Notebook: Memorial Cup began a year ago

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Saint John was a little bit livelier at this time a year ago.

On June 20, 2022, the first game of the Memorial Cup was played at TD Station with the Saint John Sea Dogs edging the Hamilton Bulldogs 5-3. It was the start of a tremendously entertaining tournament that ended with those two teams facing off again — and with Saint John winning 6-3 the second time around.

It was a memorable couple weeks in Saint John that really kicked off on June 18 with the grand opening of the ball hockey pad and had its storybook ending on June 30 with a championship parade through the uptown.

MORE GUESTS

Some of the guests who were in attendance for last year's Memorial Cup will be in town again this week for the Sea Dogs Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

The team tweeted that former Sea Dogs Michael Kirkpatrick, Jeremie Poirier, Zack Phillips and Nathan Beaulieu will all be in attendance on Friday at the Imperial Theatre.

Don't miss the 2023 Sea Dogs Hall of Fame induction ceremony this Friday night!

A number of Sea Dogs alumni will be in attendance including Michael Kirkpatrick, Jeremie Poirier, Zack Phillips, and Nathan Beaulieu.

📍@ImperialTheatre
📅 Friday, June 23rd
⏰ 7:00pm#SeaDogsHOF pic.twitter.com/HHl7tUkZxq

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) June 19, 2023

Former Sea Dogs coaches Gerard Gallant and Mike Kelly, who led the team to the 2011 Memorial Cup championship, will both be inducted, joining Jonathan Huberdeau and Mike Thomas.

DRAFT CLASS HONOURED

The Sea Dogs honoured their 2023 draft class with a full-page ad in Saturday's print edition of the Telegraph-Journal (click to enlarge).

BEZEAU RE-SIGNS

Former Sea Dogs forward Riley Bezeau has re-signed with the American Hockey League's Charlotte Checkers.

From the Checkers:

Riley Bezeau is returning to the Queen City, having agreed to terms on a two-year AHL contract.

Bezeau, 21, posted eight points (5g, 3a) in 51 games last season as a rookie and ranked second on the team with 84 penalty minutes.

Prior to turning pro, the New Brunswick native recorded 38 points (17g, 21a) in 93 QMJHL games with Saint John and helped them capture the Memorial Cup in 2021-22.

The 21-year-old played parts of three seasons with the Sea Dogs before turning pro last summer.

QJHL DRAFT RESULTS

Sea Dogs forward Alexis Cournoyer was the second overall pick in this past weekend's QJHL Draft.

Cournoyer, who will be an overager this year, was selected by the Montreal Rangers. He posted 28 points in 67 games with the Sea Dogs in 2022-23, his first full season in the QMJHL.

Sea Dogs forward Jacob Beaulieu was also picked while prospect Alexis Beaudoin was chosen in the QJHL's Territorial Draft.

Round 1, 2nd overall - Alexis Cournoyer (Montreal)

Round 8, 94th overall - Jacob Beaulieu (Princeville)

Territorial Pick - Alexis Beaudoin (Princeville)

ECHL LISTS

A number of former Sea Dogs were included on ECHL teams' season ending protected lists.

Fort Wayne - Oliver Cooper

Norfolk - Nico Blachman

South Carolina - Chase Stewart

Trois Rivieres - Nicolas Guay

Tulsa - Benjamin Gagne

Wheeling - Jack Van Boekel and Cedric Pare

Wichita - Kelly Bent

Van Boekel has since had his rights traded to Savannah.

OTHER THINGS

• Saltwire has a story on Brady Burns joining his father's Acadia Axemen for the upcoming season. Former Sea Dogs Charlie DesRoches and Thomas Couture will also be joining the Axemen.
• 17-year-old forward Jack O'Blenis, a seventh-round pick of Saint John in the 2021 QMJHL Entry Draft, had his Maritime Hockey League rights traded from the Miramichi Timberwolves to the Amherst Ramblers. O'Blenis spent most of last season with the Saint John Vito's.
• The Hershey Bears are Coachella Valley Firebirds will play Game 7 of the Calder Cup final on Wednesday night in California. There are no Sea Dogs alumni on either team, but Firebirds netminder Joey Daccord was an 11th-round pick of Saint John in the 2013 QMJHL Entry Draft.