrick and Stephen MacAulay are all currently playing with the Everblades.

According to Elite Prospects, Ryan Tesink (Rapid City Rush) is the only other Sea Dogs alumnus playing in the ECHL at the moment.

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