Notebook: Elie commits to Clarkson

Vincent Létourneau/Shawinigan Cataractes

Former Saint John Sea Dogs forward Vince Elie has committed to Clarkson University for next season.

The 20-year-old is in his fourth and final QMJHL season. In three games with the Shawinigan Cataractes, Elie has two goals.

Elie is in his third campaign with the Cataractes. He spent his first season-and-a-half in the QMJHL with the Sea Dogs, posting 26 goals and 37 assists in 102 games. He was traded to Shawinigan in the deal that brought Sea Dogs captain Olivier Groulx to Saint John.

Vince Elie (Shawinigan Cataractes) has committed to Clarkson University for 2026-27@ClarksonMHockey @ecachockey

— Hockey Commitments (@HockeyCommits) September 29, 2025

The Clarkson Golden Knights are a member of the NCAA's ECAC conference where they play against the Ivy League programs. Clarkson, located in the small town of Potsdam, New York, will be an interesting program to watch as they will likely get a number of QMJHL recruits. The campus is located two-and-a-half hours away from Montreal.

Current Sea Dogs defenseman Olivier Duhamel committed to Clarkson in August.

OCTOBER IS HERE (ALMOST)

October will see the Sea Dogs welcome some Quebec-based clubs and make their first trek to Newfoundland.

Four teams from Quebec – the Chicoutimi Sagueneens (Oct. 5), Rimouski Oceanic (Oct. 11), Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (Oct. 13) and Val-d'Or Foreurs (Oct. 18) – will make their only visits of the season to TD Station in October.

Note that the Monday, Oct. 13 game will be a 3 p.m. start due to it being Thanksgiving.

The Sea Dogs will travel to St. John's to face the Regiment for the first time Oct. 24-25. The Sea Dogs haven't played at Mary Brown's Centre since Jan. 6, 2008.

Peddle on the board as an Islander

Trevor MacMillan/Halifax Mooseheads

Tyler Peddle seemed to enjoy the Charlottetown Islanders' first trip to Newfoundland.

The former Saint John Sea Dogs forward scored twice in Charlottetown's back-to-back games in St. John's over the weekend, helping the Islanders earn two road wins over the previously undefeated Regiment.

Peddle was held without a point in Charlottetown's first two games of the season. He's been picking things up game-by-game, registering a season high six shots on goal in Sunday's 4-1 win over Newfoundland.

Tyler Peddle with his 2nd of the season! Powerplay is red-hot 🚨🔥

CHA 3 // NFL 1 pic.twitter.com/4WeQ8rSunL

— Charlottetown Islanders (@IslandersHKY) September 28, 2025

The overage forward was traded by the Sea Dogs this summer, allowing him to play with his younger brother, Brady, who left the USHL to join the Islanders.

The Sea Dogs and Islanders will meet for the first time on Oct. 10 at Eastlink Centre.

There aren't a lot of former Sea Dogs playing elsewhere in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League this season. The only other two are Vince Elie of the Shawinigan Cataractes and Chad Bellemare of the Sherbrooke Phoenix.

Notebook: Joseph joins rookie hat trick club

Trevor MacMillan/Halifax Mooseheads

HALIFAX - Alexis Joseph became the first Saint John Sea Dogs rookie since Eriks Mateiko to record a hat trick on Saturday.

Joseph scored shorthanded, at even strength and into an empty net to lead the Sea Dogs to a 5-2 win over the Halifax Mooseheads. His first period shorthanded marker was the first goal of his QMJHL career.

Here's a look at all three goals.

As the below shows, Sea Dogs rookies scoring hat tricks isn't as uncommon as you might think. Note though that many of the players listed below were not "true rookies" (i.e. 16-year-olds) when they netted their first hat tricks.

Joseph entered play Sunday tied with Rian Chudzinski of the Moncton Wildcats for the QMJHL rookie goal scoring lead.

COMING UP

After splitting their weekend series in Halifax, the Sea Dogs will travel to another challenging environment on Saturday when they visit the Moncton Wildcats for the first time this season.

Saturday's contest will be the Wildcats' home opener where they'll raise their QMJHL championship banner. Moncton played their first four games on the road, posting a 2-1-1-0 record while slowly getting players back from NHL camps.

It'll be a tough weekend for the Sea Dogs as they face two teams expected to challenge for top spot in the Eastern Conference. After Saturday's match in Moncton, Saint John returns home to host the Chicoutimi Sagueneens on Sunday at 3 p.m.

Recap: Sea Dogs win 5-2

FINAL: Saint John 5, Halifax 2

Trevor MacMillan/Halifax Mooseheads

HALIFAX - A big night from Alexis Joseph pushed the Saint John Sea Dogs past the Halifax Mooseheads on Saturday at Scotiabank Centre.

Joseph scored shorthanded, at even strength and into an empty net in a 5-2 Sea Dogs win. The shorthanded goal, which came at 6:04 of the opening frame, was the first QMJHL goal (and point) for the first overall pick in this year's Entry Draft.

Dylan Rozzi and William Yared added sold markers for Saint John. Rafaël Courchesne, in his first QMJHL start, made 28 saves in the win.

The victory came a night after the Sea Dogs fell 4-3 to the Mooseheads, a closely fought game that was decided on a third period goal by Halifax. Saturday's contest was another close battle and a series split seems fitting. 

Oleg Kulebyakin and Shawn Carrier scored for Halifax. Nicolas Gillham-Cirka made 22 saves in the loss.

The Mooseheads opened the scoring just 3:20 into the game when Kulebyakin converted on a power play. Quinn Kennedy fired a cross ice pass that found the Halifax import who beat Courchesne with a one-timer.

Saint John went to the penalty kill again at 4:24 when the Sea Dogs were called for too many men. While shorthanded, Joseph kept the puck on a two-on-one with Zachary Morin and beat Gillham-Cirka with a hard wrist shot to make it 1-1.

Saint John's penalty troubles continued in the second when Alexander Donovan headed off for a trip. Just 12 seconds into the man advantage, Carrier scored to put Halifax back in front, 2-1.

The Sea Dogs tied things up again at 11:41 when Joseph cut through the crease and slid the puck past Gillham-Cirka. Less than a minute later at 12:35, Rozzi connected to put the Sea Dogs in front for the first time.

