Rozzi could be USHL bound

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

It looks like more than one of the Saint John Sea Dogs' top draft picks could be bound for the United States Hockey League.

The Tribune Chronicle reported Saturday that forward Dylan Rozzi, who the Sea Dogs selected eighth overall in this year's QMJHL Entry Draft, intends to play with the USHL's Youngstown Phantoms this coming season.

As the newspaper reports, Rozzi's older brother, Jake, who is committed to join nearby Ohio State University this fall, played with Youngstown during the 2022-23 season – which ended with a USHL championship.

Rozzi recorded 17 goals and 46 points in 42 games with the Lac St-Louis Lions last season. He's been long-time teammates with William Yared, Saint John's top pick in this year's draft.

Defenseman Cameron Chartrand, who the Sea Dogs picked late in the first round of this year's draft, could also be playing in the USHL this coming season. Chartrand did not attend the draft in Moncton and was a second round pick of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in the USHL Futures Draft.

Rozzi was a fourth-round pick of Youngstown in this year's USHL Futures Draft. Notably, the Phantoms' lineup features 17-year-old forward Zachary Morin, who was a first round pick of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the 2023 QMJHL Entry Draft. After the Armada opted to relinquish his rights, the Sea Dogs grabbed Morin in the eighth round of this year's draft.

So what does this all mean for the Sea Dogs? This news makes it seem like Rozzi is unlikely to report to the team come August – but it's also not uncommon to see players commit to the QMJHL over the USHL later in the summer than this. There's also still a chance Rozzi joins the Sea Dogs down the road (Cam MacDonald, as one example, spent a year in the USHL before joining the Dogs) and you can't blame a player for wanting to keep his US college hockey options open longer.

The Sea Dogs were also well aware of what they were getting into with their draft class, which featured several American players and Canadians looking at college hockey options. 

It's worth noting that Rozzi and Chartrand were both first round picks, meaning Saint John could opt to drop either of their rights next spring and receive a first round pick in the 2025 QMJHL Entry Draft as compensation.

This is all a very long way of saying: Rozzi has options. The Sea Dogs have options. Let's see how this all plays out.