Notebook: Cunningham earns camp invite

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - Bryce Cunningham is the first player to receive an invite to Saint John Sea Dogs training camp this August.

Cunningham was named the most valuable player of the inaugural Dog Bowl on Saturday, helping Sussex High School defeat St. Malachy's 7-6 in overtime in the championship game.

Congratulations to the 2025 #DogBowl MVP, #17 Bryce Cunningham of the Sussex Sonics!

Bryce has earned an invite to the #SJSeaDogs Training Camp in August.#GoDogsGo pic.twitter.com/IZmkRpGI8L

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) February 8, 2025

Cunningham, a 16-year-old forward, played 34 games with the Saint John Vito's last season, recording a goal and an assist.

The Dog Bowl featured teams from Kennebecasis Valley High School, Rothesay High School, St. Malachy’s Memorial High School and Sussex Regional High School compete in a two day tournament at TD Station. The MVP of the event earned an invite to Sea Dogs training camp.

SPECIALITY JERSEY TALK

The Sea Dogs wore their latest speciality jersey on Saturday, sporting the winning look from the Real Atlantic Superstore jersey design contest.

It was the eighth game this season the Sea Dogs have worn a speciality jersey. They are 5-3-0-0 in those games.

Oct. 11 (Stampede at the Station): 3-0 W vs Sherbrooke

Nov. 22 (Pink in the Rink): 6-2 L vs Charlottetown

Nov. 23 (Pink in the Rink): 2-0 W vs Charlottetown

Nov. 29 (Throwback Night): 3-2 OTW vs Gatineau

Dec. 13 (Christmas at the Station): 5-4 OTW vs Cape Breton

Dec. 14 (Christmas at the Station): 5-4 SOW vs Bathurst

Jan. 17 (Syle & Flow): 3-0 L vs Charlottetown

Feb. 8 (Superstore Contest): 5-4 L vs Baie-Comeau

The Sea Dogs will wear another speciality jersey on Wrestling Night, which is scheduled for March 7 against the Halifax Mooseheads.

GRAVEL MAKES BCHL DEBUT

Former Sea Dogs goaltender Charles-Edward Gravel made his BCHL debut over the weekend.

On Friday, Gravel made 21 saves to help the Prince George Spruce Kings defeat the Coquitlam Express 3-2 in overtime. Then on Saturday, Gravel was named third star after making 32 saves in Prince George's 3-2 regulation time win over Coquitlam.

The Spruce Kings tweeted that Friday's victory was the 100th of Gravel's junior hockey career.

With tonight's win, goaltender Charles Gravel picked up his 100th win in junior hockey between regular season and playoff games in the BCHL and QMJHL pic.twitter.com/8hue4oEzS1

— Prince George Spruce Kings (@SpruceKings) February 8, 2025

The Prince George Citizen had a story on Gravel a few days ago. The story included a bit of news: the overage goaltender has committed to play at Mercyhurst University next season. The Lakers, based in Erie, PA, play in Atlantic Hockey, which is typically considered the weakest NCAA D1 men's hockey conference.

MILLER FINDS NEW HOME

Former Sea Dogs forward Coen Miller has found a new home in the BCHL.

The Vernon Vipers announced Friday that Miller has joined the club. He takes one of the spots left by departing players, which includes forward Simon Binkley who signed with the Moncton Wildcats.

Miller made his Vipers debut this weekend, recording an assist on Saturday in Vernon's 7-3 loss to the West Kelowna Warriors.

The Vipers are Miller's fourth team this season and second in the BCHL. The Bedford, NS native previously appeared in three games with the Powell River Kings where he registered two assists.

The 18-year-old played 23 games with the Sea Dogs in the first half, posting two helpers. He then joined the MHL's Valley Wildcats where he had a goal and two assists in two games.

Vernon's roster also includes forward Dennis Lominac, who played seven games with the Sea Dogs this season.

OTHER THINGS

• Saint John is still holding the QMJHL's 16th and final playoff spot. The Gatineau Olympiques grabbed a point on Saturday, so they are now four points back of the Sea Dogs.
• The Sea Dogs have lost at least 30 games for a third straight season. The team also had three straight seasons of 30+ losses during their last cycle.
• Saint John has just nine regulation wins this season, the second fewest in the league. Only the Gatineau Olympiques – who have seven – have won fewer.
• The Sea Dogs have released details on One For All weekend, which will be "Next Gen" themed this year.
• Quispamsis native and University of New Hampshire commit Sam Oliver of the Drummondville Voltigeurs became the first player in the QMJHL to reach the 40 goal mark on Friday. The overage forward had 35 goals last season.
• The Charlottetown Islanders have been a completely different team in the second half. They are now 7-3 in their last 10 games and have won three straight. Their latest win was a 5-3 victory over the league-leading Moncton Wildcats on Saturday.
• Speaking of Moncton, it's getting hot. You can feel the pressure rising at home games. This team has some things to work on, and the biggest area is likely getting Mathis Rousseau to his old self (even though he did shutout Saint John on Friday).
• A couple other notes on the BCHL's Prince George Spruce Kings: Saint John native and former QMJHLer Brad Tesink has been the interim head coach of the team since November. He had previously been an associate coach with the club. Also, Hampton native Evan Bellamy, who skated at TD Station on Saturday with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, played 32 games with the Spruce Kings this season before jumping over to the QMJHL.
• CTV Atlantic has a story on the beer vending machines that have popped up inside Avenir Centre and Scotiabank Centre this season. Given how far TD Station has fallen behind these two buildings, these machines will likely be in Saint John by 2050 or so.
• Not sure if this was ever mentioned: overage forward Davide Patella, a a fourth-round pick of Saint John in the 2020 QMJHL Entry Draft, has committed to Colgate University for next season. Patella is in his third season with the BCHL's Brooks Bandits.
• The 2025 Beanpot final takes place Monday at TD Garden and will see Boston College taking on Boston University. The game is supposed to be broadcast on TSN3/5 at 8:30 p.m. Atlantic.
• A rare William Dufour fight on Saturday. You could tell he wanted this one and he delivered.