Game Day 51: vs Cataractes

SAINT JOHN - It's a rare Saturday afternoon home game for the Saint John Sea Dogs today.

The Sea Dogs will look to end a six-game losing streak when they host the Shawinigan Cataractes at 3 p.m. This is the first meeting of the season between the two with the rivals scheduled to face each other again next weekend in Shawinigan.

It's been a rough New Brunswick road trip for the Cataractes so far, falling 5-4 in overtime on Thursday in Moncton and 5-2 in Bathurst last night.

As part of the annual All For One weekend, today will be the first Kids Takeover Game at TD Station. Seven children have been chosen by the Sea Dogs to join them on game day, learning from different members of the team’s staff including the coaching staff, training staff, PA announcer, referees, DJ and more.

TV/Radio/Stream: None/Sea Dogs Radio/CHL TV

2024-25 regular season records: The Sea Dogs are 19-31-0-0 for 38 points (sixth Maritimes/10th Eastern/16th QMJHL) while the Cataractes are 28-18-1-4 for 61 points (third central/fifth Western/eighth QMJHL).

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 5-4 home loss to the Baie-Comeau Drakkar on Saturday. Zachary Morin, Nicolas Bilodeau, Benjamin Amyot and Reid Calder all scored for Saint John. Justin Robinson made 33 saves in the loss. The Cataractes are coming off a 5-2 loss in Bathurst last night. Brogan McNeil and Kody Dupuis scored for Shawinigan. Owen Bresson made 32 stops in the loss.

2024-25 head-to-head: This is the first meeting of the season between the Sea Dogs and Cataractes.

2023-24 head-to-head: The Sea Dogs were 0-2-0-0 against the Cataractes last season while Shawinigan went 2-0-0-0 against Saint John.

Last meeting: Jan. 26 in Shawinigan where the Cataractes defeated the Sea Dogs 5-3. Éli Baillargeon, Vince Elie, Felix Lacerte, Jiri Klima and Reece Peitzsche all scored for Shawinigan. Saint John had goals from Eriks Mateiko, Drew Elliott and Coen Miller. Mathys Fernandez made 15 stops in the win. Justin Robinson made 32 saves in the loss. 

Ex-Sea Dogs on the Cataractes: Forward Vince Elie.

Cataractes to watch: Calgary Flames prospect Matvei Gridin leads all QMJHL rookies in points (62), goals (28) and assists (34) in 48 games.

Random stat: Last night's loss in Bathurst ended a streak of seven straight games where the Cataractes earned at least a point. They went 4-0-1-2 during that stretch.

Notes: Nate Tivey leads Saint John in points with 35 and assists with 30... Zachary Morin has a team high 14 goals... Matvei Gridin leads Shawinigan in points with 62... Gridin and Felix Lacerte each have a team high 28 goals... Louis-Philippe Fontaine leads the club in assists with 36... Saint John is 11-15-0-0 at home... Shawinigan is 13-10-0-1 on the road... Jordan Tourigny is sixth in QMJHL defensemen scoring with 36 points... Shawinigan is 4-4-0-1 against Maritimes Division teams... Saint John is 2-4-0-0 against Central Division teams... the Sea Dogs have lost five straight home games.

Out of town:

Rouyn-Noranda at Baie-Comeau - 4:00 PM EST 

Gatineau at Blainville-Boisbriand - 4:00 PM EST 

Chicoutimi at Rimouski - 4:00 PM EST 

Sherbrooke at Cape Breton - 7:00 PM AST 

Halifax at Moncton - 7:00 PM AST

Next game: The Sea Dogs are back in action on Family Day Monday, taking on the Cape Breton Eagles at 3 p.m. at TD Station.