Game Day 9: at Rouyn-Noranda

ROUYN-NORANDA, Que. - The Saint John Sea Dogs play the final game of their Quebec road trip today, visiting the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies at 5 p.m.

The trip started out rough for Saint John, falling 4-1 to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, but got back on track yesterday in Val-d'Or with a 5-1 victory.

The Sea Dogs face likely their toughest task today — not just because of fatigue, but because the Huskies are loaded and ready for a deep run this season. 

Rouyn-Noranda made some big moves during the off-season. The team is off to an okay start, but it's likely just a matter of time before they take off.

TV/Radio/Stream: None/None/CHL TV

2023-24 regular season records: The Sea Dogs are 3-3-1-1 for six points (fifth Maritimes/seventh Eastern/14th QMJHL) while the Huskies are 4-2-1-2 for 11 points (second West/fifth Western/ninth QMJHL).

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 5-1 win in Val-d'Or last night. Vince Elie scored a pair of goals while singles came from Nicolas Bilodeau, Eriks Mateiko and Nate Tivey. Justin Robinson made 24 saves in the win. The Huskies are coming off a 4-2 win over the Cape Breton Eagles last night. Jeremy Langlois, Andrei Loshko, Leighton Carruthers and Mathis Perron scored for Rouyn-Noranda. William Rousseau made 41 stops in the win.

2023-24 head-to-head: This is the first meeting of the season between the Sea Dogs and Huskies.

2022-23 head-to-head: The Sea Dogs were 0-2-0-0 against the Huskies last season while Rouyn-Noranda went 2-0-0-0 against Saint John.

Last meeting: Feb. 2 in Rouyn-Noranda where the Huskies defeated the Sea Dogs 4-2. Benjamin Brunelle, Leighton Carruthers, Tristan Allard and Louis-Philippe Fontaine scored for the Huskies. Pavel Simek and Cole Burbidge had Saint John goals. Thomas Couture made 33 saves in the win. Olivier Brideau made 44 saves in the loss.

Ex-Sea Dogs on the Huskies: Leighton Carruthers.

Huskies to watch: Louis-Philippe Fontaine had five points in two games against Saint John last season. 

Random stat: Pavel Simek is the only active Sea Dog who scored a goal in Saint John's two meetings with Rouyn-Noranda last season.

Notes: Peter Reynolds leads Saint John in points with 10 and goals with five... Noah Reinhart leads the club in assists with six... Louis-Philippe Fontaine, Anthony Turcotte and Antonin Verreault each have a Huskies high 10 points this season... Fontaine leads the club in goals with five... Verreault and Daniil Bourash each have a Huskies high seven assists... Saint John is 2-2-0-0 on the road... Rouyn-Noranda is 2-0-0-2 at home.

Out of town:

Gatineau at Blainville-Boisbriand - 3:00 PM EDT 

Acadie-Bathurst at Moncton - 4:00 PM ADT 

Chicoutimi at Québec - 3:00 PM EDT 

Halifax at Rimouski - 3:00 PM EDT 

Shawinigan at Sherbrooke - 3:00 PM EDT 

Cape Breton at Val-d'Or - 3:00 PM EDT 

Baie-Comeau at Victoriaville - 4:00 PM EDT

Next game: The Sea Dogs return home and host the Moncton Wildcats on Saturday at 7 p.m.