Monday, February 3, 2025

Notebook: Difficult January ends

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs
The Saint John Sea Dogs are likely quite happy to see January come to an end.

It was a rough start to 2025 for the Sea Dogs, posting a 3-9-0-0 record during the month. Two of their three wins came in overtime while their one regulation win – a 4-1 win in Halifax on Jan. 26 – was the team's first victory that didn't come in overtime or shootout since Dec. 4.

The recent struggles have slid the Sea Dogs down the standings. They now sit last in the QMJHL's Eastern Conference and 16th overall in the league. Saint John has, however, played one less game than the Halifax Mooseheads, who are just one point up on the Sea Dogs.

The top 16 teams in the QMJHL make the playoffs. The Sea Dogs are still in decent position, sitting five points ahead of the 17th-place Gatineau Olympiques and 10 points ahead of the last-place Victoriaville Tigres.

If the playoffs started today, the Sea Dogs would cross over to the Western Conference and face the Drummondville Voltigeurs for a second straight season.

BACK HOME
After four straight games on the road, the Sea Dogs will play their next five games on home ice.

The Sea Dogs host the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada on Wednesday at TD Station, exactly one week after the two met in the Montreal suburbs. The Armada won that game 4-3.

Saint John will have their hands full on Friday night when they host Gardiner MacDougall and the first-place Moncton Wildcats. Then on Saturday, the Baie-Comeau Drakkar make their lone visit of the season to Saint John.

The Sea Dogs also play at home on Saturday, Feb. 15, hosting the Shawinigan Cataractes in a 3 p.m. contest. They will close out this stretch of home games on Monday, Feb. 17, taking on Cape Breton Eagles in a Family Day matinee.

Saint John is 11-12-0-0 at home this season. It's hard to believe, but the Sea Dogs will have just four home games remaining after that Feb. 17 contest.

TICKET DEAL
Tickets for Wednesday's home game against the Armada are $10 (plus taxes and fees). Plus, there are hot dog and drink deals.
BRIGHT FUTURE
Some high praise from the website Puck Preps, who have the Sea Dogs ranked second in their 2007-born team rankings.
That class includes the likes of Zachary Morin, Elliot Dubé, Olivier Groulx, Egan Beveridge, Olivier Duhamel, Benjamin Amyot and others.

OTHER THINGS
  • William Yared is now fourth in QMJHL rookie goal scoring with 13 on the year. Zachary Morin is fifth with 12.
  • Former Sea Dogs forward Noah Reinhart, who had a four-point night against Saint John on Saturday, is having himself a respectable season.
  • Former Sea Dogs head coach Gordie Dwyer on his son, Ryan, committing to RPI.
  • The Moncton Wildcats have signed 18-year-old forward Simon Binkley, who has played 33 games with the BCHL's Vernon Vipers this season. Binkley is committed to the NCAA's Alaska Fairbanks for next season.
  • We're two weeks into the next four years and you have to wonder if the QMJHL is having some thoughts on if US expansion is a wise play right now. Even if tariffs are avoided, the uncertainty and chaos around US-Canada relations won't be fun to deal with.
  • The Fredericton Red Wings aren't commenting on rumours that the MHL franchise will relocate to Bathurst next season, reports Radio-Canada.
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