After some rough stuff 3:43 into the third, Saint John was awarded a power play. With six seconds remaining on the man advantage, an Olivier Duhamel shot got through the pads of Gillham-Cirka and Yared poked the puck across the line to make it 4-2 Saint John.

The Mooseheads pulled Gillham-Cirka with a couple minutes remaining. Halifax was pressuring but couldn't get many chances before Joseph iced the game with an empty netter with 0.7 seconds remaining, completing his hat trick.

Video: Joseph scores first QMJHL goal

HALIFAX - The first goal is in the books for the first overall pick.

Saint John Sea Dogs rookie forward Alexis Joseph, playing in his fourth Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League game, netted his first goal on Saturday night at Scotiabank Centre.

Joseph kept the puck on a shorthanded two-on-one and beat Halifax Mooseheads goaltender Nicolas Gillham-Cirka with a hard wrist shot, tying the game at 1-1 in the first period.

First goal for the first-overall pick.

🚨: Alexis Joseph (1)
🍎: Unassisted#GoDogsGo pic.twitter.com/YtTMggLaNV

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) September 27, 2025

The goal was also Joseph's first career QMJHL point.

Joseph, who was selected first overall in June's QMJHL Entry Draft, recorded two goals and an assist in three pre-season games with the Sea Dogs.

Murnieks off to hot start

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

HALIFAX - Olivers Murnieks has been as advertised for the Saint John Sea Dogs.

Murnieks recorded another two assists in the Sea Dogs' 4-3 loss to Halifax Mooseheads on Friday, giving him an impressive five helpers over his first three QMJHL games. He enters play Saturday as the league's top producing rookie.

The 17-year-old was selected sixth overall by Saint John in this year's CHL Import Draft. He recorded 15 goals and 20 assists in 52 games with the USHL's Sioux City Musketeers last season.

Murnieks was used on Saint John's top power play unit in Friday's game, skating with Olivier Groulx, Dylan Rozzi, William Yared and Everett Baldwin. The new unit went 1/2.

The Latvian is eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft and his hot start is no doubt getting some attention.

Murnieks and the Sea Dogs will look to get some revenge on the Mooseheads on Saturday when they meet for a second straight game. Game time at Scotiabank Centre is 7 p.m.

A few other news and notes...

• Alexander Donovan netted his first QMJHL goal on Friday – a goal that was assisted by fellow Americans Matthew Krayer and Oskar Drabczynski. Donovan is the first newcomer to score a goal for the Sea Dogs this season. All of the team's other goals have come from returning players.

  Donny's first in the Q.
  
  🚨: Alex Donovan (1)
  🍎: Matthew Krayer
  🍏: Oskar Drabczynski#GoDogsGo pic.twitter.com/aEQLETqIMG

  — Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) September 27, 2025

• With another goal on Friday, Zachary Morin now has two goals and an assist in three games. He finished last season with four points in his final 12 games. If he can keep this pace up all season, it would be huge for Saint John.
• Everett Baldwin was a -1 with one shot on goal in his QMJHL debut on Friday. He made a few nice defensive plays.

  Solo lap for Everett Baldwin ahead of his QMJHL debut. pic.twitter.com/Pe0bavDf44

  — Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) September 26, 2025

• Quinn Kennedy in his career against Saint John:
• 2025-26: 1 GP, 1 G
• 2024-25: 6 GP, 4 G, 4 A
• 2023-24: 1 GP, 1 A
• 2022-23: 2 GP, 0 PTS
• Bit of rough stuff at the end of Friday's game, including Eddy Doyle and Alexis Joseph going at it.

Recap: Sea Dogs lose 4-3

FINAL: Saint John 3, Halifax 4

Trevor MacMillan/Halifax Mooseheads

HALIFAX - The Saint John Sea Dogs let a strong start slip away in a 4-3 loss to the Halifax Mooseheads on Friday at Scotiabank Centre.

The Sea Dogs had a quality start to the opening frame and led 2-1 after one. But the Mooseheads outshot Saint John by a combined 22-11 in the final two periods, taking the lead early in the third period and netting the winner late.

Oleg Kulebyakin's first QMJHL goal at 15:46 of the third was the difference. Daniel Walters, Patrick McNab and Quinn Kennedy also scored for Halifax. Owen Bresson made 24 saves in the win.

Zachary Morin, Dylan Rozzi and Alexander Donovan scored for Saint John. Justin Robinson made 27 saves in the loss.

The Sea Dogs got off to an excellent start with Morin scoring just 1:22 in as the Mooseheads defense was caught snoozing a bit early on. Despite that, Halifax tied things up at 5:31 when Walters netted his first of the season.

Saint John carried a 2-1 lead into intermission thanks to a power play goal at 14:18. Rozzi finished off a nice passing play by ripping a shot past an outstretched Bresson. 

The Mooseheads grabbed some momentum back in the middle frame, outshooting the Sea Dogs 9-3. McNab tied the game up at 2-2 with his first of the season at 3:25.

Just 35 seconds into the third, Kennedy scored to give the Mooseheads their first lead of the night. The Sea Dogs would even things up though when Donovan's first QMJHL goal at 8:10 made it a 3-3 game.

Just when it was feeling like an overtime night, Kulebyakin beat Robinson with a wraparound to give the Moose a 4-3 advantage. Saint John pulled Robinson with 90 seconds remaining and did get some strong offensive zone pressure applied late in the game – but it wasn't enough.

Game Day 3 & 4: at Halifax

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

HALIFAX - The Saint John Sea Dogs will look to put last season's road woes behind them this weekend.

The Sea Dogs will play their first road games of the season when they visit the Halifax Moosheads for a pair of games. Both Friday and Saturday night contests begin at 7 p.m.

Saint John had one of the worst road records in the QMJHL last season, finishing 9-23-0-0 away from home. Three of those nine road wins did come at Scotiabank Centre, though.

Both the Sea Dogs and Mooseheads enter play having split their opening weekend matches. The Sea Dogs faced the Cape Breton Eagles while the Mooseheads took on the Charlottetown Islanders.

This could be an interesting season series between the Sea Dogs and Mooseheads. Both teams are still near the bottom ends of their rebuilding cycles, but both have some impressive young talent that could progress as the season moves along.

