Notebook: Over and out in Mississauga

The building where the Saint John Sea Dogs lifted the Memorial Cup for the first time hosted its final CHL game last Friday.

The Mississauga Steelheads fell 6-2 to the Sudbury Wolves in Game 5 of their first round playoff series, officially ending the team's run in Mississauga. The Steelheads will literally move down the road to Brampton for the 2024-25 season.

The Sea Dogs won the 2011 Memorial Cup at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre (then the Hershey Centre) when they defeated the host Mississauga St. Michael's Majors in the championship game.

It's certainly possible that the OHL will return to Mississauga one day — but it probably won't be quite awhile given how rough attendance has been during the Steelheads and Majors tenures.

IMAMA MAKES SENS DEBUT

Former Sea Dogs forward Boko Imama made his Ottawa Senators debut last Saturday.

Imama dropped the gloves with New Jersey's Kurtis MacDermid in the first period.

Welcome to the Ottawa Senators, Boko Imama. 👊 pic.twitter.com/tEQhPXmqWm

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 6, 2024

Imama was one of three former Sea Dogs playing for Ottawa in the game, joining Mathieu Joseph and Thomas Chabot.

The 27-year-old has spent most of this season withe AHL's Belleville Senators where he has three goals and seven assists in 53 games.

MAGOG MOVING ON

Sea Dogs prospect Kyan Labbé and the Magog Cantonniers are moving on to the Telus Cup national championship.

The Cantonniers won their fifth Coupe Jimmy-Ferrari on Wednesday night. The team now advances to the Telus Cup which will take place in Cape Breton from April 22-28.

Congratulations to #SJSeaDogs prospect Kyan Labbé and the @CantonniersAAA on winning the Coupe Jimmy-Ferrari!

Labbé was named MVP and Top Defensive Player in the playoffs with an 11-3-0 record, .920 save percentage, and 2.26 goals-against-average.#GoDogsGo | 📸: Marco Bergeron pic.twitter.com/AEJind8291

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) April 11, 2024

Labbé, 16, played his second season in Magog. He was a fourth-round pick of the Sea Dogs in last year's QMJHL Entry Draft — but he left Saint John training camp after 48 hours to presumably preserve his college hockey options. The concern with Labbé is his size, being listed at just 5'7" in his draft year.

MANN IN READING

Sea Dogs defenseman Matteo Mann took part in his first practice with the ECHL's Reading Royals on Thursday. Mann signed an amateur tryout agreement with the Royals earlier this week.

Matteo Mann on the ice for his 1st practice w/ the @ReadingRoyals - @NHLFlyers 7th Rd (199 ovr.) draft pick in 2023 - signed ATO w/ Reading Tuesday.

Youngest Royal this season (19 years-102 days old) - ties for tallest w/ former Royals Kennedy & Peters (6’6”)

He’ll wear #20. pic.twitter.com/IuO4B4UON2

— Erik Jesberger (@ErikJesberger) April 11, 2024

6’6” Matteo Mann taking fighting tips from 6’5” Ryan Devine following @ReadingRoyals practice.

Devine, 32, won the 2023 @iceiswar - totals 1,164 PIM across 9 pro seasons. Mann, 19, totaled 184 PIM across 170 QMJHL career games - career-high 68 PIM with @SJSeaDogs this season pic.twitter.com/82bGgfjWsH

— Erik Jesberger (@ErikJesberger) April 11, 2024

The Royals host the Orlando Solar Bears on Friday and Saturday, which will be their final games of the year.

DRAFT CHANGES?
Are some changes coming to the QMJHL Entry Draft in the next few years? From Kevin Barrett of Postmedia:

A few changes seem imminent for Q-draft in the future with the league looking at dropping the number of rounds to 12 from current 14-round format. Likely won't be in place until 2025.

— Kevin Barrett (@KevinBarrettNB) April 5, 2024

Another change in the discussion phase is the elimination of the QMJHL's U.S. draft, a two-round affair that started in 2018. If teams want, they can draft US players in the regular draft or ink anyone not selected as a free agent.

— Kevin Barrett (@KevinBarrettNB) April 5, 2024

MATEIKO VID

"He pushes me the most and sees something in me."

Unwavering support from his older brother Nikita continues to drive the @SJSeaDogs' Eriks Mateiko.#MeettheFuture | #NHLDraft | @KubotaCanadaLtd pic.twitter.com/T72eEIJHLF

— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) April 5, 2024

LACROIX FIRED

The Moncton Wildcats and head coach Dan Lacroix have parted ways following a disappointing second half and first round playoff exit.

“After a disappointing conclusion to the season we mutually decided it was time for a change,” said Robert K. Irving, president of the Moncton Wildcats, in a news release. “I want to thank Dan for his contributions to the Wildcats for the past four and a half years and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”

This will be an interesting one. Coaching the Wildcats at the top of their cycle is a high profile gig, so there will be no shortage of candidates.

OTHER THINGS

• Bradly Nadeau's time at the University of Maine has come to an end after one season. The Saint-François-de-Madawaska native signed an entry-level deal with the Carolina Hurricanes last Sunday. Nadeau was a first-round pick of the Hurricanes last year.
• Nadeau's QMJHL rights are held by the Memorial Cup hosting Rimouski Oceanic. It seems extremely unlikely he'd leave Maine without some sort of guarantee he'll be playing pro next season... but this signing has opened the door to speculation.
• Landon DuPont has become the first exceptional status player in WHL history, the league and Hockey Canada announced Monday. DuPont joins a small group of players to be awarded exceptional status in the CHL, including former Sea Dogs forward Joe Veleno. 
• Halifax Mooseheads owner Peter Simon didn't hold back when discussing his team's disappointing first round loss in this interview with Global News.
• Former Sea Dogs forward Maxim Cajkovic has been loaned to the Slovakian national team by the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
• The AHL's Hershey Bears won their 50th game of the season last Saturday. With five games remaining, the Bears have a record of 50-12-0-5.
• The Fargo Force set a new USHL record for wins in a season last Saturday, winning their 49th game of the year.