REPORT: Gilbert won't return as head coach

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Greg Gilbert will not return as head coach of the Saint John Sea Dogs this season, reports Mikael Lalancette.

Greg Gilbert ne sera pas de retour comme entraîneur-chef des Sea Dogs. Il restera sans doute associé à l’organisation. Dossier à suivre. #LHJMQ

— Mikaël Lalancette (@MikLalancette) July 29, 2021

The announcement comes just a couple weeks before the start of training camp. Saint John's first pre-season game is set to take place Aug. 19.

Gilbert was named Sea Dogs head coach in June 2020 and led the team to a 15-14-3-1 record during the bizarre 2020-21 season. While the team showed glimpses of its potential, the Sea Dogs once again struggled to consistently play their best hockey.

The 59-year-old had previous head coaching experience in the NHL, AHL and OHL prior to coming to Saint John. He won three Stanley Cups as a player.

Former Sea Dogs on the move

Saint John Sea Dogs

A couple former Saint John Sea Dogs are on the move.

On the opening day of NHL free agency, the Montreal Canadiens signed Mike Hoffman to a three-year contract worth an average annual value of $4.5 million.

Hoffman spent last season with the St. Louis Blues where he recorded 17 goals and 19 assists in 52 games. He added one goal in four playoff games.

This will be Hoffman's fourth NHL team after stints with the Blues, Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators.

Hoffman played a season-and-a-half of junior hockey in nearby Drummondville. He spent the 2009-10 season with the Sea Dogs where he recorded 46 goals and 39 assists in 56 games as an overager, winning the QMJHL's most valuable player award.

Elsewhere, the Los Angeles Kings traded Bokondji Imama to the Arizona Coyotes last week in a deal that involved three other players.

Imama has yet to appear in an NHL game and has spent much of the past four seasons in the AHL with the Ontario Reign. There will certainly be more playing opportunities with the Coyotes given their lineup situation over the next few seasons.

Thank you Boko for being a leader on the ice and in the community for four years! Your influence and fights will be missed. pic.twitter.com/23BxIqoQIG

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) July 27, 2021

Imama, 24, spent parts of three seasons with the Sea Dogs, helping the club win the President Cup in 2017.

Three Sea Dogs earn NHL camp invites

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

At least three Saint John Sea Dogs have been invited to NHL camps in the coming weeks.

The Sea Dogs announced earlier this week via social media that forward Brady Burns has been invited to Edmonton Oilers training camp; defenseman Charlie DesRoches has received an invite to Buffalo Sabres rookie camp; and forward Peter Reynolds will attend Columbus Blue Jackets training camp. 

Reynolds was surprisingly not selected in last weekend's NHL Draft. Burns and DesRoches, meanwhile, have been eligible for each of the past two NHL Drafts.

Reynolds, playing in his first QMJHL season, registered 15 goals and 16 assists in 33 games. He also had a goal and three assists in six playoff games.

Burns registered 18 goals 20 assists in 32 games this past season. He added five goals and two helpers in five playoff contests.

DesRoches had four goals and 22 assists in 32 regular season games in 2020-21. He added four assists in five playoff matches.

Several Sea Dogs should be attending NHL rookie and/or training camps over the next couple months. 

Jeremie Poirier (2020, 3rd round CGY), William Villeneuve (2020, 4th round TOR), Ryan Francis (2020, 5th round CGY), William Dufour (2020, 5th round NYI) and Cam MacDonald (2021, 5th round TBL) have all been drafted into the NHL while more could receive free agent invites.

Reds to allow full capacity at Aitken Centre

The Saint John Sea Dogs appear poised to play in the first Canadian major junior hockey game (pre-season - but it's something!) that will allow a full capacity crowd since March 2020.

The UNB Reds, who will host four Sea Dogs pre-season home games in August and September, announced Tuesday morning that the originally planned capacity restrictions have been removed. The announcement comes as the province is set to remove all provincial COVID-19 restrictions on Friday at midnight.

“Be prepared to have someone sitting beside you,” said Reds marketing and special events manager Nick Zildjan in an updated post on the athletics program's website. “That might be someone you don’t know, that hasn’t been part of your bubble or unit through the pandemic. We’re hoping the Aitken Centre is full for these games, and our Reds events in the days and weeks after.”