Stream/TV/Radio: FloHockey/Eastlink Community TV/None

Records: The Sea Dogs are 1-1-0-0 for two points (fourth Eastern/eighth QMJHL) while the Mooseheads are 1-1-0-0 for two points (seventh Eastern/13th QMJHL).

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 6-3 loss to the Cape Breton Eagles on Saturday at TD Station. Elliot Dubé scored twice while Matthew Krayer added a single. Justin Robinson allowed four goals on 20 shots while Rafaël Courchesne allowed a goal on 17 shots in relief. The Mooseheads are coming off a 5-4 shootout win over the Charlottetown Islanders on Saturday. Jasu Mensonen, William Bent, Quinn Kennedy and Shawn Carrier all scored for Halifax. Owen Bressen allowed four goals on 26 shots in the win. 

Sea Dogs visit Halifax for a pair

HALIFAX - Dom Dolla, 21 Savage and The Kid Laroi are headlining the Magnetic World Music Festival this weekend in downtown Halifax.

Also happening down the street this weekend: the Saint John Sea Dogs visit the Halifax Moosheads for a pair of games taking place Friday and Saturday night. Both are 7 p.m. starts.

No matter which event people choose to attend (not sure how much crossover the Magnetic World/Mooseheads audience has), the traffic is going to be terrible, this we can be sure of. 

The Sea Dogs will look to build off a decent opening weekend that saw them earn a split on home ice against the Cape Breton Eagles. There are certainly some things to work on – but there were some positives as well.

The Mooseheads also earned a split on opening weekend, losing their opener in Charlottetown and then rebounding with a shootout win on home ice the next night.

The Sea Dogs and Mooseheads are at similar spots in their rebuilds, so this season series could, in theory, be a tight one.

A few other news and notes...

• The Mooseheads are led by Jasu Mensonen (two goals) and Shawn Carrier (one goal and one assist).
• Friday's game will be Saint John's first road contest of the year. The team had one of the worst road records in the QMJHL last season, finishing with a record of 9-23-0-0.
• Mooseheads forward Liam Kilfoil, a Quispamsis native, has committed to Northeastern University.

  NEW COMMIT: '07 C Liam Kilfoil commits to NU.
  
  In the past year:
  
  -Wore an A and led scoring as a 17 year old for QMJHL @HFXMooseheads (21-25-46)
  
  -Represented Canada at U18s and the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup.
  
  -Made @DetroitRedWings preseason roster.
  
  Big commit. Congratulations Liam! pic.twitter.com/nXR3ATonTZ

  — Northeastern Hockey Blog (@NUHockeyBlog) September 24, 2025

• Moncton Wildcats defenseman Carl-Otto Magnusson has committed to UConn for next season, reports UConn Hockey Hub.
• The Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, who remain No. 1 in the CHL Top 10, scored a league high 13 goals last weekend, followed by the Newfoundland Regiment with 12. The Wildcats, who were/are still missing several regulars due to NHL camps, allowed a league high 12.
• The Armada's Matt Gosselin enters this week as the QMJHL's leading point producer with five goals and two assists for seven points.
• The Hockey Writers discusses the impact former Sea Dogs forward Eriks Mateiko had in a recent Washington Capitals pre-season game.

Baldwin reassigned to Saint John

Rena Laverty

The Saint John Sea Dogs are getting a big boost to their backend.

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced Wednesday that defenseman Everett Baldwin has been reassigned to Saint John. Baldwin was one of 10 players reassigned from the Lightning's training camp roster.

Baldwin, a fifth-round pick of the Lightning in this year's NHL Draft, was taking part in his first NHL training camp. He played 15:08 in Tampa Bay's pre-season game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday, recording two shots, one block and three giveaways in the 2-1 win. Baldwin was paired with Gatineau Olympiques defenseman Jan Golicic, who was also sent back to junior on Wednesday.

This will Baldwin's first – and potentially only – season in the QMJHL. He's currently committed to Province College for the 2026-27 season.

The 18-year-old looked very good during pre-season play with the Sea Dogs, recording three goals in two games. He showed that he is not afraid to make things happen offensively and will likely be a key piece of Saint John's power play.

A Rhode Island native, Baldwin spent most of last season playing US prep school hockey. He was a second-round pick of Saint John in June's QMJHL Entry Draft.

Baldwin will presumably be in the Sea Dogs lineup this weekend when they face the Halifax Mooseheads on Friday and Saturday night at Scotiabank Centre.

New year, new numbers

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

With a new season underway, let's take a look at some of the (many) new numbers being worn by Saint John Sea Dogs players.

Given Saint John's unusual jersey situation at this time, maybe some of these could change down the road? Either way, here's what players are currently wearing.

2 - Everett Baldwin: Nate Tivey last wore the number just last season. Bailey Webster has worn the number the most (248 games).

3 - Julien Wasmer: Julien Bonnet wore the number for 27 games last season. Olivier Leblanc is the franchise leader, wearing No. 3 in 157 games from 2012 to 2015.

5 - Cameron Chartrand: Until this season, this number had been worn for just five games since Thomas Chabot left in 2017. Zachary Leclerc wore No. 5 for those five games in 2017-18. Chabot is the leader, wearing the number for 242 games from 2013 to 2017.

9 - Alexander Donovan: Eriks Mateiko was the last to wear No. 9. Stephen MacAulay is the franchise leader, wearing the number for 314 games from 2008 to 2013. Joe Veleno also wore No. 9.

13 - Oskar Drabczynski: Mitchell Wagner and Florian Schenk were the most recent Sea Dogs to wear the number. William Villeneuve wore it for 227 games while Tomas Jurco had it for 143.

14 - Olivers Murnieks: Ben Cross wore No. 14 for 60 games last season. Jason Cameron is the franchise leader, wearing it for 263 games.

Notebook: Talking tacos

SAINT JOHN - There was a nice little surprise for fans at TD Station this weekend.

"Taco Boyz Express" has opened beside the Moosehead Lounge (where Tim Hortons used to be located) on the TD Station concourse. The menu includes tacos, burritos and a few dessert options like churros and deep fired cheesecake.

It's a nice addition to the building's very ordinary concession lineup.

