Sea Dogs announce big wave of cuts

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - Some major roster decisions were made by the Saint John Sea Dogs on Sunday.

16 players were reassigned, which includes a number of returning players, overage forward Chris Barlas and first-round pick Nolann Héroux.

Here are the 16 players who were reassigned:

Forwards 

Chris Barlas (free agent) 

Reid Calder (returnee) 

Brayden Campbell (free agent) 

Max Donatelli (free agent) 

Josh Frenette (free agent) 

Nolann Héroux (2025 draft) 

Dylan Krayer (returnee) 

Darien Reynolds (returnee) 

Kaidan Sahajpal (free agent) 

Mitchell Wagner (returnee) 

Defensemen 

Benjamin Amyot (returnee) 

John Lumsden (returnee) 

Kabir Shahi (free agent) 

Goaltenders 

David Di Girolamo (loan) 

Jase MacPherson (2025 draft) 

Sam Pitcher (2025 draft)

The Sea Dogs signed Barlas, an OHL veteran, on Aug. 15 and he appeared in three pre-season games. His status was certainly in question Sunday afternoon when the team acquired 20-year-old forwards Natan Éthier and Angelo Fullerton, who had been attending training camp on loans.

With Barlas and the injured Mitchell Wagner reassigned, it looks like Saint John's trio of overagers will be Éthier, Fullerton and recently signed defenseman Alexis Daviault. 

This is the point of training camp where tough decisions have to be made. Returnees Reid Calder, Dylan Krayer (who appeared in just two games last season), Darien Reynolds, Benjamin Amyot and John Lumsden all got squeezed out due to Saint John's deep camp roster.

Three 2025 draft picks were also released, the most notable being forward Nolann Héroux, who was selected 10th overall by Saint John. A few other first-round picks from this year's draft class have been reassigned by their respective QMJHL teams as well.

In net, just two goaltenders remain: Justin Robinson and Raphael Courchese, who appear to be the team's tandem.

According to the team's news release, Saint John's final roster will be announced in the days ahead. 14 forwards, nine defensemen and two goaltenders remain in camp. An updated roster can be found here.

The Sea Dogs return to pre-season action on Thursday, taking on the Newfoundland Regiment in Fredericton. It will be the club's final pre-season contest until Sept. 5.