Notebook: Lessard on recent injury

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Marshall Lessard has been sidelined with an injury once again.

The 20-year-old forward hasn't played since the Saint John Sea Dogs' second game of the season on Oct. 1, a game where he saw limited playing team.

"It's still a knee problem," Lessard explained in a radio interview with John Moore last Saturday. "I had a major injury last year and it's still the same problem. I worked a lot on it this summer and I got hit last game against Moncton and unfortunately I got injured. It's not as long term as it was before."

Lessard noted that his ice time at the Memorial Cup was limited because of the injury. Lessard is one of four overage players with the Sea Dogs right now, a number that will eventually have to be reduced to three. He said his mindset is to take things day-to-day.

"I feel like we are four good 20-year-olds and we all deserve a spot in the league," Lessard said, speaking about himself, forward Brady Burns, defenseman Charlie DesRoches and goaltender Nikolas Hurtubise. "Just have to prove it."

FIRST GOALS

Heading into this weekend's action, eight Sea Dogs have scored goals so far this season and three of them were first-time goal scorers.

Rookies Cole Burbidge and Noah Reinhart along with second-year defenseman Vincent Despont have all scored their first career QMJHL goals this season.

His first @QMJHL goal and it was a beauty!

Congratulations Noah! https://t.co/qZIc2SrcpS pic.twitter.com/OxGRIwQ5BI

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) October 9, 2022

Last week Cole Burbidge scored his first QMJHL goal.

Last night Vincent Despont scored his first QMJHL goal.

Whose turn is it tonight? #CityofChampions pic.twitter.com/88JgWX9ZHH

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) October 8, 2022

Through four games, overage forward Brady Burns leads the team in points with seven and goals with four. Burns and Peter Reynolds each have a team high three assists.

SPICED UP

The Sea Dogs announced this week that a Spice Girls tribute band will be performing at the team's New Year's Eve game against the Moncton Wildcats.

Are you more of a Ginger, Baby, Posh, Scary, or Sporty? Dec. 31st, get ready to Spice Up Your Game with the Sea Dogs and Wannabe: A Spice Girls Tribute!

Get ready to sing along to your favourites as they perform at both intermissions New Years Eve!

📰https://t.co/Mxh3a5kR51 pic.twitter.com/8EZuxigdg3

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) October 11, 2022

The Classified Game Incident and COVID seemed to put a damper on the Sea Dogs' efforts to bring more in-game concerts to TD Station, but hopefully things will pick up.

GAME MOVED
A second half Sea Dogs game has been moved to a new date.

The QMJHL announced last week that's Saint John's Wednesday, March 22 game in Moncton has been moved ahead to Thursday, Feb. 23.

The league announced new dates for three games to assist the Victoriaville Tigres in getting to Cape Breton later this season. The Tigres were scheduled to travel to Sydney on their recent Maritime trip but that game was postponed by Hurricane Fiona related challenges.

IN BRIDGEPORT

The NewYork Islanders reassigned William Dufour to the AHL's Bridgeport Islanders last week.

In his pre-season debut with the AHL club, Dufour had a goal (which was assisted by Vincent Sevigny) and eight shots in a 5-4 loss to the Hartford Wolfpack.

William Dufour’s first Bridgeport Islanders goal (as filmed on a potato) #Isles pic.twitter.com/fwncVeV2Gd

— Nicole Shirman (@nicolefshirman) October 6, 2022

The Islanders begin the AHL regular season on Friday in Providence.

OTHER THINGS

• Saint John's next home game is Saturday, Oct. 22 against the Moncton Wildcats.
• Saltwire has a story on Sea Dogs captain Charlie DesRoches.
• Steve Turcotte caught up with former Sea Dogs head coach Gordie Dwyer, who is now head coach and general manager in Bathurst. Turcotte reports that Dwyer did not watch the Memorial Cup final but is happy for the players.
• The Calgary Sun has an interesting story on former Sea Dogs goaltender Jacob DeSerres, who gives his thoughts on Jonathan Huberdeau joining the Flames.
• Details about the Memorial Cup Legacy Scholarship have been unveiled. "Eligible applicants must be 17 to 22 years old, a resident of Greater Saint John and pursuing a post-secondary education in the region, as well as an active community volunteer who is dedicated to serving underrepresented community members in addition to promoting a healthy, active lifestyle," reads a CHL news release.
• The AUS men's hockey regular season is underway. Gardiner MacDougall's UNB Reds received four of the seven first-place votes in the AUS coaches pre-season poll. UNB's long-time rival, the StFX X-Men, earned the other three votes. UNB and StFX have combined to win every AUS championship since 2015.
• MacDougall was inducted into (onto?) the Fredericton Sports Wall of Fame on Thursday night.
• The Halifax Mooseheads will be without Nashville Predators prospect Zachary L'Heureux for the next six-to-eight weeks due to an injury, reports the Chronicle Herald.
• A recent midweek Blainville-Boisbriand Armada home game against the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies had an announced attendance of just 892.
• The AHL's regular season begins Friday. All games this weekend can be watched for free on AHLTV.
• Watched a couple Sudbury Wolves games in Michigan last weekend. Quentin Musty, a projected first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, is very good.
• Saw Musty go up against Michael Misa of the Saginaw Spirit, who was the first overall pick in this year's OHL Draft after being granted exceptional player status. The 15-year-old has five points in five games with the Spirit.
• Also caught a game at Michigan State last weekend. I've been to a few college hockey rinks around the US now, and none compare to the experience at the University of Maine. If you get the chance, try and schedule your next trip to Bangor around the Black Bears schedule.