Oh, that sound! Aitken Centre box office ticket machines are humming.
Haven’t heard that since March of 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣0️⃣!!!@UNBFredericton @QMJHL @SJSeaDogs @monctonwildcats @ABTitan @IslandersHKY #goredsgo pic.twitter.com/jGHbmpmRCl

— UNB Reds (@UNBAthletics) July 27, 2021

More from the Reds website:

Originally, under soon-to-be updated COVID-19 protocols, UNB indicated that the Aitken Centre would operate at a reduced capacity for the August games, with a re-assessment to occur before the September games.

But with New Brunswick’s announcement of moving into the green phase of the province’s COVID-19 recovery plan on July 31st, the facility will be allowed to open every seat.

Masks will still be required when entering and moving throughout the Aitken Centre, and while in your seat, except while consuming food or beverages.

UNB is working to have concessions available.

Even in the green phase, ticket holders will be asked to respect physical distancing as much as they can while inside the facility.

Tickets will be sold for individual games. Four-game packages will also be available.

Tickets to all four games went on sale this morning.

MacDonald drafted by Lightning

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Cam MacDonald was the lone Saint John Sea Dog to be selected in this year's NHL Draft.

MacDonald was taken in the fifth-round, 160th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning. He joins Mathieu Joseph (2015), Bokondji Imama (2015) and Maxim Cajkovic (2019) as Sea Dogs to be selected by the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions.

The 18-year-old forward is coming off a strong campaign with the Sea Dogs, recording 10 goals and seven assists in 30 games. He has the makings of a well-rounded, 200-foot player who will play a much larger role with the Dogs in the coming seasons.

Coming in at No. 160 is Cameron MacDonald from the @SJSeaDogs of the @QMJHL!

Welcome, Cam 👋 pic.twitter.com/vqmnYIGeVL

— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) July 24, 2021

MacDonald was not included in a lot of mock drafts and rankings. He was ranked 136th amongst North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.

Sea Dogs forward Peter Reynolds did not have his name called. It comes as a surprise given that he was ranked as high 37th by Dobber Prospects; 47th by Elite Prospects; and 89th by Future Considerations.

Seven players on my board went undrafted:
71. C Peter Reynolds
73. C/LW Jeremy Wilmer
81. C/LW Trevor Wong
87. RHD Kalle Ervasti
91. LHD Jimi Suomi
97. LHD Luke Mittelstadt
100. RHD Ruben Rafkin

— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) July 24, 2021

Reynolds recorded 15 goals and 16 assists in 33 games with Saint John last season. He'll likely receive an invite to an NHL rookie/training camp this fall.

Four QMJHL players taken in first round

Fyodor Svechkov is now a member of the Nashville Predators organization.

Svechkov, taken 23rd overall by the Saint John Sea Dogs in the 2020 CHL Import Draft, was selected with the 19th overall pick in Friday's opening round of the 2021 NHL Draft. Many publications had him going a few spots higher, so this could be seen as a small slide.

It remains very unlikely Svechkov, 18, reports to Saint John.

Nashville gets a terrific two-way center in Fyodor Svechkov. Skilled and responsible, he'll move over to SKA-St. Petersburg's organization next season, a great place to develop

— Ryan Kennedy (@THNRyanKennedy) July 24, 2021

Four current QMJHL players were selected on Friday night.

17th overall by St. Louis: Zachary Bolduc (Rimouski)

22nd overall by Edmonton: Xavier Bourgault (Shawinigan)

27th overall by Nashville: Zachary L'Heureux (Halifax)

30th overall by Vegas: Zachary Dean (Gatineau)

Rounds 2-7 take place on Saturday. Sea Dogs forward Peter Reynolds will very likely hear his name called at some point.

Other players to keep an eye are Sea Dogs forward Cam MacDonald; former Sea Dogs forward Joshua Roy; 2020 Dogs draft pick and Providence College commit Guillaume Richard; and former Dogs prospect Bobby Orr.

Some other news and notes...

• Four of the top five picks were University of Michigan guys. Wild.
• Boston University commit Tyler Boucher, who was projected to be a second-round pick by most, went 10th overall to the Ottawa Senators.
• The Habs selecting Logan Mailloux, who renounced himself from the draft a few days ago, with the 31st overall pick was the biggest shocker - and disappointment - of the night. Please read The Athletic's coverage on this situation.

Notebook: OHL requiring full vaccination

The Ontario Hockey League will require all players, staff and billet families to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for the 2021-22 season.

