Three series sweeps completed

Dany Germain/Val-d'Or Foreurs

And just like that, three of the four teams that will take part in the semifinals of the Gilles-Courteau Trophy Playoffs are locked in.

The Moncton Wildcats, Chicoutimi Sagueneens and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies all completed series sweeps on Wednesday night, securing spots in the next round. The only second round series remaining is between the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and Newfoundland Regiment, which is currently tied at 2-2.

The Wildcats won a 17th straight game on Wednesday, defeating the Val-d'Or Foreurs 4-1. Former Saint John Sea Dogs defenseman Max Vilen had three shots in the victory.

Moncton swept Saint John in the first round with their lone hiccup coming in Game 2, which required overtime. In the Val-d'Or series, the Wildcats' toughest match was also Game 2, which they won 3-2.

Like the Wildcats, the Sagueneens are also 8-0 in these playoffs. Lucas Beckman stopped all 20 shots he faced in a 5-0 win over the Quebec Remparts on Wednesday.

Former Sea Dogs forward Egan Beveridge did not play for the Remparts after getting injured in Monday's Game 3.

The Huskies, meanwhile, needed seven games to eliminate the Gatineau Olympiques in the opening round. They really shortened that timeline in the second round, completing a sweep of the Shawinigan Cataractes on Wednesday with a 4-2 victory.

Three of the four games of this series were decided by two goals or less.

This result ends the junior career of former Sea Dogs forward Vince Elie, who scored in the loss. Elie, who is committed to play at Clarkson University this fall, finishes the playoffs with a goal and three assists.

The Sagueneens will face the Huskies in the third round while the Wildcats will take on the winner of the Armada/Regiment series.

Notebook: Two Sea Dogs named to U18 camp roster

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Two Saint John Sea Dogs were named to Hockey Canada's camp roster for the 2026 IIHF U18 Men's World Championship.

Sea Dogs forward Alexis Joseph and defenseman Cameron Chartrand were both named to the 23-player roster. More players are likely to be added as teams get eliminated from the CHL playoffs.

Joseph posted 24 goals and 36 assists in 54 regular season games this past season. He also captained Canada Red to gold at the U17 World Challenge this past fall, recording 13 points in five games.

Chartrand appeared in just 35 games with the Sea Dogs this season due to injuries, recording two goals and five assists. He played for Canada Red at the U17 World Challenge in 2024.

Sherbrooke Phoenix forward Thomas Rousseau was the only other QMJHL player invited to the camp. Fredericton's Tynan Lawrence of Boston University also earned an invite.

The under-18 tournament takes place April 22 to May 2 in Bratislava and Trencin, Slovakia.

TRANSFER PORTAL OPENS

It's been a wild few days in NCAA hockey with the sport's transfer portal opening up – which is essentially college hockey's version of free agency.

Here are the Sea Dogs alumni who entered the portal:

• Charles-Edward Gravel (Mercyhurst)
• Charles Savoie (Lindenwood)
• Matteo Mann (Colorado College)

Gravel was essentially forced into the portal with Mercyhurst cutting men's hockey. Mann, meanwhile, was seemingly being pushed out of a roster spot with Colorado College adding defensemen while Savoie was likely looking for an opportunity with a team that is part of a conference (Lindenwood is an independent).

Of the three, only Savoie has found a new home. The 23-year-old, who played at Concordia University during the 2024-25 season, has joined the Lake Superior State Lakers of the CCHA.

McCallum scores first pro goal; Beveridge hurt by blindside hit

Trois-Rivieres Lions

Kale McCallum has scored his first professional goal.

The former Saint John Sea Dogs defenseman scored in the Trois-Rivieres Lions' 5-1 win over the Adirondack Thunder on Sunday. The goal came midway through the first period to make it 2-0 at the time.

KALE MCCALLUM INSCRIT SON PREMIER BUT CHEZ LES PROFESSIONNELS 🚨

TR 2 - 0 ADK pic.twitter.com/REqeOWLfny

— Lions de Trois-Rivières (@Lions3r) April 12, 2026

McCallum was also a +2 with two shots in the game.

The night prior, the offensive defenseman registered his first professional points, posting two assists against the Thunder.

The Lions have two regular season games remaining. They will not qualify for the ECHL's Kelly Cup Playoffs.

McCallum spent this past season with the NCAA's Providence College Friars where he recorded five goals and nine assists in 31 games. 

The 24-year-old spent the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons with the Sea Dogs.

A few other news and notes...

• Former Sea Dogs forward Egan Beveridge was injured in the Quebec Remparts' 4-0 loss to the Chicoutimi Sagueneens on Monday. The Sags now lead the series 3-0 and will look to complete the sweep on Wednesday in Quebec City.

  Blindside hit by Liam Lefebvre on Egan Beveridge. Lefebvre gets 5 and a game for it, Beveridge has not returned.
  
