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.

RENOVATIONS

The Sea Dogs cited TD Station renovations as the reason why they'll be hitting the highway to play pre-season home games in Fredericton. Those renovations include a new lighting system as well as the installation of new boards and glass.

Charlottetown's Eastlink Centre is getting the same upgrades this summer while Sydney's Centre 200 is getting new boards (lighting upgrades were completed a few years ago).

Seeing no boards inside the @EastlinkCtrPEI is weird.

Some needed renovations coming to the board system, lighting system, and more! pic.twitter.com/y790XEYNZK

— Aidan Northcott (@AidanNorthcott) May 20, 2021

MACDONALD UNDERRATED?

Is Cam MacDonald underrated?

Scott Wheeler of The Athletic surveyed some of his sources regarding the 2021 draft class. One said MacDonald was "definitely" an underrated prospect heading into the draft.

MacDonald could certainly have a breakout year in 2021-22. The 18-year-old displayed strong defensive play all season long and got better offensively has things moved along, finishing with a very respectable 10 goals and seven assists in 30 games.

FRANCIS IN CALGARY

Sea Dogs forward Ryan Francis has been spending time in Calgary this summer and, according to the Flames website, "plans to stick with the group of fellow prospects and current Flames through the end of the summer."

"For me, (what sticks out) is how they carry themselves, their habits," Francis told the Flames website about the players he's been spending time with. "No matter how tired they are or how hard the work on the ice was, they're in the gym every day. They take every drill 100 percent and don't cheat anything. They're great people as well. They've welcomed me since I got here. They make me comfortable. It's been a great learning experience so far."

Francis, a fifth-round pick of the Flames last year, is entering his overage season of junior hockey - although he is eligible to turn professional.

CAMERON TO OTTAWA

Remember all that Dave-Cameron-to-the-Sea-Dogs speculation last year? And then the Vienna Capitals announcing that Cameron was returning for another year as the team's head coach last month? Well, it's all old news because Cameron is the new head coach of the OHL's Ottawa 67's.

“Life works in mysterious ways — I’m happy to be returning to Ottawa and joining the 67’s,” said Cameron in a news release. “I know that they go above and beyond in how they treat their players and staff and the storied history speaks for itself. Very excited to get started”.

Cameron replaces Andre Tourigny behind the 67's bench, who left the position to join the Arizona Coyotes. Cameron also replaces Tourigny as the head coach of Canada's world junior team.

The Charlottetown native hasn't coached in the OHL since the 2010-11 season when his Mississauga St. Michael's Majors lost to the Sea Dogs in the Memorial Cup final.

OTHER THINGS

• The NHL Draft takes place this weekend.
• The only Sea Dogs connection in the Seattle Kraken expansion draft: goaltender Joey Daccord, selected from the Ottawa Senators, was an 11th-round pick of the Sea Dogs in the 2013 QMJHL Entry Draft.
• Another sign that things are returning to normal: the City of St. John's and its tenants are in an argument about Mile One Centre lease agreements.