From the Canadian Press:

The policy applies to "OHL Community Members," including people who attend training camp, practices, games or play in the league, and it specifically references players, coaches, trainers, team and league staff, officials, volunteers and billet families.

It adds that the league will work with members who do not want to be vaccinated to figure out a path forward.

CP notes that all community members must be fully vaccinated two weeks prior to the start of training camp, which is just a few weeks away. The OHL's pre-season begins on Sept. 3 and regular season on Oct. 7.

The OHL was the only major junior league to not play last season. The league still faces border challenges with its three American clubs.

The QMJHL and WHL have not announced vaccination plans publicly.

Hearing it will be the same in all 3 Canadian junior leagues. Vaccinations will be required from all players and league personnel. https://t.co/GjZNHL5YC4

— Allan Walsh (@walsha) July 20, 2021

DUFOUR INVITED TO WJC CAMP

New Sea Dogs forward William Dufour has been invited to Canada's national junior team summer development camp, which takes place July 28 - Aug. 4 near Calgary.

Five goaltenders, 16 defensemen and 30 forwards received invitations. 12 QMJHL players were amongst the 51 players invited.

Dufour, acquired by the Sea Dogs in June, recorded 17 goals and 12 assists in 23 games with the Drummondville Voltigeurs last season.

The 2022 world juniors take place Dec. 26 - Jan. 5 in Edmonton and Red Deer.

PRE-SEASON = SOON

Thursday's announcement about the Sea Dogs holding home pre-season games in Fredericton was a good reminder: training camp is just a few weeks away.

The Sea Dogs begin pre-season play on Thursday, Aug. 19 at the Aitken Centre and will presumably begin training camp a few days prior to that.

Saint John will play nine pre-season games in total: five in August and four in September. The team begins regular season play on Oct. 1 at TD Station.

The province announced Friday that all pandemic restrictions will be removed on July 30, which should help create a much more normal training camp this year (fingers crossed) compared to last.

Sea Dogs to play pre-season in Fredericton

The Saint John Sea Dogs are returning to Fredericton.

The Sea Dogs announced Thursday that all four of the club's 2021 pre-season contests will be played at the Aitken Centre on the University of New Brunswick campus.

“We are so pleased to bring these games to our great fans in the Fredericton region,” said Sea Dogs president and general manager Trevor Georgie in a news release. “We’ve been fortunate to have players from Fredericton become captains and key contributors to our success over our history. Currently, we have two talented forwards from Fredericton, in Josh Lawrence and Peter Reynolds. There’s also a strong Sea Dogs connection to the Reds’ current roster, with Sam Dove-McFalls and Ben Gagne.”

According to the Sea Dogs, the move is due to some renovations taking place at TD Station.

Saint John's four home pre-season games are below.

Thursday, Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. - vs Moncton

Wednesday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. - vs Charlottetown

Friday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. - vs Moncton

Saturday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. - vs Bathurst

Even with provincial pandemic restrictions expected to ease before Aug. 19, there will be a capacity reduction - at least to start. From the news release:

For the two games in August, there will be a reduced capacity at UNB’s Aitken Centre, with only about half the seats being made available. Tickets will only be sold in multiples of two and masks will be required inside the facility.

UNB will reassess the situation ahead of the games in September, following any update to public health regulations and guidelines.

Tickets will be sold for individual games. Four-game packages will also be available.

Tickets will go on sale this Tuesday, July 27.

CHL games officially coming to TSN, CBC

It's official: the Canadian Hockey League will have a new television home this fall.

As has been rumoured/reported for some time now, the CHL has signed "multi-year broadcast partnerships" with TSN, RDS and CBC.

From the CHL:

Beginning with the 2021-22 season, the new partnerships include approximately 30 regular-season games each year delivered by TSN, in addition to select playoff coverage and the comprehensive suite of CHL national events. Additionally, the agreement includes approximately 20 French-language broadcasted games on RDS, early-season weekend games broadcasted by CBC Sports, as well as digital streaming rights featuring a CHL TV broadcast each week during the regular season on TSN, RDS, and the free CBC Gem streaming service.

The thought of TSN's world junior-like coverage coming to CHL events is certainly an exciting thought. It'll be interesting to see what the broadcast plan looks like - and also how CBC fits into all of this. CBC getting in on the rights deal had not come up in previous rumblings.

The CHL & TSN have announced a new multi-year broadcast partnership, so who better to join the show than one of the OHL’s biggest stars, projected 2022 1st overall pick Shane Wright. pic.twitter.com/RY9l6HX1P2

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 21, 2021

The streaming rights situation is also interesting. How does this all impact CHL TV - and in particular will the QMJHL finally be moving away from Neulion?

