Sea Dogs trim camp roster by four

Photo: Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

The Saint John Sea Dogs announced a few roster moves on Labour Day.

The Sea Dogs have reassigned forward Carter McCluskey (2003) along with defensemen Isaac Dixon (2002), Sam Dow (2002) and Brendan Sibley (2001). It's the team's first cuts from this year's unique training camp.

McCluskey and Dixon were unlikely to make this year's squad but this experience should benefit them down the road. Sibley and Dow, meanwhile, were in a battle for the final couple spots on a stacked blue line.

Training Camp Update ⬇️

The Sea Dogs have re-assigned the following players:

F - Carter McCluskey (2003)
D - Isaac Dixon (2002)
D - Sam Dow (2002)
D - Brendan Sibley (2001)

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) September 7, 2020

All four will presumably join Maritime Hockey League clubs. McCluskey (Grand Falls), Dixon (Grand Falls), Dow (Campbellton) and Sibley (Yarmouth) spent all or part of last season in the MHL.

With these cuts made, Saint John's defense core is just about set. Charlie DesRoches, Nathan Drapeau, Hunter Gartley, Christopher Inniss, Kale McCallum, Jeremie Poirier, Benjamin Roode and William Villeneuve remain on the camp roster. Import Jan Hampl is currently unable to attend camp due to border restrictions.

13 forwards remain. That doesn't include import Vladislav Kotkov and American Matt Gould, both of whom are unable to attend because of the border.

In net, Daniel Moody, who was on loan to the Sea Dogs from the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, is no longer listed on the club's online roster. The newly acquired Creed Jones; overager Carmine-Anthony Pagliarulo; and 18-year-old Noah Patenaude remain on that online roster - although Sea Dogs president and general manager Trevor Georgie indicated on Sunday that the net will belong to Jones and Patenaude this season.

Jones, acquired from the Rimouski Oceanic, will need to isolate for 14 days before playing with the team.

Saint John's next pre-season game is on Sunday afternoon at TD Station when they host the Halifax Mooseheads.