NEW PARTNERSHIP

The Sea Dogs and the Saint John Firefighters announced a new partnership on Friday. From Facebook:

Your Saint John Firefighters were on Saint John's beautiful boardwalk today to announce our new partnership with the Saint John Sea Dogs. President Tyler Embree had the honor of announcing the first annual "Battle of The Badges" hockey tournament. This event will take place on February 6th, 7th, and 8th at TD Station!

This tournament will consist of 8 teams. 4 teams of firefighters, and 4 teams of police officers.

Your Saint John Firefighters are excited to take the new trophy home! With many of our players having been drafted to, or played in leagues such as the QMJHL, CHL, AUS, Senior A, Prep School Hockey, and Vito's "AAA", you know that the action will be intense!

We would like to thank the Saint John Sea Dogs for continuing to be an excellent partner in both our charity endeavours, and the Battle of the Badges.

A special thanks to Andy Childs and Trevor Georgie for their unwavering support.

The Sea Dogs will play home games the nights of Feb. 6-7.

Opening weekend is in the books

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - What a difference a year can make.

Just five players – Dylan Rozzi, William Yared, Elliot Dubé, Olivier Duhamel and Olivier Groulx – who skated in the Saint John Sea Dogs' season opener a year ago played in Friday's 2025-26 opening contest. That doesn't include Justin Robinson, who was the backup goaltender in last year's opener.

The comparison shows the significant roster overhaul the Sea Dogs conducted over the off-season. On the backend, Duhamel is the only returning defensemen from last year's team.

Seven players made their QMJHL debuts on Friday: Cameron Chartrand, Alexander Donovan, Oskar Drabczynski, Olivers Murnieks, Vincent Croteau, Alexis Joseph and Patryk Zubek. On Saturday, goaltender Rafaël Courchesne saw his first QMJHL action when he relieved Robinson in the second period.

There are still a few debuts (likely) to come. Rookie forward Alexis Gauthier was a healthy scratch in both games while defensemen Everett Baldwin, who is away at Tampa Bay Lightning training camp, and Max Vilén, who has not yet joined the team, are all expected to debut at some point.

A few other notes from the weekend...

• Speaking of Baldwin, he'll likely be a key piece of Saint John's power play this season. The Sea Dogs went 0/4 on the man advantage in Friday's game and 0/3 on Saturday.
• Lots of hype around Saint John's newcomers, but it was all returning players scoring this weekend: Dubé (two), Duhamel, Yared, Zachary Morin and Matthew Krayer. Groulx and Rozzi each recorded two assists.
• The only rookie to record a point this weekend was import Olivers Murnieks, who posted three assists. He looked pretty impressive at times. He also won 19 of 36 faceoffs (52.8%).
• Have to think Courchesne will get a start next weekend in Halifax. The rookie netminder stopped 16 of 17 shots in nearly 32 minutes of action on Saturday.
• He didn't find the scoresheet, but Alexis Joseph was certainly noticeable (and not just because of his size). The points will come. 
• After watching him in the pre-season and this weekend, it's safe to say Egan Beveridge has entered his prime pest era. Felt like something was happening every time he was on the ice.
• Really like the new goal horn. Would like for it to be used more (during player intros, when players return for the second and third periods, etc.).
• Because their corrected Under Armour jerseys have yet to arrive, the Sea Dogs wore last year's CCM jerseys – but the CCM logos on the front and back were covered over. The Halifax Mooseheads had to do the same thing this weekend.
• I'm sure there is a reason (hopefully), but you just have to laugh at the City starting the Station Street construction just as hockey season gets going instead of, you know, any other time all summer.
• Slight bump in attendance for this year's opening weekend (total of 6,674) compared to last year (6,301).
• The Sea Dogs play back-to-back games in Halifax next weekend. They'll be back at TD Station on Sunday, Oct. 5 when they host the Chicoutimi Sagueneens, who are expected to be a contender this season.

Recap: Sea Dogs lose 6-3

FINAL: Cape Breton 6, Saint John 3

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs were never able to recover from two quick goals scored by the Cape Breton Eagles in a 6-3 loss on Saturday at TD Station.

The Eagles scored twice in a nine-second span to take a quick 2-0 lead in the first. Cape Breton added two more in the second, taking a commanding 4-0 lead at the time. 

It never felt like the Sea Dogs got fully back into the game after the two first period goals. Saint John struggled to consistently generate offense until the third period and struggled defensively at times, allowing a number of odd-man rushes.

Eliot Litalien and Samuel Boyer both scored a pair of goals for Cape Breton while singles came from Xavier Daigle and Romain Italien. Connor Towle made 33 saves in the win.

Saint John had a pair of goals from Elliot Dubé while Matthew Krayer added a solo marker. Justin Robinson was pulled after allowing four goals on 20 shots through 25:53 if action – but some of those goals against were due to the play in front of him. Rafaël Courchesne, in his first career QMJHL action, allowed a goal on 17 shots in relief.

The Sea Dogs won their season opener on Friday, defeating the Eagles 3-2. The weekend split could be a preview of a season that will have many ups and downs throughout.

Georgie, Joseph join "The Sheet"

SAINT JOHN - Jeff Marek brought his program, "The Sheet," to TD Station on Friday.

Marek was joined by Saint John Sea Dogs president Trevor Georgie and rookie forward Alexis Joseph.

Georgie touched on a few interesting topics. When asked to recall some trades that the Sea Dogs attempted but couldn't quite pull off, Georgie brought up Yakov Trenin (2017), Zachary Bolduc (2022) and Hendrix Lapierre (2022).

The NCAA rule change was discussed quite a bit (19:30 mark). Georgie said the Sea Dogs are taking a player first approach, and they'll support players no matter the path they choose. 

Georgie also mentioned something that isn't said out loud too often, explaining that he believes the Atlantic-based QMJHL teams – given that they are English speaking markets – will have a big advantage in attracting American players compared to most of the QMJHL's Quebec-based squads.

"I think the Maritimes Division is going to be the toughest division in the CHL over the next 10 years," Georgie added.

On the 2022 Memorial Cup coaching change, Georgie said there were "half a dozen" candidates the team looked closely at. Georgie said the team reached out to Bob Hartley, Dom Ducharme and Travis Green before ultimately landing on Gardiner MacDougall – the only candidate without NHL coaching experience. 

Joseph, meanwhile, discussed his road to the QMJHL, his size and showed off some juggling skills.

