Sea Dogs add Drover and Ballard

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs have announced a couple additional roster moves.

The Sea Dogs announced Sunday that they have signed free agent forwards Alex Drover and Harrison Ballard to Quebec Major Junior Hockey League contracts,

Drover, an overager, spent parts of three seasons with the Sea Dogs before being dealt to the Rimouski Oceanic during the 2020-21 campaign. Last season he registered 14 goals and 37 points in 44 regular season games with the Oceanic. He added three goals in nine playoff games, which included helping the Oceanic upset the Sea Dogs in the opening round of the QMJHL post-season.

Drover started the season with the Western Hockey League's Medicine Hat Tigers where he recorded two goals and two assists in six games. Since being released, the Port-aux-Basques native has put up 12 goals and 29 points in 20 games with the Maritime Hockey League's Valley Wildcats.

“I’m excited to return to the Port City” Drover said in a news release. “I have many fond memories of my time there. I look forward to reconnecting with friends, fans, and the community. Saint John has always been a second home for me. I’m thrilled to finish my junior career wearing a Sea Dogs jersey.”

Drover, forward Brady Burns and defenseman Charlie DesRoches, it appears, will be Saint John's trio of overage players for the second half. Drover is expected to be in the lineup on Sunday when the Sea Dogs host the Oceanic.

Ballard, 18, comes to the Sea Dogs from the Ontario Hockey League's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds where he recorded an assist in 20 games this season. He registered 14 goals and 14 assists in 54 games with the OJHL's Wellington Dukes last year.

According to a Sea Dogs news release, "Ballard, previously committed to UMass of the NCAA, was ranked ranked 199 on NHL Central Scouting’s Midterm Rankings for 2022 NHL Draft."

The Sea Dogs also acquired forward Nathan Casey and defenseman Tristan Dassylva in trades this past week.

“Welcome to Tristan, Nathan, Harrison, and welcome back to Alex” said Sea Dogs president and general manager Trevor Georgie in a news release. “Each of them bring something unique to the lineup and will will get an opportunity to show us what they do best. We added valuable draft picks and took chances on some players that have something to prove and that we believe can help us this season and beyond.”