Sunday, March 20, 2022

Notebook: Gone streaking

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs
The Saint John Sea Dogs are enjoying their longest winning streak since the 2016-17 season.

With Saturday's 6-2 victory over the Moncton Wildcats, the Sea Dogs extended their winning streak to nine games. The team's last nine-game winning streak came in 2016-17, a campaign that ended with a President Cup title.

This current nine-game streak is tied for fifth longest in franchise history.
There are also a couple individual streaks worth pointing out. Josh Lawrence has recorded at least a point in 18 straight home games while William Dufour has done the same in 16 consecutive home matches. The two streaks now sit second and third, respectively, in franchise history.

The Sea Dogs team record for most consecutive home games with at least a point is 19, set by Chris DiDomenico way back in 2007-08.

HONOURABLE MENTION
Given their nine-game winning streak and having defeated the Charlottetown Islanders two weeks in a row, you have to think the Sea Dogs are getting close to entering the CHL Top 10.

The Sea Dogs were an honourable mention again last week. The Islanders were ranked fourth, the Sherbrooke Phoenix seventh and the Shawinigan Cataractes eighth. The Quebec Remparts were also an honourable mention.

The WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings were ranked first.

POIRIER VS CORMIER
An interesting little tidbit from the Charlottetown Islanders website in regards to Jeremie Poirier and Lukas Cormier.

Poirier has had a very similar path as well as similar game style as the Islanders Lukas Cormier. Fun fact, Poirier was taken four picks after Cormier in the 2018 QMJHL Draft at 8th overall, then, in 2020, he was taken four picks after Cormier in the NHL Entry Draft at 72nd overall to the Calgary Flames.

This season, Cormier sits second in QMJHL defensemen scoring with 59 points (23 goals and 36 assists) in 43 games while Poirier is fourth with 47 points (12 goals and 35 assists) in 49 games.

DUFOUR INTERVIEW
The New York sports radio station WFAN caught up with Islanders prospect William Dufour last week. Why does Dufour believe he's having such an explosive offensive season with Saint John?

“I think I have more of an offensive role this year,” Dufour told WFAN. “My coach wants me to be an offensive threat every shift I’m playing, so that’s the big difference between this year and last year. To be an offensive player like that, it’s helped me a lot for sure.”

Dufour ends the weekend sitting second in QMJHL scoring with 86 points. He continues to lead the league in goals with 42.

Dufour also told WFAN that he hopes to sign his entry level contract with the Islanders "in the next could of months."

ROY STAYING HOT
Former Sea Dogs forward Joshua Roy continues to lead the QMJHL in scoring with 88 points (35 goals and 53 assists) in 46 games. Roy had two goals and an assist for the Sherbrooke Phoenix on Saturday, which pushed him back in front of William Dufour in the points race.

In an interview with the Montreal Canadiens website, Roy once again said it's his improved conditioning that has changed his game this season.

"My conditioning has made all the difference," said Roy. "When I arrived in Sherbrooke, I was out of shape. I realized I was lagging behind in that respect, and it was a red flag. I needed to improve my conditioning and I worked to do that. It's been the key to my success this season."

The Phoenix sit second overall in the QMJHL standings based on winning percentage, trailing only the Charlottetown Islanders.

Roy and the Phoenix make their first and only regular season appearance at TD Station on April 19.

GASCON MAKES DEBUT
In case you missed it Saturday, 18-year-old netminder Eve Gascon became just the third female to play in a QMJHL regular season game. Gascon made 18 saves for the Gatineau Olympiques in a 5-4 overtime loss at a packed Slush Puppie Centre.
Scott Wheeler of The Athletic has a great story on Gascon's historic week.

BEAVERTAILS
Moncton's Avenir Centre continues to dominate the concession wars in New Brunswick.
GALLANT MAKES HISTORY
Some Cleveland Monsters franchise history for Sea Dogs legend Brett Gallant.
Gallant has four goals and 81 penalty minutes in 44 games with the Monsters this season.

OTHER THINGS
  • Before Friday's third period comeback, the Sea Dogs were 0-8-0-2 when trailing after two periods this season. The only teams that remain winless when trailing after two are a couple teams that sit ahead of Saint John in the Eastern Conference standings: Charlottetown (0-8-1-0) and Quebec (0-11-0-0).
  • If you were at TD Station this weekend, you may have noticed that the press box is undergoing some renovations. That and a few other building upgrades will be completed in time for the Memorial Cup in June.
  • Should the QMJHL consider shortening its regular season? It has been debated for many years, but this season's compacted schedule has certainly highlighted many of the issues that come with playing so many games.
  • A really interesting read at Taking Note where Gregg Drinnan speaks to a number of WHL fans who have either stopped attending games or are attending far fewer. I've heard a lot of these same responses from folks around the Maritimes.
  • The AHL's Stockton Heat, that earlier this season featured current Sea Dogs Ryan Francis and Yan Kuznetsov, became the first team to qualify for the Calder Cup playoffs on Saturday night. Like the QMJHL, the AHL won't begin its playoffs until May.
  • This summer's 2022 World Junior Hockey Championship will take place Aug. 9-20 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, the IIHF has announced. The host site of the 2023 tournament, which was originally set to be Russia, has not been announced. TSN's Gord Miller tweeted that the tournament will likely be held somewhere in Canada again.
  • A truly bonkers situation in college hockey on Saturday, when an overtime goal in the CCHA championship game was overturned after the trophy celebration took place and the arena had emptied. Minnesota State ended up winning the game a second time about an hour later.
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