Recap: Sea Dogs win 3-2

FINAL: Cape Breton 2, Saint John 3

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - In a night highlighted by debuts, it was the Saint John Sea Dogs' returning players providing the offense in a 3-2 season opening win over the Cape Breton Eagles.

Returnees Zachary Morin, Olivier Duhamel and William Yared all scored for the Sea Dogs in the home victory. Newcomer Olivers Murnieks posted two assists. Justin Robinson rebounded after allowing an early goal, making 29 saves in the win.

Jacob Hartlin and Hugo Charron scored the Eagles. Felix Hamel made 31 stops in the loss.

Cape Breton took a 1-0 lead just 1:50 in after a shot went off a couple posts and bounced off Robinson and in. But that was one of only a few blemishes for Saint John in the opening frame, carrying a 2-1 lead after one with shots 16-8 in favour of the Dogs.

Yared made it 3-1 at 10:53 of the second thanks to a nice feed from Dylan Rozzi. Charron made it a one-goal game again at 15:27.

The Eagles pressured at times in the third period but the Sea Dogs were able to keep things together. Maxime Sauthier took a hooking penalty with 40 seconds left but, despite being shorthanded, the Eagles were able to get a couple of good chances late but couldn't beat Robinson.

Both teams appeared to have some jitters at times and it was far from a perfect game defensively. We'll see what these two can do tomorrow for an encore.

Game Day 1 & 2: vs Eagles

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - A new season begins tonight for the Saint John Sea Dogs.

The Sea Dogs will kick off the 2025-26 season with a two-game home series against the Cape Breton Eagles at TD Station. Both tonight's game and Saturday's contest begin at 7 p.m.

It'll be another building year in Saint John, but it's setting up to be an interesting one. There's a good group of returning players who, if they take the next step, could really push this team up the standings. They'll be complimented by an impressive group of newcomers, highlighted by forwards Alexis Joseph and Olivers Murnieks along with defensemen Everett Baldwin and Cameron Chartrand.

Speaking of defense, Olivier Duhamel is the only returning defenseman. How quickly this d-core can get settled in will be a big question mark.

Overall, this team is young, likely too young to make a lot of noise in the standings. But, on paper, this will be an exciting team, one that will hopefully progress throughout the season.

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

Records: This is the first game of the regular season for both clubs.

Pre-Season Records: The Sea Dogs were 1-3-2-0 with a tie during the QMJHL's pre-season while the Eagles were 3-1-0-0.

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 4-2 pre-season win in Charlottetown on Sept. 6. Alexis Joseph scored a pair of goals while Natan Éthier and William Yared added singles. Rafaël Courchesne made 24 saves in the win. The Eagles are coming off a 3-2 pre-season win over the Halifax Mooseheads on Sept. 6. Lewis Gendron, Eliot Litalien and Logan Quinn scored for Cape Breton. Felix Hamel made 25 saves in the win.

2024-25 records: The Sea Dogs finished 21-43-0-0 for 42 points (sixth Maritimes/10th Eastern/17th QMJHL) last season while the Eagles were 34-23-4-3 for 75 points (second Maritimes/fifth Eastern/ninth QMJHL).

Notebook: Groulx named Dogs captain

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - Olivier Groulx has been named captain of the Saint John Sea Dogs, the team announced Thursday.

Veteran forward Jacob Beaulieu along with overagers Angelo Fullerton and Natan Éthier have all been named alternate captains.

“We are delighted to name Olivier, Angelo, Natan and Jacob as our captains for the upcoming season,” Sea Dogs head coach and general manager Travis Crickard said in a news release. “Olivier has earned the captaincy because he fully embodies our team’s values of humble, hunger and honour every day.”

Groulx is the 24th captain in franchise history and will play his third season with the Sea Dogs. The 18-year-old wore an 'A' last season.

HALIFAX TO HOST

The QMJHL Entry Draft is coming east.

During the league's season opening press conference on Tuesday, it was confirmed that Halifax will host the 2026 QMJHL Entry Draft, which is scheduled for June 5-6.

“The QMJHL is very pleased and excited to hold its 2026 draft presented by Fenplast in the beautiful city of Halifax, a very important market in our league,"said QMJHL commissioner Mario Cecchini in a statement. "The players, families and teams present at the draft will be able to fully enjoy the beautiful attractions of the city.”

It's the first time the event will be held in Halifax.

Quebec City hosted the draft this past June. Moncton hosted in 2024.

Also, it sounds like the OHL may have an in-person draft in the near future as well.

New Sea Dogs jerseys delayed

Fans hoping to see the Saint John Sea Dogs' new look this weekend will have to wait.

The Sea Dogs confirmed Thursday that they will not be debuting their new Under Armour produced jerseys when they begin the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League regular season on Friday at TD Station. Instead, they'll be sporting the same CCM produced white jerseys they've worn for many years.  

In a statement posted on Facebook, the Sea Dogs said their "brand-new uniforms are not quite ready." It's believed the colouring of both the dark and white jerseys were not correct and it will take some time for Under Armour to produce the correct versions.

A date for when the corrected jerseys will arrive has not yet been confirmed.

From Facebook:

This is the first year for Under Armour as the CHL's jersey supplier. As Sportslogos.net notes, the Sea Dogs are not the only CHL team impacted by the issue.

The Newfoundland Regiment, meanwhile, announced Thursday that fans will not yet be able to purchase jerseys. "Unfortunately, we must inform you that due to unforeseen manufacturer delays and quality control concerns with the CHL's official jersey supplier, jerseys will not be available for purchase at this week's games," the club wrote on Facebook. "This issue has affected teams across the CHL, and these circumstances are entirely beyond our team's control. We are working closely with the supplier to resolve the issue as quickly as possible."

Storylines to follow in the QMJHL

Vincent Ethier/CHL

Another season of QMJHL hockey is upon us and it's one that offers no shortage of storylines.

Here are a few of the major topics to keep an eye on this season.

Newfoundland Returns

Not to be overly dramatic, but this is basically it for St. John's. The AHL isn't coming back. The ECHL probably isn't coming back. It's make the QMJHL work or have no high level hockey at Mary Brown's Centre. I'm really optimistic about the Regiment. The people running this team seem to have recognized the past mistakes and have worked to fix those issues. That, plus the fact that the Regiment are setup well to have a strong on-ice product over the next few years, feels like a recipe for success. It's worth remembering that St. John's is not a small market, either. Whether it happens this year or down the road, the Regiment could have the third best attendance figures in the league and be a Memorial Cup host at some point. The sky is the limit here.

