Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Notebook: Gallant to the KHL

Former Saint John Sea Dogs head coach Gerard Gallant is officially off to the KHL.

Gallant was named the head coach of the Shanghai Dragons on Wednesday after several weeks of rumours, signing a two-year deal. It's the first coaching stint in the KHL for the 61-year-old.

The Dragons made the announcement with this rather awesome video.
The Dragons are formerly the Kunlun Red Star, who were based in Beijing prior to the pandemic. The club has played in Russia since 2020 and are expected to play in Saint Petersburg this year.

Gallant, who coached the Sea Dogs for three seasons from 2009 to 2012, hasn't had a full time coaching gig since the 2022-23 season when he led the New York Rangers.


HLINKA UPDATE
Team Canada improved to 3-0 at this year's Hlinka Gretzky Cup with a 5-0 victory over Czechia on Wednesday.

The Canadians previously defeated Finland, 5-3, and Switzerland, 9-1. Canada will play the United States in Friday's semifinals. The gold and bronze medal games are set for Saturday.

Sea Dogs defenseman Cameron Chartrand has been held pointless so far at the tournament. Sea Dogs head coach and general manager Travis Crickard, meanwhile, is an assistant coach with the team.

NEW VENUES
Some Sea Dogs pre-season venues have changed yet again. 

The team's Aug. 23 and Aug. 28 games – both against the Newfoundland Regiment – will be held at Fredericton's Willie O'Ree Place. The two games were originally set to be played at Fredericton's Grant Harvey Centre and Lady Beaverbrook Rink, respectively.

Both games are Regiment "home" contests. Newfoundland will be holding the first portion of their training camp and entire pre-season schedule in Fredericton due to the Canada Games taking over most venues in the St. John's area.

Tickets to both games can be purchased online.

VILLENEUVE RE-SIGNS
Former Sea Dogs defenseman William Villeneuve has re-signed with the AHL's Toronto Marlies.

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced the signing last week. Villeneuve inked a one-year, two-way contract with the club.

The 23-year-old has played the last three seasons with the Marlies, recording nine goals and 81 assists in 165 AHL games. He has yet to appear in a game with the Maple Leafs, the team that selected him in the fourth-round of the 2020 NHL Draft.

Villeneuve spent four seasons with the Sea Dogs which ended in him helping the team win the 2022 Memorial Cup.

GUAY HEADS OVERSEAS
Former Sea Dogs captain Nicolas Guay is heading back overseas.

The 26-year-old forward has signed with the EIHL's Belfast Giants for the 2025-26 season, the club announced Monday. 

"Nicolas is a strong addition to our roster," said Giants head coach Adam Keefe in a statement. "He’s a smart, responsible player with the ability to create plays and finish chances. He had great leadership qualities and experience in different environments, which will serve him well in the Elite League. We’re excited to see what he can bring to the team this season.”

Guay split last season between HC Nové Zámky of the Slovak Extraliga and the ECHL's Trois-Rivieres Lions, where he helped the Montreal Canadiens' affiliate capture the Kelly Cup.

Guay played in 35 games with Saint John during the 2019-20 season, posting 16 goals and 26 assists.

SENIOR HOCKEY SIGNINGS
There have been a few notable signings in the Beausejour Senior Hockey League in recent weeks.

  • Dawson Stairs has signed with the Dalhousie Marauders. Stairs spent parts of three seasons with the Sea Dogs. Elite Prospects indicates that he appeared in three games with the senior Tri-County Express last season.
  • Ryan Tesink has signed with the Fredericton Express. The 32-year-old spent parts of three seasons with the Sea Dogs and was a member of the 2011 and 2012 President Cup championship teams. According to Elite Prospects, Tesink hasn't played a lot in the past few years, appearing in some senior league games here and there.
  • Carter and Connor McCluskey have also signed with the Express. Carter McCluskey appeared in 26 games with the Sea Dogs over two seasons. He played in 15 games with the UPEI Panthers last season. 
  • Alex Bernier has signed with the Miramichi Northmen for a third season. Bernier spent parts of two seasons with the Sea Dogs and was part of the 2017 President Cup championship team.

NCDC DEPARTS BLACKS HARBOUR
The Eastern Charlotte Kingfishers are done before they even played a game.

In a Facebook post, the NCDC franchise that was to play out of Blacks Harbour announced that the team had been sold and relocated to Biddeford, Maine. The league's website confirmed the move.

We regret to inform you that Eastern Charlotte Kingfishers has been sold & relocated by the league to Biddeford, ME.

Thank you for your support & understanding.

The Kingfishers and the St. Stephen-based St. Croix Seawolves held a joint selection camp last month. The team had already unveiled its jerseys.

The league's schedule appears to have already been adjusted. The Seawolves and Kingfishers were to play a home-and-home Sept. 19-20 but it now shows the Seawolves playing the Connecticut Chiefs North, which is the Biddeford-based franchise.

OTHER THINGS
  • It's that time: the QMJHL's pre-season gets underway Thursday in Quebec.
  • In a news release hyping up the upcoming season, the Sea Dogs announced that training camp will begin Sunday at TD Station. The full camp roster and schedule will be announced soon.
  • Tickets to Saint John's pre-season game at the Aitken Centre – which is a Moncton Wildcats "home" game – are now on sale.
  • Sea Dogs forward Jacob Beaulieu was one of the QMJHL's fight leaders last season.
  • Saltwire has a story on the deal that saw the Sea Dogs trade overage forward Tyler Peddle to the Charlottetown Islanders, where he'll join his brother.
  • Colorado College has some bios up of this year's recruiting class, which includes former Sea Dogs defenseman Matteo Mann. "I chose Colorado College because I felt they would give me the best chance to continue developing my game at a high level," said Mann. "The town and school setup gave me confidence that I would be comfortable furthering my hockey and education this fall. I'm excited to get on campus and become a college athlete for the first time."
  • We've created a page to help track Saint John's NCAA commitments along with where former players are committed. 
  • Flames Nation has a story on former Sea Dogs defenseman Jeremie Poirier.
  • Flames Nation has ranked former Sea Dogs defenseman Yan Kuznetsov the 19th best prospect in the Calgary Flames system.
  • Moncton Wildcats forward Preston Lounsbury has committed to the NCAA's Holy Cross Crusaders for the 2026-27 season, reports Mike McMahon.
  • It certainly looks like James Scantlebury, one of the top players in the 2025 QMJHL Entry Draft class, will head south to play for the USHL's Chicago Steel this season – but le Jounal de Quebec reports that the Quebec Remparts, who selected the Boston University commit ninth overall, still haven't received official confirmation on that and are hopeful he'll play in the Q this season.
  • The Kitchener Rangers are bidding to host the 2027 Memorial Cup. The Soo Greyhounds are not.
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