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Saturday, September 27, 2025

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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
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