Can The Wildcats Run It Back...

The Moncton Wildcats will be one of the most fascinating teams to watch this season. Rather than rebuilding, they decided to quickly retool through the draft and free agency. It's not something you see too often, and the Wildcats are taking advantage of the moment in time where the option is available to them. I hope it works out, mainly because it's more fun and intriguing to see teams try some unconventional things to keep their contention window open longer. Plus, they have Gardiner MacDougall behind the bench. It'll be another fascinating year in Moncton.

Two Dogs named to QMJHL Prospects Game

At least two Saint John Sea Dogs will play in the inaugural QMJHL Prospects Game, which is scheduled for Oct. 21 in Sherbrooke.

During the league's season opening press conference on Thursday, QMJHL commissioner Mario Cecchini announced the first 12 players who will be participating in the vent. The game will feature 40 of the QMJHL's top prospects for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, as determined by NHL Central Scouting.

Sea Dogs defenseman Cameron Chartrand and forward Olivers Murnieks were both named to the event's roster. Both are entering their first seasons in the QMJHL.

The other 10 players invited were goaltenders Jacoby Weiner (Moncton) and William Lacelle (Rimouski); defensemen Xavier Villeneuve (Blainville-Boisbriand), Benjamin Cossette Ayotte (Val-d’Or) and Charlie Morrison (Quebec); and forwards Maddox Dagenais (Quebec), Rian Chudzinski (Moncton), Lars Steiner (Rouyn-Noranda), Egor Shilov (Victoriaville) and Thomas Rousseau (Sherbrooke).

There's a good chance Saint John could have some more attendees as well.

The QMJHL announced the creation of this event last December, originally scheduling it to be held prior to the start of the regular season. That has since changed, obviously, to a November date.

The OHL held a similar event last year. These games replace the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, which has been retired in favour of the CHL USA Prospects Challenge.

Sea Dogs sign Wasmer

Chicoutimi Sagueneens

The Saint John Sea Dogs will start the regular season with a full set of overagers.

The Sea Dogs announced Tuesday the signing of 20-year-old defenseman Julien Wasmer, a Montreal native that appeared in 41 games with the Chicoutimi Sagueneens last season.

“We are happy to add Julien to our roster to begin the season. He should be able to step in right away and play solid minutes that will allow our younger defencemen on the left side to continue their development in a productive manner,” said Sea Dogs head coach and general manager Travis Crickard in a news release. “Julien brings a physical presence, defends hard and moves the puck efficiently, which will serve as a quality complement to our dynamic right side.”

Wasmer posted a goal and 13 assists in 41 regular season games with Chicoutimi last season. He also appeared in 11 playoff games.

Wasmer started the 2024-25 with the BCHL's Penticton Vees where he recorded a goal and two assists in 20 games. He spent the previous two seasons with the CCHL's Smiths Falls Bears.

College Hockey Inc. shows Wasmer as a 2026-27 University of Maine commit.

Wasmer takes the place of 20-year-old defenseman Alexis Daviault, who the Sea Dogs released a couple weeks ago after a short stint at the club's training camp.

Tuesday's signing means Saint John will start the year with Wasmer, Angelo Fullerton and Natan Éthier as their trio of overagers – all of whom will be playing their first seasons with the Sea Dogs. It's notable that Saint John didn't add an overage goaltender, which they have done plenty of times in recent years. It looks like the net will belong to Justin Robinson and Rafaël Courchesne for now.

The Sea Dogs begin regular season play this Friday at TD Station when they host the Cape Breton Eagles at 7 p.m.

Notebook: It's game week

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

The time has come.

The Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League regular season begins this week and it will feature the Saint John Sea Dogs playing two home games. The Sea Dogs will host the Cape Breton Eagles both Friday and Saturday night at TD Station.

The Sea Dogs were 12-20-0-0 on home ice last season, a record they'll look to improve this season.

The team has a number of events planned for inside and outside the arena this weekend.

The QMJHL's regular season will officially begin on Thursday when the defending league champion Moncton Wildcats visit the Newfoundland Regiment. It will be the first QMJHL game to be played in St. John's since 2008.

BALDWIN SCORES

Sea Dogs defenseman Everett Baldwin scored in the Tampa Bay Lightning's 5-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday at the Tampa-hosted Prospect Tournament.

Prep last year, NHL rookie tourney the next. Nice to see Everett Baldwin get on the board for Tampa in their game vs Carolina pic.twitter.com/ENnalfrdac

— Robert Chalmers (@IvanIvanlvan) September 15, 2025

The Lightning finished the three-game tournament with a 2-1 record, recording wins over the Hurricanes and Florida Panthers.

Dufour scores in KHL debut

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

William Dufour has made a strong first impression in the KHL.

The former Saint John Sea Dogs forward scored on his first shot in his first game on Friday, a contest that saw Dufour's Lada Togliatti fall 4-3 to Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod.

On Sunday, Dufour scored the lone goal in Lada Togliatti's 6-1 loss to SKA Saint Petersburg.

The 23-year-old signed in the KHL after spending much of the past three seasons in the AHL. He spent the second half of last season with the Colorado Eagles where he recorded a goal and three assists in 12 games.

Dufour is currently teammates with former Sea Dogs forward Josh Lawrence, who is also playing his first season in the KHL. The Fredericton native has been held pointless in three games so far.

This is Lawrence's third season overseas. He split last season in Switzerland and Finland after playing the entire 2023-24 campaign in Switzerland.

Also currently playing in the KHL are former Sea Dogs Stanislav Galiev (Dinamo Minsk) and Ostap Safin (Admiral Vladivostok).

Not signed to a KHL deal at the moment – as far as I can tell – is original Sea Dog Alex Grant, who has spent the past seven seasons in the league.

It's worth noting as well that the Shanghai Dragons, who are coached by Gerard Gallant and Mike Kelly, are off to a 2-0-1 start.

MHL season underway

BOUCTOUCHE, NB - Ben Cross and the Chaleur Lightning made a statement in their Maritime Junior Hockey League season opener on Friday.

