Sunday, March 26, 2023

Notebook: End of a Sea Dogs era

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs
SAINT JOHN - An era officially ended on Saturday at TD Station.

Brady Burns and Charlie DesRoches, the two remaining members of Saint John's 2018 draft class, played their final regular season games in a Sea Dogs uniform.

The two were part of the draft class that has been the foundation for this era of Sea Dogs hockey. Along with Burns (2nd round, 29th overall) and DesRoches (2nd round, 32nd overall), that 2018 class also included William Villeneuve (1st round, 2nd overall), Jeremie Poirier (1st round, 8th overall), Josh Lawrence (1st round, 15th overall), Dawson Stairs (7th round, 109th overall), Kale McCallum (8th round, 133rd overall) and Riley Bezeau (12th round, 199th overall).

Villeneuve, Poirier and Bezeau all played in the American Hockey League this season. Lawrence, meanwhile, played his overage season with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and Halifax Mooseheads; Stairs is with the Maritime Hockey League's Campbellton Tigers; and McCallum joined the UNB Reds in January.

Burns didn't record any points in Saint John's regular season finale on Saturday, meaning the franchise record for career goals will stick at 116 and career points at 258. Burns set both franchise marks this season.

DesRoches recently surpassed Kevin Gagne for the most games played by a defensemen in Sea Dogs history. Amongst all skaters, DesRoches places fifth all-time in games played by a Sea Dog (273) while Burns is second (290). Spencer Smallman holds the franchise record with 293 games played.

BIG MONTH
What a final month Peter Reynolds had.

Reynolds recorded nine goals and eight assists in the month of the March, giving the Fredericton native 17 goals and 44 points in 43 games this season. Reynolds scored in eight of Saint John's 11 games in March and his production was a big reason why the Sea Dogs had such a strong finish to the regular season.

The Sea Dogs got back into the playoff race by going 4-2-4-0 in their final 10 games. Reynolds recorded 17 points in those games.

Reynolds (1.02) and Brady Burns (1.16) were the only Sea Dogs to average a point-per-game or better this year.

TICKETS GOING QUICK
Gatineau's Slush Puppie Centre has been buzzing all season and will be in the playoffs as well. Over 4,000 tickets have already been sold for Game 1 of the Olympiques' opening round series against the Sea Dogs.
The Olympiques averaged 3,737 fans per game this season, the fourth most in the QMJHL. The building has a capacity of 5,000 and sold out four games this year.

The Sea Dogs are 0-2-0-0 all-time at the Slush Puppie Centre, which includes an 11-3 loss in February.

SINCE THE DEADLINE
Sine the QMJHL's trade deadline, the biggest buyers have been on quite a run.
On Jan. 6, the Sea Dogs were 13-20-1-1 and sat last overall in the league. They went 11-18-4-0 the rest of the way to finish 15th overall.

LAWRENCE SCORES 50
Former Sea Dogs forward Josh Lawrence netted a hat trick in his final QMJHL regular season game on Saturday, giving him 50 goals for the first time in his career.
The overager finished the season second in league scoring with 119 points, his second straight 100-point campaign. Mooseheads forwards Jordan Dumais (54 goals and 140 points), Lawrence (50 goals and 119 points) and Alexandre Doucet (58 goals and 115 points) finished 1-2-3 in league scoring.

Dumais led the league in points with 140 while Doucet netted a league best 58 goals.

Six QMJHL players finished with 100+ points: Dumais, Lawrence, Doucet, Zachary Bolduc, Riley Kidney, and Theo Rochette. Six players also finished with 50+ goals: Dumais, Lawrence, Doucet, Bolduc, Alexis Gendron and Jacob Melanson.

REPORT: DESPONT TURNING PRO
According to Swiss Hockey News, Sea Dogs defenseman Vincent Despont has signed with the Swiss League's EHC Visp for next season.

Despont, who played for Switzerland at the world juniors this year, has slid down the Sea Dogs' depth chart in recent months. There was speculation a few months ago of Despont returning to Switzerland and with the defenseman being an overager next season, this news isn't all that surprising.

A Canadian and Swiss citizen, Despont has spent the past two seasons with the Sea Dogs. He had three goals and seven assists in 50 regular season games this year.

EHC Visp plays in the Swiss League, the second tier of pro hockey in Switzerland, sitting below the National League.

DRAFT LOTTERY UPDATE
With the regular season standings now locked in, here's a look at what the QMJHL's Draft Lottery will look like.
The Val-d'Or Foreurs own Saint John's first-round pick and will therefore have the fourth best odds.

OTHER THINGS
  • The Gatineau newspaper Le Droit has a story on Sea Dogs defenseman Nicolas Bilodeau breaking the franchise record for points in a season by a rookie defenseman. Bilodeau received a congratulatory message from Thomas Chabot.
  • The Quebec Remparts will be allowing horns (of a certain size) and other noise makers during their playoff run.
  • Four QMJHL teams finished with 100+ points (Quebec, Halifax, Sherbrooke and Gatineau) and three with 50+ wins (Quebec, Halifax and Sherbrooke).
  • On Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday, Sportsnet's Jeff Marek reported that the CHL should announce the host of the 2024 Memorial Cup this week. Kingston, Sault Ste. Marie, Niagara and Saginaw all submitted bids.
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