Notebook: Burbidge gets Sens camp invite

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Saint John Sea Dogs forward Cole Burbidge has received an invite to Ottawa Senators development camp.

The 17-year-old was not selected during this week's NHL Draft. He was ranked 110th amongst North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting's final rankings, making him a candidate for a late round pick.

Off to the Nation's Capital 🔜

Sea Dogs forward Cole Burbidge has been invited to the Ottawa Senators Development Camp!#CityOfChampions | @Senators pic.twitter.com/pEXZBnmjSq

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) June 30, 2023

Burbidge was not ranked at all in the mid-season rankings, proving just how much his play improved as his first season in the QMJHL progressed. The Falmouth, NS native finished the regular season with 19 goals and 50 points in 68 games.

Ottawa's development camp begins Sunday and ends on Thursday, July 6. 36 players will be attending.

HALL OF FAME RECAP

A quick video recap of last Friday's Sea Dogs Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Gerard Gallant and Mike Kelly.

DEV CAMP RECAP

A quick video recap of last weekend's Sea Dogs development camp that was held at the Quispamsis qplex.

MORIN AND POIRIER

Moncton Wildcats defenseman Etienne Morin and former Sea Dogs defender Jeremie Poirier have a few things in common: they both played junior in New Brunswick, they're both from Valleyfield, QC and now they're both Calgary Flames prospects.

The Flames selected Morin in the second round of the NHL Draft on Thursday.

“It’s unbelievable, (Jonathan) Huberdeau, same thing with Jakob Pelletier and Poirier playing in the AHL,” Morin told the Calgary Sun. “I can’t wait to start, it’s an incredible day for me.”

Former Sea Dogs defenseman Yan Kuznetsov is also a Flames prospect and played alongside Poirier with the Calgary Wranglers this past season.

AMERICAN PICKS

Two Sea Dogs draft picks have been invited to Team USA's Hlinka Gretzky Cup camp, which will take place July 20-24 in Plymouth.

Defenseman William Felicio, an 11th-round pick of Saint John in the 2022 QMJHL Entry Draft, and forward JJ Monteiro, a 12th-round pick of Saint John in 2022, received invites to the camp.

It looks unlikely that either will choose the major junior route. Felicio, who played with the USHL's Madison Capitols last season, has committed to the University of Denver while Monteiro, who remained at Mount St. Charles last year, has committed to nearby Providence College.

The Hlinka Gretzky Cup takes place Aug. 1-6 in Czechia and Slovakia.

NEW TICKET PLATFORM

Halifax's Scotiabank Centre is making the switch to Ticketmaster, joining Moncton's Avenir Centre and Sydney's Centre 200 as Maritime arenas to use the platform.

Scotiabank Centre didn't really give a certain answer when asked how this could impact ticket prices.

While there haven't been many customer facing changes since OVG took over the management of TD Station, you do have to wonder if a switch to a new ticketing platform could come at some point. TD Station's current ticketing platform has gotten a bit of a facelift recently.

CENTRE 200 UPGRADES

The Cape Breton Eagles got what they've asking for: the federal government will help fund some upgrades to Centre 200.

BIG NEWS 📣

Today, MP Mike Kelloway and MP Jaime Battiste announced a $850,000 investment by the Canadian Government into improvements for Centre 200! These investments include the installation of a new jumbotron, and upgrading the sound and video equipment for the arena! pic.twitter.com/FlQhcXEBes

— Cape Breton Eagles (@CBEHockey) June 28, 2023

OTHER THINGS

• A $3 million gift from Sea Dogs owner Scott McCain and Leslie McLean will support the Centre for the Study of Sport and Health at Saint Mary's University, the school announced Thursday.
• St. Thomas University athletics director Mike Eagles is set to retire after spending 21 years at the school. Eagles, the long-time head coach of the Tommies men's hockey team, has worked as a skills and faceoff coach with the Sea Dogs for the past few years.
• Postmedia's Wes Gilbertson on former Sea Dogs defenseman Jeremie Poirier: "Poirier should eventually be quarterbacking the Flames’ power-play. The 21-year-old left-hander was named to the AHL’s All-Rookie Team in 2022-23 after racking up 41 points as a first-year pro, including 15 assists on the man-advantage. He is determined to address his defensive shortcomings and boasts some big-game experience after winning a Memorial Cup last spring with the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs."
• After a few years in the ECHL, former Sea Dogs forward Oliver Cooper has signed with the Belfast Giants for the UK's Elite Ice Hockey League.
• Forward Shane Bowers, a second-round pick of Saint John in the 2016 QMJHL Entry Draft, was traded to the New Jersey Devils on Monday. The 23-year-old spent most of last season with the AHL's Colorado Eagles and Providence Bruins.
• The OHL makes its return to Brantford on Oct. 7 when the Bulldogs host the Oshawa Generals in their home opener. The WHL's Wenatchee Wild begin play on Sept. 22 when they host the Portland Winterhawks.
• Random note: the Erie Otters haven't made the OHL playoffs since 2017 when they advanced to the Memorial Cup — where they faced the Sea Dogs in Windsor.