Notebook: Laforge Memorial Cup jersey up for sale

An interesting find on eBay recently: someone is selling a Nico Laforge jersey from Saint John's first game of the 2022 Memorial Cup. The asking price is just under $1,400 Canadian.

Laforge did not play in that game or in any games at last year's Memorial Cup.

"Not worn by player but appears to have been washed by the team," notes the seller.

LAWRENCE HONOURED

Former Sea Dogs forward Josh Lawrence was named to the CHL's second all-star team on Thursday.

Here's your CHL Second All-Star Team! #CHLAwards pic.twitter.com/9R6DZkGeOc

— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) June 1, 2023

Lawrence posted 50 goals and 119 points (his second straight season of 100+ points) in 69 games split between the Halifax Mooseheads and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. He added 12 goals and 31 points in 21 playoff games.

Lawrence's teammates were also honoured. Jordan Dumais was named a first team all-star while Alexandre Doucet was on the third all-star squad.

MACDONALD LOSES HOME

By now you've likely heard the tragic news that former Sea Dogs forward Cam MacDonald and his family lost their home last week in the Hammonds Plains wildfires.

"But as bad as it is, I'm just glad we got the dog out and everyone was safe," MacDonald told Saltwire. "No one was hurt in our subdivision and there are a lot of people in the same boat as us so it could've been a lot worse."

Among the many items lost in the fire was MacDonald's Memorial Cup championship ring - which Sea Dogs president Trevor Georgie plans to replace.

Thank you very much! Everybody’s safe which is all we can ask for

— Cam Macdonald (@cammacdonald61) May 29, 2023

Hammonds Plains native Davis Cooper of the Quebec Remparts spoke about the fires earlier this week at the Memorial Cup.

"It's on my mind. It's a tragedy what is happening in my hometown."

The @quebec_remparts' Davis Cooper, a #HammondsPlains native, comments on the wildfires in Nova Scotia ❤️ pic.twitter.com/8mCdqZxXgo

— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) May 30, 2023

UNSIGNED

Speaking of Cam MacDonald, the Tampa Bay Lightning opted not to sign the former Sea Dog, making him a free agent - and also increasing the odds of him returning to the QMJHL for an overage season.

MacDonald, who was traded to the Gatineau Olympiques during the holiday trade period, was a fifth-round pick of the Lightning in the 2021 NHL Draft.

The 20-year-old has one more year of junior elgibility remaining. MacDonald had 27 points in 31 second half games with Gatineau this year and added eight points in 13 playoff games.

MUST SIGN BY - June 1, 2023 @ 5pm ET

Reminder that today at 5pm ET is the deadline for clubs to sign the following drafted players on their reserve lists to entry level contracts, otherwise they will lose their exclusive signing rights window.

https://t.co/nXfmDT1fO4 pic.twitter.com/rQfep5MbVJ

— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) June 1, 2023

MacDonald was listed as one of seven unsigned players to watch by Daily Faceoff heading into this year's NHL Draft.

Also of note, Acadie-Bathurst Titan forward Bobby Orr went unsigned by the Carolina Hurricanes. Orr was a fifth-round pick of Saint John in the 2019 QMJHL Entry Draft but never played for the club.

NEW POD EPISODE

This week on The Hockey News on the Q, Will MacLaren and I discuss the Quebec Remparts at the Memorial Cup, some league news and take a look at Ottawa Senators prospects.

.@willmacwriter and @station_nation discuss the Quebec Remparts clinching a bye to the #MemorialCup final, the Ottawa Senators' #QMJHL alumni and more: https://t.co/X5Hmy3kb2E

— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) June 1, 2023

NEW MHL TEAM

The Maritime Hockey League's West Kent Steamers unveiled their logos on Friday. The Steamers will begin play this fall after relocating to Bouctouche from Bridgewater.

The West Kent Steamers have unveiled their new team logo pic.twitter.com/heFOx4KaDK

— The MHL (@THEMHL) June 2, 2023

ARENA TALK

If you enjoy the CHL arena talk on this site, I went on the Stadium Journey podcast this week to discuss just that.

OTHER THINGS

• The Sea Dogs' 2023-24 schedule has been uploaded to the QMJHL website, which is easier to digest than the PDF released Wednesday.
• Some big changes in Drummondville: Yanick Lemay has been named the club's new general manager while Eric Belanger will not return as head coach.
• At the CHL awards on Saturday night, Nathan Darveau of the Victoriaville Tigres was named the CHL goaltender of the year while forward Maxim Masse of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens was named rookie of the year.
• While the Eastern Canadian Basketball League shutdown early to prepare for next season, some of the teams that once visited Saint John during the NBL Canada days have announced that they will be joining the Basketball Super League this December. The Newfoundland Rogues will also be joining the league, which will feature teams from Canada and the United States.