Former Sea Dogs eliminated from AHL's Calder Cup Playoffs

Calgary Wranglers

The playoffs are over for former Saint John Sea Dogs defensemen Jeremie Poirier and Yan Kuznetsov.

The Calgary Wranglers had their Calder Cup run end Friday night in Palm Desert, falling 6-5 in overtime to the Coachella Valley Firebirds in a winner-take-all Game 5. Four of the five games in the Pacific Division final were decided by a single goal.

Poirier scored in what was a six-goal third period between the two squads. The 20-year-old finishes his first professional playoff run with two goals and six assists in nine games.

💥JÉRÉMIE POIRIER! We are tied #Flames pic.twitter.com/wDeIflwyTP

— Flames Prospects (@BlastyProspects) May 20, 2023

It was a solid rookie year for Poirier who also registered nine goals and 32 assists in 69 regular season games. The Calgary Sun had a story on the offensive defenseman this week.

Kuznetsov, meanwhile, hasn't appeared in every Wranglers playoff game but did play in Friday's, recording an assist. The 21-year-old had two helpers in five playoff games to go along with five goals and 14 assists in 63 regular season contests.

The Wranglers were the top-ranked team in the American Hockey League's regular season, finishing with 106 points. The Firebirds, the Seattle Kraken's top affiliate, were second with 103 points.

The Firebirds will play the winner of the Texas/Milwaukee series in the Western Conference final. The Eastern Conference final will feature the Rochester Americans taking on the Hershey Bears.

The Americans advanced after sweeping the Toronto Marlies in the North Division final. Former Sea Dogs defensemen William Villeneuve did not suit up in any of Toronto's playoff games. Villeneuve appeared in 54 regular season matches, posting three goals and 22 assists.