CHL hames have been airing on Sportsnet since 1998. Sportsnet signed a 12-year deal with the CHL in 2014 which has, obviously, come to an end early.

Sportsnet/Rogers wanting to get out of its CHL contract is not a huge surprise given the amount of financial cuts the network has made in recent years. Its $5.2 billion NHL rights deal has yet to deliver the expected return.

Sportsnet's national rights deal with the NHL comes to an end in 2025-26 - and that will likely have some sort of impact on the future of the CHL's TV rights as well. First though, we'll see how the next few seasons go.

Notebook: Dogs picks taken in Jr. A drafts

Several Saint John Sea Dogs prospects were selected in junior A hockey league drafts over the past few weeks.

Two members of Saint John's 2021 draft class were picked in the Maritime Hockey League draft.

Round 2, 15th overall - Campbellton Tigers - Ian Dickie

Round 8, 95th overall - Valley Wildcats - Jack O'Blenis

Another six players from Saint John's 2021 draft class were taken in either the Quebec Junior Hockey League's draft or territorial draft. Forward Davide Patella, taken in the fourth-round by the Sea Dogs in 2020, was also picked.

Round 1, 9th overall - Terrebonne Cobras - Davide Patella

Round 4, 40th overall - Gatineau Flames - Francis Woods

Round 5, 62nd overall - West Island Shamrocks - Kananga Mangala

Round 7, 88th overall - Côte-du-Sud Everest - Eliott Simard

Montreal-Est Rangers - Vince Elie

Joliette Prédateurs - Renaud Lalancette

Gatineau Flames - Nicolas Bilodeau

Most if not all of these players should be attending Sea Dogs training camp next month (fingers crossed).

ROY INTERVIEW

Former Sea Dog and current Sherbrooke Phoenix forward Joshua Roy spoke a bit on his playing time in Saint John with the Daily Faceoff Prospect Show.

THN DRAFT RANKINGS

Speaking of Joshua Roy, the forward was ranked 73rd for the upcoming NHL Draft in The Hockey News' final rankings.

Roy was ranked one slot below his former teammate, Sea Dogs forward Peter Reynolds, who was listed at No. 72.

Cam MacDonald, meanwhile, was ranked 106th.

The NHL Draft takes place virtually July 23-24.

Report: Kelly joining Gallant in New York

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Gerard Gallant and Mike Kelly are poised to be reunited behind a National Hockey League bench for a third time.

The New York Post reported Monday that Kelly has been hired by the New York Rangers to work alongside Gallant, who was named the team's new head coach last month.

Rangers have hired Gord Murphy, Mike Kelly as assistants to join Gallant's staff, Post has learned. Both have prior experience with Gallant. Blueshirts still seeking third assistant.

— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) July 12, 2021

Gallant and Kelly began working together in 2009 when they were both hired by the Saint John Sea Dogs. After three seasons together, Gallant took an assistant coaching job with the Montreal Canadiens while Kelly stayed in Saint John for a couple more seasons.

Gallant was named head coach of the Florida Panthers before the 2014-15 season and hired Kelly as one of his assistants. Kelly joined Gallant again with the Vegas Golden Knights and the duo will make a third stop together with the Rangers.

The two Prince Edward Island natives recently guided Canada to a gold medal at the IIHF World Championship.

More on the 2022 Memorial Cup bid

The biggest and most obvious question facing Saint John's 2022 Memorial Cup bid: does the original "We Want The Cup" video still hold up 10+ years later?

It's actually pretty okay.

April 7, 2011 was when the 2012 Memorial Cup selection committee awarded the tournament to Shawinigan. After several months of hype and campaigning, it was a heartbreaking day for the Sea Dogs and the city.

The selection committee visited Saint John on Feb. 9, 2011. It was a full day of events, which included Kevin Gagne speaking at a school and a reception at the Imperial Theatre. Here's how the teams were reportedly judged for the 2012 tournament (which may be different than how Saint John and Quebec will be judged this year):

1. Logistics - Accreditation plan, hotels, etc.

2. Hockey operations - Will the team be competitive?

3. Host facility - Does it have large enough seating capacity, enough luxury suites, big enough dressing rooms, a state-of-the-art score clock?

