Gallant, Kelly named honourary coaches for CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Only four players from the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League have been named to the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game — and Saint John Sea Dogs forward Eriks Mateiko was not one of them.

Defensemen Spencer Gill (Rimouski) and Tomas Lavoie (Cape Breton) along with forwards Raoul Boilard (Baie-Comeau) and Maxim Masse (Chicoutimi) were the only QMJHL players named to the event's roster, which will take place Jan. 24 at Moncton's Avenir Centre.

The 18-year-old Mateiko, who will likely play a key role for Latvia at this year's World Junior Hockey Championship, has 15 goals and 15 assists in 28 games with the Sea Dogs.

Another notable omission was Baie-Comeau forward Justin Poirier, who enters the holiday break as the QMJHL's league leader in goals (25 in 34 games).

The full roster can be found here.

There will be a couple Sea Dogs connections behind the bench. Former Sea Dogs head coaches Gerard Gallant and Mike Kelly have both been named honourary coaches for the event.

Gallant will be part of Dan Lacroix's (Moncton) Team Red staff while Kelly will join Jim Hulton's (Charlottetown) Team White.