Notebook: Tivey scratch a coaching decision

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

HALIFAX - The Saint John Sea Dogs were without one of their top defenseman on Saturday.

Nate Tivey was listed as a healthy scratch by the Sea Dogs. While it is trade season in the QMJHL, the scratching was reportedly a coaching decision.

Of note from @qmjhl action today, Nate Tivey's healthy scratch was a coaching decision and not a sign the @saintjohnSeadogs rookie D is on the trading block, said head coach Travis Crickard.

— Kevin Barrett (@KevinBarrettNB) December 31, 2022

The scratch was a bold move by the Sea Dogs coaching staff given that the team was already without veteran defensemen Charlie DesRoches (injury) and Vincent Despont (world juniors). Tivey, who sits 15th in QMJHL rookie scoring with 16 points (all assists), has been on Saint John's top pairing for much of the season.

The Sea Dogs lost Saturday's game 4-1 to the Moncton Wildcats.

MACDONALD DEBUTS

Cam MacDonald had an excellent debut performance for the Gatineau Olympiques on Saturday.

After being traded by the Sea Dogs to the Olympiques on Friday, MacDonald scored two goals in his first game with Gatineau the next day. Gatineau defeated the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 5-4.

MacDonald also had four shots, four hits and went 9/17 on faceoffs in the contest. He was named the game's first star.

COMING UP

The Sea Dogs have three home games this week.

On Wednesday night, the Sea Dogs host Marshall Lessard and the Baie-Comeau Drakkar. Then on Friday, the Halifax Mooseheads are in town before the Sea Dogs host the Rimouski Oceanic on Sunday afternoon.

The Sea Dogs have not faced the Drakkar or Oceanic this season. Saint John is 0-3-0-0 against East Division clubs this year.

TRIBUTE NIGHTS

The Sea Dogs hosted Wannabe: A Spice Girls Tribute on Saturday at TD Station. During what appeared to be a successful evening (which featured a crowd of just under 6,000), the Sea Dogs announced a few other tribute nights.

Feb. 17 vs Sherbooke: Elton John Tribute

Feb. 18 vs Charlottetown: Tina Turner Tribute

Feb. 20 vs Charlottetown: Lady Gaga Tribute

Note that Feb. 20 is Family Day and will feature a 2 p.m. start.

More details will be released soon.

SAFIN AT THE SPENGLER

Ostap Safin and HC Sparta Praha came up just short at the annual Spengler Cup tournament, falling 3-2 in a shootout to HC Ambri-Piotta in the championship game on Saturday.

Safin, who is in his first season with the Czech-based club, had a goal in four games at the tournament. The former Sea Dogs forward had played the last three seasons split between the AHL and ECHL.

Safin was one of three former Sea Dogs to participate in this year's Spengler Cup. Forward Chris DiDomenico had a goal in three contests for Team Canada while defenseman Joona Lehmus played in all three games for IFK Helsinki.

MAN IN WHITE

TSN's on-ice camera person is growing in popularity.

The ⚪️ camera crew is growing in Halifax! - @thehighbutton 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/v28ywkwuwV

— High Button Sports (@thehighbutton) December 31, 2022

There is a man in white at both world junior venues this year. TSN also had an on-ice camera person at the Memorial Cup in Saint John.

OTHER THINGS

• The Telegraph-Journal (paywall) reports that Sea Dogs defenseman Vincent Despont will return to the club after the world juniors. There was some confusion following a Swiss media report that Despont was considering a return to Switzerland to play pro hockey. Turns out that report was indeed referring to next season.
• In an interview with 93 CFBC on Saturday, Nate Tivey noted that he was minor hockey teammates with Team Canada captain Shane Wright.
• Former Sea Dogs forward Josh Lawrence had a career high four goals and seven points in the Halifax Mooseheads' 11-3 blowout victory over the Cape Breton Eagles on New Year's Eve. Lawrence now has five goals and 21 points in 11 games with the Mooseheads.
• Lawrence now sits sixth in QMJHL scoring with 53 points in 36 games. His teammates, Jordan Dumais (68 points) and Alexandre Doucet (60 points), still sit first and second, respectively, in league scoring.
• There are some big world junior games coming up in Halifax, but there are also a couple significant Mooseheads games approaching. The Moose host the league-leading Quebec Remparts on Jan. 12 and Joshua Roy and the Sherbrooke Phoenix on Jan. 14.
• Saturday's Sherbrooke/Quebec game at Videotron Centre had an announced attendance for 16,017.
• Devante Smith-Pelly announced his retirement last week. The 30-year-old was a member of the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors squad that lost to Saint John in the 2011 Memorial Cup final. Sea Dogs goaltender Jacob DeSerres made a memorable late-game stop off Smith-Pelly in the 3-1 win.