4. Strength of the organizing committee

5. CHL Events - Are there adequate facilities to host such events as the awards banquet and golf tournament?

6. Sales and marketing - Is there enough corporate sponsorship?

7. Finance - How will a team foot the bill?

It feels like Saint John is more of the underdog than the favourite this time around - but 2012 showed us that nothing is certain or guaranteed. The major knock on the Remparts will be the fact that they've hosted the event twice in somewhat recent history: 2015 and 2003.

Joseph wins second Stanley Cup

Embed from Getty Images

Mathieu Joseph is a Stanley Cup champion again.

Joseph helped the Tampa Bay Lightning win their second consecutive NHL playoff title on Wednesday, defeating the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 to take the series in five games.

The former Saint John Sea Dogs forward had 8:26 of ice time in last night's win, finishing off what proved to be an impressive post-season for the 24-year-old. Joseph had a strong showing in the final, recording two assists in the four games he appeared in and received high praise from NHL analysts.

After not appearing in any playoff games in the bubble, Joseph appeared in six this season, registering two helpers. He had 12 goals and seven assists in 56 regular season games.

His play against Montreal likely earned him a permanent spot in next year's Lightning lineup - which will likely lose several of its depth forwards. Or, he's become a very nice trade chip for Tampa this off-season (The Hockey News has him being selected in the Seattle Kraken expansion draft). Either way, Jospeh is likely to see more playing time in 2021-22.

From growing up dreaming about playing against Carey Price, to playing and winning the Cup against him.

What a dream come true for Mathieu Joseph. 💙 #ItsOn | #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/7z9kC3PR9E

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 8, 2021

Joseph remains the only former Sea Dog to win the Stanley Cup.

Sea Dogs to bid on 2022 Memorial Cup

The Saint John Sea Dogs are doing it.

After many years of anticipation and then a year-or-so of unknown, the Canadian Hockey League confirmed Wednesday that the Sea Dogs are one of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League teams intending to bid on hosting rights for the 2022 Memorial Cup.

As expected, the Quebec Remparts on the only other QMJHL team bidding.

“We are excited to have two outstanding franchises express their interest to bid for the 2022 Memorial Cup presented by Kia,” said CHL president Dan MacKenzie in a news release. “The excitement for this event will be at an all-time high given the events of the past 18 months and we look forward to both celebrating our great game and honouring the brave men and women who served and continue to serve our country.”

According to the CHL, "the Quebec Remparts and Saint John Sea Dogs will each submit their bids prior to the CHL deadline the week of August 23, with the winning bid then announced the week of September 6."

The Sea Dogs have been publicly discussing their intentions on bidding for the 2022 tournament for a number of years and have built the core of their team around this coming season. But, like everything, the pandemic threw uncertainty into the bid.

"We certainly have interest in hosting but given all that has gone on in the last 12 months, the landscape has changed considerably," said Sea Dogs president and general manager Trevor Georgie in an interview in April.

This will be Saint John's second bid to host the tournament after losing in 2012 to the eventual champion Shawinigan Cataractes.

“It has been my goal since founding this franchise in 2005 to host the Memorial Cup tournament right here where I grew up, in New Brunswick,” said Sea Dogs CEO and owner Scott McCain in a news release. “The legacy of the Memorial Cup and its significance in paying tribute to fallen Canadian Military Personnel is deeply important to the organization. Our team, our community and most importantly our fans have waited for the opportunity to host this historic event and now is the time to showcase what makes Saint John so special.”

The 2022 Memorial Cup will take place June 3-12, 2022. It will be the first time the tournament has been played since 2019 in Halifax due to the pandemic.

Notebook: Joseph one win away from Cup

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Mathieu Joseph and the Tampa Bay Lightning are one win away from lifting the Stanley Cup for a second straight season.

The Lightning took a 3-0 lead in the championship series on Friday at the Bell Centre, defeating the Montreal Canadiens 6-3. Game 4 takes place Monday night in Montreal.

Joseph, who has appeared in two games in the series, recorded his first career NHL playoff point on Friday, assisting on Tyler Johnson's second period goal. Joseph has played in four playoff games after not dressing for any in the bubble last year.

Joseph 9 hits, one assist and a plus-2 in just over 16 minutes combined the last two games

— HockeyTampa (@Mapukalo) July 3, 2021

Joseph became the first and only Sea Dogs alumnus to win the Stanley Cup last year.

CAMP INVITE

Gatineau media is reporting that 19-year-old forward William Dagenais has been invited to Sea Dogs training camp.

