Notebook: Patenaude invited to Swiss camp

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Saint John Sea Dogs goaltender Noah Patenaude has been invited to Switzerland's world junior training camp.

According to a news release, the team's training camp begins Dec. 6 in Switzerland. After a first round of the cuts, the reaming players will travel to the Edmonton bubble on Dec. 13. The team is scheduled to make its final cuts on Dec. 23 after two pre-tournament games (Dec. 20 vs USA and Dec. 22 vs Sweden).

Congrats @Noahpatenaude1 ! Good luck! https://t.co/PDPTDfXtPF

— Anthony Stella (@AnthonyStella_) November 23, 2020

Four goaltenders were invited to the camp and the team is expected to carry three for the tournament. Patenaude, a dual Canadian/Swiss citizen, is the only one of the four currently playing in North America. 

Patenaude has arguably been Saint John's MVP this season, posting a 4-6 record to go along with a 3.62 goals against average and a .889 save percentage.

Former Sea Dogs goaltender Robert Mayer played for Switzerland at the 2008 World Junior Hockey Championship.

SCHEDULE CHANGES

The QMJHL confirmed Tuesday that Saint John's weekend games have been postponed.

The Sea Dogs were scheduled to host the Acadie-Bathurst Titan on Saturday and Halifax Mooseheads on Sunday. Saint John's games last weekend were also postponed along with Wednesday's match against Moncton.

Officially, Saint John's next scheduled game is next Thursday, Dec. 3 against the Cape Breton Eagles at TD Station. The Saint John area will have to be out of the orange phase and back into the yellow for there to be any chance of that game happening.

No games are scheduled in the Maritimes this weekend.

AUS SEASON CANCELLED

Atlantic University Sport announced Wednesday that the conference's winter sport season - which includes hockey - has been cancelled.

There was a bit of good news though. The "AUS will allow member-driven competition for the upcoming winter semester," meaning exhibition games are still possible.

Wednesday's announcement impacts several Sea Dogs alumni who were set to play for AUS squads this season. There was definitely some initial worries about players leaving U Sports programs to turn pro, but that seems like less and less of a problem given how few leagues around the globe have managed to get going - and stay going - during the pandemic.

FEATURED TEAM

The Sea Dogs are technically still ranked eighth in the CHL Top 10, which hasn't been updated since September. The Dogs were the CHL's featured team this past week.

The Sherbrooke Phoenix, who are 0-5 and may not play another game until 2021, are technically still ranked first.

THRIVING

The Hockey Writers included Sea Dogs forward Joshua Roy in a recent list of NHL Draft eligible QMJHL players who are thriving early on this season.

"What has impressed me the most about Roy’s game is his offensive awareness with the puck on his stick," writes Mathieu Sheridan. "He is really good at using his skating ability to open up passing lanes and shields the puck really well when driving the net. Roy has no trouble finding a teammate in the slot and often makes plays that others wouldn’t even dare to try. Pair that with a hard, accurate shot that he is able to get off even with defenders swarming him and it easy to see why Roy makes his impact felt on the offensive side of the puck."

Roy leads the Sea Dogs in goals with nine and points with 17.

TVA DONE?

There is a report that this will be TVA Sports' final season as the CHL's French-language broadcaster. TVA Sports and Sportsnet both entered into their current broadcast arrangements in 2014 and the deals are not set to expire until 2026.

There have been a number of restructures at TVA Sports over the past few years, most tied to financial woes. TVA Sports is part of Quebecor, which also owns the Quebec Remparts and co-owns the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.

French-language CHL games would reportedly return to RDS for the 2021-22 season if TVA Sports successfully gets out of their current contract.

RICHARD SIGNS

As expected, defenseman Guillaume Richard, a fourth-round pick of the Sea Dogs in this year's QMJHL Entry Draft, has signed a letter of intent with the University of Maine. The 17-year-old will join the Black Bears for the 2021-22 season next fall.

Welcome to #BlackBearNation Guillaume!

📝: ➡️ https://t.co/8RUmwGF0Kd

Projected a 2nd or 3rd round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, Richard will wear the script next fall!#HockeyEast pic.twitter.com/dTkpdVo2nv

— Maine Men’s Ice Hockey (@MaineIceHockey) November 18, 2020

Richard is currently playing with the USHL's Tri-City Storm where he has three assists in five games. The USHL is struggling mightily to get games in as the pandemic hammers the US midwest.

HRYCKOWIAN SIGNS

Forward Justin Hryckowian, an 11th-round pick of the Sea Dogs in the 2017 QMJHL Entry Draft, has officially signed with the Northeastern Huskies. He'll join the team for the 2021-22 season.

Congrats Justin Hryckowian (@Ritszy) on signing with the #HowlinHuskies! 🐾🏒

Position: Forward
Hometown: L'Île-Bizard, QC
Current team: Sioux City (USHL)

•Played one season with Cedar Rapids before heading to Sioux City
•Had 4️⃣ goals & 10 assists in 17 games last season pic.twitter.com/tj0IHyH0f5

— Northeastern Men’s Hockey (@GoNUmhockey) November 18, 2020

Hryckowian has a goal and three assists in three games with the USHL's Sioux City Musketeers, a team he captains.