Mann makes pro debut in ECHL

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Matteo Mann made his professional hockey debut on Friday night.

Mann was a -1 with no shots on goal in the Reading Royals' 3-2 overtime victory over the Orlando Solar Bears. The Royals lineup sheet showed Mann on the top defensive pairing with 22-year-old Mason Millman.

The Saint John Sea Dogs d-man signed an amateur tryout agreement with the Philadelphia Flyers' ECHL affiliate earlier this week. Mann was a seventh-round pick of the Flyers in last year's NHL Draft.

The 19-year-old is eligible to return to junior hockey for his overage season next year.

The Royals play their final game of the year tonight at home against Orlando.

A few other news and notes...

• The Cape Breton Eagles took a 1-0 series lead over the Chicoutimi Sagueneens with a 4-0 victory last night at a sold out Centre 200. Former Sea Dogs forward Cole Burdige had two assists in the win.
• Gordie Dwyer and the Acadie-Bathurst Titan are doing their thing again. The Titan lost 2-1 to the top-seeded Baie-Comeau Drakkar on Friday but managed to match the high powered Drakkar offense in shots 27-27. 
• Noah Reinhart had two assists in the Drummondville Voltigeurs' 5-2 win over the Sherbrooke Phoenix. That game was 2-2 heading into the third.
• Nathan Darveau made 48 saves to help the Victoriaville Tigres defeat the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 6-3. The Huskies led 3-1 heading into the third where the Tigres scored five times.
• The Maritime Hockey League final is now set. The Summerside Western Capitals eliminated the Amherst Ramblers last night with an overtime win, sending them to the league final where they'll face the Miramichi Timberwolves.
• The St. Stephen Gametime Irishman can clinch the New Brunswick Southern Senior Hockey League title tonight with a win over the Saint John Toyota Flames. The Irishman took a 3-1 series lead with a 6-3 win last night in Quispamsis.