Information à confirmer, mais il semblerait que l'attaquant gatinois William Dagenais @OlympiquesGAT va rejoindre les @SJSeaDogs à leur prochain camp d'entraînement. Ce club a repêché 3 joueurs en Outaouais samedi dernier: Olivier Brideau, Francis Woods et Nicolas Bilodeau.

— jf plante (@jfplante_Droit) June 29, 2021

Dagenais has spent parts of the past three seasons with the Olympiques, recording six goals and eight assists in 84 career QMJHL games. This past season he had a goal and an assist in 19 contests.

Dagenais was a fourth-round pick of the Halifax Mooseheads in the 2018 QMJHL Entry Draft. He was selected from the same Gatineau Intrepide program that the Sea Dogs picked three players from in this year's draft.

BURBIDGE PICK

Sea Dogs president and general manager Trevor Georgie spoke to the Chronicle Herald about Cole Burbidge, the Mount Academy forward the team picked with the 29th overall selection in last weekend's QMJHL Entry Draft.

“We really like Cole," Georgie said. "Our team thinks he is one of the smartest players in the draft and will be a future top centreman in the league. We have had some great conversations with him and his family about his plan for next season and we’re very supportive of it. We look forward to having him be an important part of our future.”

36 Nova Scotians were selected in this year's draft.

Murphy, Cooper win ECHL Kelly Cup title

Two former Saint John Sea Dogs are ECHL Kelly Cup champions.

The Fort Wayne Komets, featuring defenseman Matt Murphy and forward Oliver Cooper, defeated the South Carolina Stingrays 2-1 on Friday, winning the best-of-five championship series 3-1 in front of 10,477 fans.

Cooper had two shots in the game and finished the playoffs with three goals and an assist in eight games. Murphy, meanwhile, did not play in the final couple games of this series and finishes with four assists in 11 playoff contests.

The Komets are one of the oldest hockey franchises in North America and have won a number of league championships in their history -  but they had never won the Kelly Cup until Friday's victory. The team joined the ECHL in 2012.

KOMETS WIN THE KELLY CUP!!!! pic.twitter.com/tF7OGD7FWa

— x - Fort Wayne Komets (@FWKomets) July 3, 2021

This wraps up a bizarre season for the Komets. The team played a league low 51 games in the regular season and then had to play parts of their playoff run - first in Wichita and then again in South Carolina - at practice facilities due to main rinks being booked up.

Murphy and Cooper join at least three other Sea Dogs alumni as Kelly Cup champions.

2010 Cincinatti Cyclones: Robert Mayer

2011 Alaska Aces: Scott Howes

2013 Reading Royals: Stanislav Galiev

Komets closing in on Kelly Cup; Joseph plays in Lightning Game 2 win

The Fort Wayne Komets are one win away from winning the ECHL's Kelly Cup championship.

The Komets, who feature former Saint John Sea Dogs Matt Murphy and Oliver Cooper, defeated the South Carolina Stingrays 6-4 on Wednesday to take a 2-1 series lead in the best-of-five championship series. Game 4 of the series takes place tonight and Game 5, if needed, will be played on Saturday - both in Fort Wayne.

Murphy has four assists in 11 playoff games while Cooper has three goals and a helper in seven matches.

Former Sea Dogs defenseman Chase Stewart has appeared in one playoff game with the Stingrays.

The Kelly Cup has been awarded since 1997 and at least three Sea Dogs alumni have won the trophy.

2010 Cincinatti Cyclones: Robert Mayer

2011 Alaska Aces: Scott Howes

2013 Reading Royals: Stanislav Galiev

Both Mayer and Howes were named the Kelly Cup playoffs most valuable player in their respective victories. Mayer was a co-MVP winner with fellow netminder Jeremy Smith.

In the much less prestigious Stanley Cup Final, Mathieu Joseph and the Tampa Bay Lightning are now up 2-0 on the Montreal Canadiens following a 3-1 win on Wednesday. Game 3 is tonight at the Bell Centre.

Joseph and the Lightning are looking to win their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship. Joseph became the first Sea Dogs alumnus to win the trophy last year.

After not appearing in any playoff matches in the bubble, Joseph has played in three post-season games this time around - including Wednesday's Stanley Cup Final contest. The 24-year-old recorded one shot in 6:23 of ice time. Joseph's other two playoff appearances were in the first-round against Jonathan Huberdeau and the Florida Panthers.