Notebook: Stella responds to news

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Anthony Stella took to X on Friday afternoon, just a few hours after being relieved of his duties as Saint John Sea Dogs general manager.

Bitter sweet day today as I’ve been let go by the Sea Dogs. 11 years with this organization and I’ve grown so much and have countless memories. Thank you to the scouts who gave everything to building these teams. Thank you to all the players who have battled for the logo.

— Anthony Stella (@AnthonyStella_) October 4, 2024

The Sea Dogs made the move Friday morning, replacing Stella with head coach Travis Crickard. Crickard will handle both roles.

Stella had been the team's general manager since April 2023. He had been with the club since the 2014-15 season, steadily working his way up to the GM position.

One notable response to Stella's tweet came from one of the player's he assisted in drafting: defenseman William Villeneuve.

Good luck in the future Anthony, you are a real one. Excited to see what’s next for you. Take care

— William Villeneuve (@WilliamVillene9) October 4, 2024

BEVERIDGE BACK

After welcoming Matteo Mann back on Thursday, the Sea Dogs could soon be getting another key piece back in their lineup.

Kevin Barrett of Postmedia reports that forward Egan Beveridge will soon rejoin the team and will make his season debut in the near future.

Second year SJ Sea Dogs forward Egan Beveridge en route to the Port City and will be in town this weekend. Possibility he could play this weekend but his seasonal debut more than likely the following week. All could change.

— Kevin Barrett (@KevinBarrettNB) October 3, 2024

Beveridge did not take part in the team's training camp, staying home due to personal matters.

The 17-year-old forward recorded nine goals and 10 assists in 62 games with Saint John last year. The New Hampshire native was a second-round pick of the Sea Dogs in the 2023 QMJHL Entry Draft.

Beveridge, along with the (likely) impending signing of Zachary Morin, will be huge additions to Saint John's offense.

2025 DRAFT TALK

It's already time to start discussing the 2025 QMJHL Entry Draft.

Puck Preps has compiled their early season top-10 list for the 2025 draft. They currently have forward James Scantlebury ranked first, edging forward Alexis Jospeh. Austin Robson notes that, at this point, it's more of a 1A and 1B type situation between the two.

"The fact of the matter is, I just think Scantlebury is a very special player," writes Robson. "He’s playing up a year for the BK Selects 16U squad and through all my viewings has been their best player by a fair margin. The combination of dynamic skating, puck skills and shooting ability to go along with a relentless motor have made him a favorite of the PuckPreps scouting group, and he’s only gotten better with each passing game."

The full Puck Preps report can be found here.

It's worth noting that Scantlebury is currently playing US prep school hockey, so the NCAA consideration is certainly out there.

DWYER GETS THE CALL

Former Sea Dogs head coach Gordie Dwyer has been named an assistant coach for Team CHL at the upcoming inaugural CHL USA Prospects Challenge in London and Oshawa.

Kris Mallette of the WHL's Kelowna Rockets will lead Team CHL while Ryan Oulahen of the OHL's North Bay Battalion will be the other assistant.

From the CHL news release:

Since 2022, Dwyer has served as the head coach and general manager of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Now in his third season with the Titan, Dwyer previously spent time as the head coach of the Saint John Sea Dogs, Shawinigan Cataractes, Charlottetown Islanders, and Prince Edward Island Rocket. This past summer, Dwyer won gold with Team Canada at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton. He also earned gold as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team at the 2021 IIHF U18 World Championship and won a bronze medal a pair of times – once as Canada’s head coach at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games and the other as an assistant coach at the 2012 IIHF U18 World Championship.

The two-game series will take place Nov. 26-27.

LEAGUE POLL

The QMJHL wants us, the people, to decide which franchise to bring back from the dead (maybe).

OTHER THINGS

• Elliot Dubé (five points in five games) enters play this weekend sitting fifth in QMJHL rookie scoring while Dylan Rozzi (three points in five games) is eighth.
• Former Sea Dogs forward Connor Trenholm had a pair of goals in the Saint Mary's Huskies season opening 5-1 win over the UPEI Panthers on Wednesday.
• The AUS season really gets going this weekend. Once again, here's a look at all the Sea Dogs alumni playing in the league this season.
• The Montreal Gazette has a story on former Sea Dogs forward Joshua Roy, who the Montreal Canadiens believe may have been a steal in the 2021 NHL Draft.
• Saltwire talks to Newfoundland hockey fans about the possibility of the QMJHL returning.
• Forward Cam Squires has made his return to the Cape Breton Eagles from New Jersey Devils camp. The Eagles have scored just six goals in four games.
• Heading into the weekend, Cape Breton's power play is 0/15 while Moncton's is 0/12.
• Less than ideal news for hockey fans in St. Stephen and Grand Bay-Westfield.

  Despite strong crowds (again), it looks like St. Stephen has lost its hockey team (again). This news does not sound promising. pic.twitter.com/YEz1pbYEDD

  — Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) October 2, 2024