Reports: Patenaude on loan to Swiss club

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

According to several Swiss media reports, Saint John Sea Dogs goaltender Noah Patenaude will begin the season on loan with HC Ambrì-Piotta of Switzerland's National League.

The reports say that Patenaude will remain with the Swiss club until the conclusion of the Spengler Cup tournament, which is held between Christmas and New Year's.

Patenaude, who is a citizen of Switzerland and Canada, hasn't played in a Swiss circuit since the 2018-19 season. The overager has spent the past three seasons with the Sea Dogs. He is currently not listed on Saint John's pre-season roster.

The move likely means that returning veteran Nikolas Hurtubise, who is an overager like Patenaude, and 17-year-old Olivier Brideau will be the Sea Dogs' goalie tandem to start the season.

With Patenaude in Switzerland, the Sea Dogs are expected to have four overagers competing for jobs when training camp resumes: Hurtubise; defenseman Charlie DesRoches; and forwards Brady Burns and Marshall Lessard.

The QMJHL's pre-season trading period came to a close on Sunday, but overage players can still be dealt.

Patenaude recently competed at the World Junior Hockey Championship in Edmonton as a member of Team Switzerland. In 52 career games in the QMJHL, the goaltender has posted a 24-21 record to go along with a 3.78 goals against average and a .892 save percentage.

Patenaude missed the entire second half of last season - including the Memorial Cup - after suffering an injury in December.