Notebook: Lawrence showing off skill

SAINT JOHN - Josh Lawrence has been noticeable at Saint John Sea Dogs training camp for a couple reasons.

For starters, he sticks out right away because he's one of the smaller players at camp at just 5'09" and 163 lbs. But he has also sticks out for some of his incredible playmaking ability, picking up a handful of assists in Saturday's scrimmages alone.

He has found instant chemistry with Team Blue linemates William Poirier and Maxim Cajkovic - and it will be interesting to see if the trio sees some time together in pre-season play. But even when removed from those two - which he was on Saturday night - he has made some excellent passes, showing off his excellent vision.

Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News recently wrote that Lawrence is "fast and skilled," featuring the forward in his prospect "need to know" piece for the 2020 NHL Draft.

"He’ll put up a ton of points in the ‘Q,’" writes Kennedy. "Lawrence was taken 15th overall by the Sea Dogs because he was committed to Boston University at the time, but he has since signed with Saint John. The New Brunswick native was the leading scorer for Selects Academy in Connecticut, which is a solid developer of talent."

BURT SENT HOME
19-year-old forward Robbie Burt has been sent home by the Sea Dogs, reports the Telegraph-Journal (paywall).

According to head coach Josh Dixon, specific goals were set for Burt to reach during the off-season. He did not meet those goals and was sent home on the first day of training camp.

Burt, a former first round pick in the OHL, joined the Sea Dogs last season after three years in the OHL. He put up respectable numbers with Saint John (14 goals and 12 assists in 55 games) and provided some toughness.

WHITE SIGNED
The Sea Dogs have signed big left winger James White, according to this tweet.

Big shout out to @COWmidgetAAA alumni @James_White_20 as he takes another step in his development signing with the @SJSeaDogs Congratulations Jimmy! pic.twitter.com/06c9KPGDTm

— Clair Cornish (@turkjr19) August 19, 2018

White, 6'4" and 220 lbs, spent last season with the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League's  Rayside-Balfour Canadians where he put up 18 goals and 26 assists in 52 games. Elite Prospects has him listed on the OJHL's Wellington Dukes roster for 2018-19.

A free agent invite to training camp, White was selected in the first round, seventh overall by the Flint Firebirds in the 2017 OHL draft.

WILLIAMS AT FIVE NATIONS
Forward Jack Williams, who the Sea Dogs selected first overall in this year's American QMJHL Entry Draft, has been playing with Team USA at the under-17 Five Nations tournament in Slovakia.

Williams, who recorded three goals and two assists in four games in the tournament, was named player of the game on Saturday in Team USA's 7-6 overtime loss to Germany.

LRTs: Jack Williams named Player of the Game for the USA 5 Nations team today. Williams notched a goal and an assist among other contributions.

— Northeastern Hockey Blog (@NUHockeyBlog) August 18, 2018

Williams had another big game on Sunday, recording two goals and an assist in Team USA's 5-0 shutout win over Slovakia.

The US finished third in the tournament.

Williams, a 16-year-old from Biddeford, Maine, is committed to Northeastern University for 2020-21.