MHL season underway for Dogs connections

James West

BRIDGEWATER, NS - The Maritime Hockey League season is underway and a number of players with Saint John Sea Dogs connections are back on the ice.

The Grand Falls Rapids - who are led by two former Sea Dogs coaches in Greg Leland and Jeff Cowan - have four players with Sea Dogs connections. That includes 18-year-old defenseman Hunter Gartley, who did not crack Saint John's opening night roster.

Former Dogs forward Carter McCluskey was recently traded to the Truro Bearcats from Grand Falls in a deal that involved goaltender Frederic Plourde, a one-time emergency backup for Saint John. Ian Dickie, meanwhile, was recently dealt to Grand Falls from the Campbellton Tigers.

Here's a look at the full list of MHL players with Sea Dogs connections:

Amherst Ramblers: Gavin Watt

Campbellton Tigers: Connor Richard

Edmundston Blizzard: Brandon Casey

Fredericton Red Wings: Logan Carruthers and Mathias Savoie

Grand Falls Rapids: Yannic Bastarache, Ian Dickie, Hunter Gartley and Frederic Plourde

South Shore Lumberjacks: Kobe Burt

Summerside Western Capitals: Sam Dow

Truro Bearcats: Cael MacDonald, Carter McCluskey and Brady Stone

Valley Wildcats: Justin Bourque

Yarmouth Mariners: Cole Foston and Benjamin Roode