Centennial Cup begins for two former Dogs

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The 2023 Centennial Cup begins this week for two former Saint John Sea Dogs.

Goaltender Nikolas Hurtubise of the Terrebonne Cobras and defenseman Ben Roode of the Yarmouth Mariners will both compete for the national junior A championship May 11-21 in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.

Hurtubise will be looking to add another championship to his already impressive resume. Along with helping the Cobras win this year's QJHL title, the overage netminder helped backstop the Sea Dogs to a Memorial Cup championship last year and the Victoriaville Tigres to a President Cup title the year before.

Despite his impressive resume, Hurtubise will likely be splitting the crease with Alexandre Marchand, who was named the Canadian Junior Hockey League goaltender of the year on Wednesday.

The Cobras, who finished third in the final CJHL rankings, advanced to the Centennial Cup after defeating the Cegep Beauce-Appalaches Condors in seven games in the league final. This is Terrebonne's first trip to nationals since 2017 where they finished third.

Terrebonne begins the tournament on Friday afternoon against the Central Canada Hockey League's Ottawa Jr Senators.

Friday, May 12 - Ottawa (CCHL) vs Terrebonne (QJHL)

Sunday, May 14 - Terrebonne (QJHL) vs Timmins (NOJHL)

Tuesday, May 16 - Terrebonne (QJHL) vs Brooks (AJHL)

Wednesday, May 17 - Yarmouth (MHL) vs Terrebonne (QJHL)

Roode, a co-captain, and the Mariners will be tested right out of the gate, facing the defending champion and the No. 1 ranked Brooks Bandits on Thursday. Most of the Bandits' roster has committed to D1 NCAA programs.

Thursday, May 11 - Yarmouth (MHL) vs Brooks (AJHL)

Friday, May 12 - Timmins (NOJHL) vs Yarmouth (MHL)

Monday, May 15 - Ottawa (CCHL) vs Yarmouth (MHL)

Wednesday, May 17 - Terrebonne (QJHL) vs Yarmouth (MHL)

The Mariners went a perfect 12-0 in the playoffs to win the MHL championship. This will be the franchise's first trip to nationals. While a couple have come close (Woodstock in 2012 and Summerside in 2013), no Maritime team has won the national junior A championship since the Halifax Oland Exports did so in 2002.

Saltwire has a story on Roode and his commitment to play at Ontario Tech next season.

Another notable name taking part in the tournament is Brooks' Davide Patella, who was interestingly a fourth-round pick of the Sea Dogs in the 2020 QMJHL Entry Draft and a first-round pick of Terrebonne in the 2021 QJHL Draft. The 19-year-old split this season between the BCHL and AJHL.

The tournament includes 10 teams - the host Portage Terriers and representatives from the Alberta Junior Hockey League, Ligue de hockey junior AAA du Québec, Ontario Junior Hockey League, Superior International Junior Hockey League, Central Canada Hockey League, Manitoba Junior Hockey League, Maritime Hockey League, Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League and Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.

The quarterfinals take place May 19, the semifinals May 20 and the championship game May 21.