Notebook: Crickard named to Youth Olympic Games staff

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Saint John Sea Dogs head coach Travis Crickard has been named to Team Canada's coaching staff for the upcoming Winter Youth Olympic Games in South Korea.

The coaching staff is led by head coach Ryan Smith of the WHL's Spokane Chiefs. Former Blainville-Boisbriand Armada head coach Bruce Richardson will be the other assistant. 

According to the Team Canada press release, "men’s hockey will take place Jan. 27-31 (Days 8-12) at the Gangneung Hockey Centre. Team Canada opens the Youth Olympic tournament against host South Korea on Jan. 27 at 7 a.m. and will play Finland on Jan. 29 at 7 a.m. Semifinals will be played on Jan. 30, with the medal games set for Jan. 31."

Team Canada won bronze at the 2020 event in Switzerland.

The Canadian roster features a few of the top prospects available in this year's QMJHL Entry Draft — which is certainly notable from a Sea Dogs perspective. The roster includes defenseman Cameron Chartrand (Bishop Kearney Selects) along with forwards Tynan Lawrence (Shattuck-St. Mary’s) and Aiden O’Donnell (Dartmouth).

Lawrence is the younger brother for former Sea Dogs forward Josh Lawrence.

COMING UP

The Sea Dogs play three games this week — including a pair of back-to-back midweek home games.

Saint John hosts the Charlottetown Islanders on Wednesday and then Vince Elie and the Shawinigan Cataractes on Thursday. Both of those are 7 p.m. starts.

Following Thursday's game, the Sea Dogs will play eight straight games on the road. They won't be at TD Station again until Feb. 15.

On Saturday, the Sea Dogs will be on the road to face Cam MacDonald, Cole Burbidge and the Cape Breton Eagles at 7 p.m.

HOME WOES

Saint John's 2-1 victory over the Victoriaville Tigres on Saturday was just the team's seventh home win of the season and first since Dec. 9.

The Sea Dogs are 7-12-2-2 at TD Station this season. They continue to have the fewest home wins of any team in the QMJHL.

Saint John still has 11 home games remaining, meaning it's unlikely they'll set the franchise record for fewest home wins in a season. The Sea Dogs won just eight home games in both 2017-18 and 2020-21. That 2020-21 season was the short COVID campaign.

SOCKS

The Sea Dogs will be collecting socks at their home game this Wednesday.

20k Sock Day NB will be at the game this Wednesday, January 17th against the Islanders!

20k Sock Day is an initiative to get new, warm socks donated to shelters in Canada. Fans are encouraged to bring new pairs of socks to the game, which will be donated to NB homeless shelters. pic.twitter.com/f66dSA6h6L

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) January 15, 2024

TEAM OF THE WEEK

Former Sea Dogs defenseman Mathis Gauthier was named to the QMJHL's Team of the Week.

Here are the top performers from the 16th week of action! 💁‍♂️#TOTW | #QMJHL

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) January 15, 2024

Gauthier had a goal and four assists in three games with the Gatineau Olympiques. The Olympiques, who have been in the league's basement all season, have now won five straight games.

OTHER STUFF

• The Acadie-Bathurst Titan are for sale once again but, as CBC New Brunswick reports, the QMJHL is committed to keeping the team at the KC Irving Regional Centre. 
• The Hockey News caught up with former Sea Dogs forward William Dufour of the AHL's Bridgeport Islanders. Dufour recently scored in three straight games.
• Was cruising through the Rothesay Netherwood hockey roster the other day (as one does) and noticed something: former Sea Dogs defenseman Kevin Gagne is listed as an assistant coach.