Notebook: Joseph in hunt for second Cup

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And then there was one.

Mathieu Joseph of the Tampa Bay Lightning is the lone Saint John Sea Dogs alumnus still playing for the Stanley Cup. Joseph became the first Sea Dog to win the trophy last season.

Joseph, who did not appear in any playoff games with the Lightning in The Bubble, has appeared in two post-season games this year.

Charlie Coyle and the Boston Bruins were eliminated by the New York Islanders on Wednesday. The Bruins also featured Jakub Zboril who did not see any playoff action.

Jonatha Huberdeau (Florida) and Mike Hoffman (St. Louis) were eliminated in the first-round. Tomas Jurco spent time with the Vegas Golden Knights this season but doesn't appear to be on the club's playoff roster.

RICHARD JOINING FRIARS

Sea Dogs draft pick Guillaume Richard will be heading to Providence College rather than the University of Maine.

Richard, who is expected to be selected in this year's NHL Draft, broke the news himself.

Proud to announce my commitment to @friarshockey excited to get things going! #gofriars pic.twitter.com/pvI6LihxPQ

— Guillaume Richard (@G_Richard4) June 7, 2021

The 18-year-old defenseman spent this past season with the USHL's Tri-City Storm where he registered two goals and 14 assists in 46 games. He also played for Team Canada at the recent Under-18 World Championship in Texas.

Committing to a new school this late seemingly makes it even more unlikely that Richard, a fourth-round pick of the Sea Dogs in last year's QMJHL Entry Draft, will report to Saint John.

Maine recently hired a new head coach following the death of Red Gendron in April.

AUS HOCKEY RETURNING

University hockey will return in the Maritimes this fall.

Atlantic University Sport announced Wednesday that it intends to resume fall and winter sports when students (hopefully) return to campus in the months ahead. No AUS sanctioned sports took place during the 2020-21 season due to the pandemic.

“While we acknowledge this season likely won't look identical to pre-pandemic years, we all hope 2021-22 will look a lot more like the 2019-20 season than 2020-21,” said John Richard, who is UNB director of athletics, AUS president and chair of the AUS return to play committee.

“With university sport being such a key piece of the fabric of our university institutions, and a vital aspect of our communities, we all stand ready and united to do whatever is required to achieve our return.”

Schedules are expected to be announced next week.

DOVE-MCFALLS RETURNING

Speaking of AUS hockey, former Sea Dogs forward Samuel Dove-McFalls will return for another season with the UNB Reds.

“The pandemic definitely played a role in my decision to come back,” said Dove-McFalls, who will enter the Sports and Recreation Management MBA program, in a release. “After having the national championship cancelled last year and no competition this past season, I think there’s still a lot for me to accomplish at this level. It feels like I have some unfinished business here with UNB, and the opportunity to do my MBA while playing hockey was very enticing.”

The 24-year-old has recorded 15 goals and 20 assists in 49 AUS games with the Reds.

Dove-McFalls spent four seasons with the Sea Dogs, helping the club win the 2017 President Cup championship.

COURTEAU TALKS MEM CUP
QMJHL commissioner Gilles Courteau discussed how significant the return of the Memorial Cup tournament will be in 2022 in an interview with the Junior Hockey Magazine radio program.

"It is going to be huge," Courteau said, via the CHL website. "We have been two years in a row without any Memorial Cup. Next year we hope that we will be able to present the tournament. In my mind, there is no reason why we will not be able. I think we have to see what is going to happen with the borders and how the OHL and the WHL are going to be back playing for the 2021-22 season, and the same thing for our league, but I have lots of faith that we will be able to start on the right foot next season. I am expecting vaccination is going to go well and we will have a good result out of it. To have the Memorial Cup tournament as a goal when we start the season, that is going to be huge for all of our players."

Few details have been released about next year's tournament other than the fact that a QMJHL city will host the event in June 2022.

OTHER THINGS

• The 2021 QMJHL Entry Draft is two weeks away.
• According to a WHL release, the selection order for June 30's CHL Import Draft "will be released at a later date by the CHL." It was announced Friday that the Everett Silvertips will have the WHL's top pick.
• Per Instagram, Joe Veleno has finally received his 2020 world junior championship ring  (a tournament that feels like it took place a decade ago).
• Brad Flynn, the son of former Sea Dogs head coach Danny Flynn, will not be returning as an assistant coach with the WHL's Red Deer Rebels next season.
• Trois-Rivieres' expansion ECHL team, which will no doubt be loaded with former QMJHL talent, will be called the Lions. The Montreal Canadiens affiliate begins play this October.