The former Saint John Sea Dogs forward recorded a goal and an assist in the Lightning's 9-2 victory over the West Kent Steamers. This was the inaugural game for the Bathurst-based Chaleur franchise, who relocated from Fredericton during the off-season.

Cross is one of a number of former Sea Dogs set to play in the MHL this season. With season opening rosters published, here's a look at who's expected to play where.

Amherst Ramblers - Darien Reynolds and Jeremie Richard 

Chaleur Lightning - Ben Cross

Grand Falls Rapids - Jonah Leard and Reid Calder 

Miramichi Timberwolves - Mitchell Wagner 

Summerside Western Capitals - Matthew MacLean and Coen Miller

It's worth noting as well that former Sea Dogs coaches Greg Leland and Jeff Cowan remain behind the Grand Falls bench.

Sea Dogs prospects Jesse Dunlap (Chaleur), Jase MacPherson (Summerside) and Eliot Tozer (West Kent) – who were all selected in this year's QMJHL Entry Draft – attended MHL training camps. It looks like all three will return to the teams they played for last season: Dunlap with Rothesay Netherwood, MacPherson with the Kensington Wild and Tozer with the Saint John Vito's.

Notebook: Baldwin, Lightning set for Prospect Tournament

Tampa Bay Lightning

Everett Baldwin is the only current Saint John Sea Dog attending an NHL training camp this year.

Baldwin, a fifth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in this year's NHL Draft, is in Tampa for a prospect tournament the team is hosting. The Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes and Nashville Predators are also participating.

The Lightning prospects will play Nashville on Friday, Florida on Saturday and Carolina on Monday.

Baldwin was a second-round pick of Saint John in this year's QMJHL Entry Draft. He appeared in two pre-season games, registering three goals. 

The Rhode Island native is committed to Providence College for the 2026-27 season.

62 QMJHL players will attend NHL camps this year. The Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and Moncton Wildcats each have nine.

HOME OPENER DETAILS

The Sea Dogs have announced a number of events surrounding the team's season opening weekend. Here are some of the highlights from a news release.

• On Friday, Sept. 19, there will be a Season Kickoff on the Saint John Boardwalk. From 4:30-6 p.m., fans can enjoy free live music from The Last Call, games, rides in the Saint John Firefighters’ antique fire truck, and autographs with Fleaburn and Sea Dogs players. Plus, the first 300 fans will receive a free hot dog.
• Thousands of rally towels will be handed out at the door as fans enter TD Station for the Sea Dogs' season opener that same night.
• On Saturday, Sept. 20, the Sea Dogs Ball Hockey Classic presented by TD will be held held and will run from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Memorial Cup outdoor rink on Station Street. Full details are on the Sea Dogs website.
• The Sea Dogs also have a home game later that night. The team notes that throughout the weekend, fans can stop by the TD Community Zone, where TD will be giving away limited edition Sea Dogs scarves and other gifts to celebrate Opening Weekend.
  

NEW EQUIPMENT MANAGER

The Sea Dogs have named Dave Campbell the team's new equipment manager. Campbell was with the club for last weekend's pre-season games.

Campbell replaces the recently hired Zak Larnaudie, who accepted a position with the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies.

“I am thrilled to join the Saint John Sea Dogs organization,” said Campbell in a news release. “I look forward to contributing to the success of the team on and off the ice to allow the players to succeed to their potential.”

According to the team's news release, "Campbell’s experience includes time with the P.E.I. Rocket and the Cape Breton Eagles in the QMJHL, as well as the Woodstock Slammers (MHL), Alberni Valley Bulldogs (BCHL) and Grande Prairie Storm (AJHL) at the Junior A level." He's also worked a number of Hockey Canada events.

Looking at some pre-season stats

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

The veterans came to play for the Saint John Sea Dogs this pre-season.

Overage forward Natan Éthier led the team in scoring, posting three goals and three assists in five games. Éthier is a bit of a wildcard heading into the season after playing in just five games with the Shawinigan Cataractes last year due to an injury – but he registered a goal and two assists in those games.

Angelo Fullerton, Saint John's other overage forward, finished second in scoring with five points, posting three goals and two assists.

Fullerton, Éthier and defenseman Everett Baldwin led the team in goal scoring with three each.

The Sea Dogs will be a young team this season and they'll need QMJHL veterans like Éthier and Fullerton to provide some consistency. These pre-season numbers are a good start.

Having said all that, pre-season numbers don't mean a whole lot. But that's never stopped us from talking about them before. Here are a few other notes from Saint John's exhibition schedule.

• Returning forwards Matthew Krayer (five assists) and Zachary Morin (two goals and three assists) also had five points each.
• Morin had 15 penalty minutes in four games and seemed to be playing with a bit more of an edge compared to what we saw last season. Only Jacob Beaulieu had more penalty minutes (17).
• Baldwin appeared in just two games, recording three goals – and he looked really good. He'll be a key piece on Saint John's power play.
• First overall pick Alexis Joseph had a slow start but registered two goals and an assist in his final two games. One of his highlights though was a penalty kill performance in last Saturday's game. Joseph had a tremendous shift of forechecking that had the Sea Dogs bench on their feet.
• Fullerton led the team in shots on goal (12 in six games).
• Rafaël Courchesne was Saint John's top performing goaltender, posting a 2.49 goals against average and a .900 save percentage. Eight different goaltenders saw game action.
• Overall, Saint John posted a record of 1-3-2-0 and had a tie. They were outscored 29-22 over seven games. 
• Three of Saint John's seven games went to overtime.

The Sea Dogs begin regular season play on Friday, Sept. 19 when they host the Cape Breton Eagles at TD Station.

Gallant returning to New Brunswick

Embed from Getty Images 

A Saint John Sea Dogs legend will return to New Brunswick ice this season.

The Fredericton Express of the Beausejour Senior Hockey League announced the signing of Brett Gallant on Tuesday. The 36-year-old has only played a total of 10 games (and three playoff games) over the past two seasons according to Elite Prospects, all with the LNAH's Laval Pétroliers.

Gallant spent parts of three seasons with the Sea Dogs, which included 26 games with the club during their inaugural 2005-06 campaign. The enforcer recorded 439 penalty minutes in 131 career QMJHL games, second only to Mike Thomas (470 PIM in 288 GP) in Sea Dogs franchise history.

