Notebook: Moose coming in hot

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

HALIFAX - The Halifax Mooseheads are more than hot. The Maritimes Division leading club makes their way to Saint John essentially on fire.

The Mooseheads have earned at least a point in 17 straight games. Following Thursday's 6-3 home win over the Shawinigan Cataractes, Halifax is on a 15-0-2-0 run, tying a franchise best.

Franchise record tying win in Moose Country! pic.twitter.com/w1MbWpYeGF

— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) January 20, 2023

Halifax is, of course, led by its offense with Jordan Dumais, Alexandre Doucet and Josh Lawrence all sitting top-five in league scoring. But it's the team's defense and goaltending that has been noticeably impressive of late.

Netminder Mathis Rousseau was named the QMJHL's Player of the Week, playing a key role in the Mooseheads defeating the Quebec Remparts and Sherbrooke Phoenix on home ice.

The Mooseheads face the Sea Dogs on Friday and Saturday night at TD Station.

DUFOUR SENT DOWN

A day after making his NHL debut, the New York Islanders have reassigned former Sea Dogs forward William Dufour back to the American Hockey League's Bridgeport Islanders.

#Isles Transaction: William Dufour has been returned on loan to Bridgeport.

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) January 19, 2023

Dufour finished Wednesday's game - a 4-1 Islanders loss to the league-leading Boston Bruins - with a -2 rating and played less than seven minutes. The handling of Dufour, who has risen to become one of New York's best prospects over the past calendar year, was not well received by some.

William Dufour back to Bridgeport.

So Isles recall him, play him for less than 7 minutes against the league's best team, and then bench him for the remaining half of the game.

In other words, an organizational error, IMO.

— Kevin Kurz (@KKurzNHL) January 19, 2023

The 20-year-old Dufour, playing in his first season of professional hockey, has an impressive 13 goals and 12 assists in 37 games, placing him ninth in AHL rookie points and fourth in rookie goals.

GEORGIE SPEAKS

In a video posted by the Sea Dogs on YouTube, Sea Dogs president and general manager Trevor Georgie discusses the trade period; the return of Alex Drover; where the team is at in its rebuild cycle; this year's squad; the wild deals that took place in the WHL; the Spice Girls; and upcoming theme nights.

Georgie also officially confirmed that defenseman Jake Tracey will finish the season with the Maritime Hockey League's Fredericton Red Wings; forward Tomasz Szczerbra will remain with the club but affiliate with the Grand Falls Rapids; and goaltender Nikolas Hurtubise will return closer to home and play with the QJHL's Terrebonne Cobras.

Q DRAFT NEWS

15-year-old forward Zachary Morin, considered a top prospect for the 2023 QMJHL Entry Draft, has signed a tender agreement with the USHL's Youngstown Phantoms for the 2023-24 season. The signing likely means Morin will take the NCAA route.

"(Zachary) is a world-class player," Youngstown co-general managers Jason Deskins and Ryan Kosecki said in a news release. "There is a reason some have projected him as the potential first overall draft pick in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He is big, skilled, smart, and can fly, yet he plays a heavy, power forward game that will translate to every level. This kid has an NHL frame and the tools to go along with it. We are fortunate to have Zachary in a Phantoms jersey. It's a great day for our program".

Morin is already playing in the United States, appearing in 56 games with the Little Caesars under-15 program this year.

Lane Sim, meanwhile, has reportedly elected for the OHL Draft. His brother, Landon Sim, currently plays for the London Knights after playing in the Maritime Hockey League during the COVID season of 2020-21.

In addition, last week Lane Sim of the Pictou Weeks Majors elected for the OHL draft, taking advantage of a very specific opportunity related to his fathers history in the league.

In less than a week, the @QMJHL has lost two likey 1st round picks from the 2023 class.

— Brayden Olafson (@olaf1393) January 17, 2023

NEW POD EP

This week on The Hockey News on the Q, Will and I discuss the Halifax Mooseheads' play of late, NHL Draft rankings, QMJHL prospects in the New York Islanders' system, Dylan MacKinnon is in the 2023 NHL Draft spotlight, and more.

.@willmacwriter and @station_nation discuss the red-hot @HFXMooseheads, @QMJHL alumni with the @NYIslanders, answer mailbag questions and more: https://t.co/5VtdWR4ZoP

— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) January 18, 2023

OTHER THINGS

• After a flat performance on Wednesday against the Shawinigan Cataractes, Sea Dogs head coach Travis Crickard had his team perform a post-game workout, reports the Telegraph-Journal (paywall).
• Saturday's Sea Dogs game will be Saint John's last at TD Station until Feb. 8. The team will play five straight games on the road - including one final three-in-three through Quebec (Val-d'Or, Rouyn-Noranda and Gatineau).
• Le Journal de Quebec has a story on William Dufour's NHL debut, which includes an interview with Sea Dogs president and general manager Trevor Georgie.
• Scott Wheeler of The Athletic ranks William Dufour as the No. 2 prospect in the New York Islanders' system while Raivis Ansons was ranked 12th in the Pittsburgh Penguins' pipeline.
• Former Sea Dogs forward Mathieu Joseph was a healthy scratch for the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday after breaking team rules, reports the Ottawa Sun. The scratching meant Joseph couldn't play against his brother, Pierre-Olivier Joseph of the Pittsburgh Penguins, for the first time at the NHL level.
• Kingston city council will provide $635,000 in funding if the Frontenacs are awarded the hosting rights for the 2024 Memorial Cup.