Roode joining MHL's Mariners

Photo: Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Benjamin Roode is joining the Yarmouth Mariners.

The Maritime Hockey League club tweeted on Friday that the 18-year-old Saint John Sea Dogs defenseman will be part of the team's roster.

#BREAKING Defenceman Ben Roode has joined us. Ben was previously playing with the @SJSeaDogs Welcome, Ben!#BleedBlue #MarinersArmy

— Yarmouth Mariners (@MarinersHockey) January 8, 2021

The move does not come as a surprise. Roode, a former first-round pick of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, has played in just two of Saint John's 15 games. The Sea Dogs haven't played since Nov. 18, but Roode's last game was Nov. 6.

Roode spent the past two seasons with the Titan. He has recorded a goal and four assists in 131 career QMJHL games. The Sea Dogs acquired the d-man in September. 

All MHL games are currently postponed until at least Jan. 13. The Mariners currently lead the Eastlink South Division with a 10-3 record.

The move leaves eight defensemen on Saint John's roster: Christopher Inniss, Kale McCallum, Charlie DesRoches, Jeremie Poirier, William Villeneuve, Jan Hampl, Hunter Gartley and Nathan Drapeau. Gartley has played in just two games while it still isn't clear if Hampl, an import, will be able to join the club.

The QMJHL's Maritimes Division is currently scheduled to resume play on Jan. 22, meaning out-of-province moves made now will have to miss game action due to the 14-day quarantine period. But... that Jan. 22 restart is looking more and more unlikely.