The Summerside, PEI native went on to spend 14 seasons in the AHL, playing in 495 career games. His last season with the Cleveland Monsters was 2022-23.

Gallant appeared in four NHL games with the New York Islanders in 2013-14, recording 17 penalty minutes.

The BSHL is known for its fights and fireworks and Gallant is a big addition for the league. The likes of Chad Denny, Garrett Clarke and Patrice Cormier will also suit up this season.

According to The Unofficial Beausejour Senior Hockey League Podcast's Facebook post, here are all the former Sea Dogs currently signed to play in the New Brunswick senior circuit this season: Kiefer Lyons (Amherst), Mathias Savoie (Belle-Baie), Pierre Durepos (Bouctouche), Bailey Webster (Dalhousie), Dawson Stairs (Dalhousie), Gallant (Fredericton), Ryan Tesink (Fredericton), Alex Bernier (Miramichi), Zack Phillips (Miramichi) and Antoine Landry (Peninsule).

The league's regular season begins Oct. 10.

Notebook: Woodstock was a vibe

WOODSTOCK, NB - Above the visiting team's bench inside the AYR Motor Centre is a familiar name to the Saint John Sea Dogs.

One of the Woodstock's Slammers' retired numbers belongs to Quispamsis native Andrew Langan, who suited up in 14 games with the Sea Dogs over three seasons from 2007 to 2010. He recorded three assists in those games.

Langan was a fifth-round pick of Saint John in the 2007 QMJHL Entry Draft.

Most of Langan's junior career was spent with the Slammers, which included the 2011-12 season when he captained the club to a second-place finish at the RBC Cup national championship. The Slammers fell 4-3 to the Penticton Vees in the final.

Langan spent three seasons at Dalhousie University following his junior career.

Woodstock was a great vibe for a pre-season game last Friday, which featured the Sea Dogs hosting the Moncton Wildcats. Fans were lined up outside the building 30 minutes before doors opened and the place was nearly full for warmup.

Packed house at the AYR Motor Centre tonight for preseason action.

Thank you to the town of Woodstock for hosting us! 🙌#GoDogsGo pic.twitter.com/DfMZ70N04r

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) September 6, 2025

MACLEAN PLAYS FOR ISLES

Not entirely sure what happened here, but former Sea Dogs defenseman Matthew MacLean was in the Charlottetown Islanders lineup on Saturday against his old club.

MacLean, who played a total of 101 games with the Sea Dogs over the past two seasons, was a -2 with a fight in Charlottetown's 4-2 pre-season loss to Saint John. The 19-year-old dropped the gloves with Zachary Morin in the third period.

MacLean was among the players cut from Sea Dogs training camp on Aug. 23. He has been attending Summerside Western Capitals training camp since then, playing in three Maritime Junior Hockey League pre-season games.

MacLean was in Summerside's lineup on Sunday for their pre-season game against the West Kent Steamers.

Recap: Sea Dogs win 4-2

FINAL: Saint John 4, Charlottetown 2

CHARLOTTETOWN - The Saint John Sea Dogs ended Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League pre-season play with a win on Saturday.

Alexis Joseph scored twice to help the Sea Dogs defeat the Charlottetown Islanders 4-2 at MacLauchlan Arena on the UPEI campus. Natan Éthier and William Yared also scored while goaltender Rafaël Courchesne, playing his first full game of the pre-season, made 24 saves in the win.

CJ Watroba and Ross Campbell had Charlottetown goals. Donald Hickey made 31 saves in the loss.

The two teams were tied 1-1 after 20 minutes. The Sea Dogs turned it up a notch in the second, outshooting the Islanders 16-8 and scoring twice. Yared put Saint John back in front at 7:24 and then Joseph scored a shorthanded marker at 16:52 to give the Dogs a 3-1 lead entering the third.

Campbell scored on a power play at 7:33 of the third to make it a one-goal game. The Islanders pulled Hickey with a couple minutes remaining but Joseph would ice the game with an empty-netter at 19:24 to make it a 4-2 final.

The win means the Sea Dogs finish the pre-season with a 1-3-2-0 record to go along with a tie. The Islanders, meanwhile, fell to 0-4-0-0 with one game remaining.

Pre-Season Game Day 7 - at Charlottetown

CHARLOTTETOWN - The Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League pre-season comes to a close tonight for the Saint John Sea Dogs.

The Sea Dogs will play their seventh and final game of the pre-season when they visit the Charlottetown Islanders. Game time is 7 p.m. at MacLauchlan Arena on the UPEI campus.

Saint John is still looking for their first win of the pre-season following a 5-4 loss to the Moncton Wildcats last night in Woodstock. The loss dropped the Sea Dogs to 0-3-2-0 with a tie.

The Sea Dogs will face a team tonight that is also winless in exhibition play. The Islanders are 0-3-0-0 heading into this final weekend. Charlottetown will also play the Wildcats tomorrow afternoon in Bouctouche.

Radio/TV/Stream: None/None/Islanders YouTube

Pre-Season Records: The Sea Dogs 0-3-2-0 and have a tie this pre-season while the Islanders are 0-3-0-0.

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 5-4 loss to the Moncton Wildcats last night in Woodstock. Zachary Morin scored twice while Alexander Donovan and Vincent Croteau added singles. Justin Robinson made 36 saves in the loss. The Islanders are coming off a 6-5 loss to the Newfoundland Regiment on Aug. 22. Michael Denney netted a pair of goals while Tyler Peddle, Marcus Kearsey and Ross Campbell also scored. Gannon Hunter made 24 saves in the loss.

2024-25 records: The Sea Dogs finished 21-43-0-0 for 42 points (sixth Maritimes/10th Eastern/17th QMJHL) last season while the Islanders were 30-29-4-1 for 65 points (fourth Maritimes/seventh Eastern/12th QMJHL).

2024-25 head-to-head: The Sea Dogs were 3-5-0-0 against the Islanders last season while Charlottetown went 5-3-0-0 against Saint John.

Last meeting: March 16 at Eastlink Centre where the Islanders defeated the Sea Dogs 4-0. Pavel Simek, Kyle Powers, Ethan Montroy and William Shields scored for Charlottetown. Donald Hickey made 24 saves in the shutout. Eric Young made 30 stops in the loss.