  Expecting a possible suspension for Lefebvre as well, the league will look at this pic.twitter.com/vsoGiizqHk

  — Robert Chalmers (@IvanIvanlvan) April 13, 2026

• The Blainville-Boisbriand Armada have taken a 2-1 series lead with a 4-1 win over the Newfoundland Regiment on Monday in St. John's. Jacob Beaulieu had three shots and got into some rough stuff with Ryan Dwyer late in the third period. Game 4 is Tuesday night.
• In the Maritime Junior Hockey League playoffs, the Summerside Western Capitals have forced a Game 7 in the North Division final thanks to a 2-1 win over the Truro Bearcats on Sunday. The winner of Thursday's Game 7, which will be played in Summerside, will take on the Edmundston Blizzard in the MHL final.

Notebook: Lottery odds announced

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

The Saint John Sea Dogs will have a 4.8% chance of winning the first overall pick in this year's QMJHL Entry Draft lottery.

The lottery will take place April 21 at 7:30 p.m. Atlantic and be broadcast live on RDS, the league announced this week.

The Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, who own the Baie-Comeau Drakkar's top pick, will have the best odds of winning followed by the Halifax Mooseheads – who are hosting this year's draft. The full odds are below.

18th position: Rouyn-Noranda (from Baie-Comeau) – 9 balls – 42.9% 

17th position: Halifax (from Rimouski) – 6 balls – 28.6% 

16th position: Shawinigan (from Gatineau) – 3 balls – 14.3% 

15th position: Victoriaville – 2 balls – 9.5% 

14th position: Saint John – 1 ball – 4.8%

The Sea Dogs have had good fortune in the draft lottery over the years. They won last year's and went on to select Alexis Joseph with the first overall pick.

The 2026 QMJHL Entry Draft will take place June 5-6 in Halifax.

JOSEPH MAKES ROOKIE TEAM

Sea Dogs forward Alexis Joseph has been named to the QMJHL's rookie all-star team, the league announced this week.

Joseph finished sixth in rookie scoring, posting 24 goals and 36 assists in 54 games.

The full team is below.

Goaltender : Jan Larys, Drummondville 

Defenseman : Tommy Bleyl, Moncton 

Defenseman : Malik L’Italien, Halifax 

Forward : Egor Shilov, Victoriaville 

Forward : Alexey Vlasov, Victoriaville 

Forward : Alexis Joseph, Saint John

The QMJHL also announced its first and second all-star teams.

Villeneuve makes NHL debut; other Saturday notes

Embed from Getty Images 

At long last, William Villeneuve made his NHL debut on Saturday night.

After appearing in 224 games with the American Hockey League's Toronto Marlies and getting called up on a few occasions this season only to sit out, the former Saint John Sea Dogs defenseman dressed for the Toronto Maple Leafs in their 6-2 loss to the Florida Panthers.

rookie lap for William Villeneuve pic.twitter.com/kfkHPgtGCv

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 11, 2026

The 24-year-old had 18:45 of ice time and had one block in the loss.

Villeneuve has three goals and 26 assists in 59 games with the Marlies this season.

According to the Sea Dogs, Villeneuve is the 22nd alumnus to skate in an NHL game. That number is believed to officially be 23 as the team does not recognize Joshua Roy.

🎙️ | William Villeneuve | Post Game vs. Florida Panthers | April 11 pic.twitter.com/7IwwpCOwuC

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 12, 2026

Villeneuve was drafted second overall by the Sea Dogs in the 2018 QMJHL Entry Draft. He skated in 216 regular season games with the club and another 11 playoff contests. He helped the team capture the 2022 Memorial Cup title.

Wildcats beat Foreurs; Armada tie series

Blainville-Boisbriand Armada

MONCTON - The Moncton Wildcats picked things up right where they left off.

After sweeping the Saint John Sea Dogs in the first round – and dominating the final two games of the series – the Wildcats defeated the Val-d'Or Foreurs 8-1 at Avenir Centre on Friday to take a 1-0 lead in the second round series.

Moncton went 3/5 on the power play.

A few other news and notes from Friday night...

• The Foreurs opened the scoring against the Wildcats on Friday. Moncton has allowed the first goal in all three of their home playoff games but have gone on to win all of them.
• The Blainville-Boisbriand Armada picked up a crucial win in Game 2, erasing a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Newfoundland Regiment 5-3 and tie the series 1-1. Elliot Dubé and Jacob Beaulieu each had one shot on goal. The next three games will be played in St. John's.
• The Chicoutimi Sagueneens scored three unanswered goals to defeat Egan Beveridge and the Quebec Remparts 3-1 to take a 1-0 series lead.
• The Rouyn-Noranda Huskies erased a 3-1 deficit to beat Vince Elie and the Shawinigan Cataractes 8-3 in Game 1. The Huskies scored six goals in the third period.
• In the Maritime Junior Hockey League playoffs, the Summerside Western Capitals scored four times in the first period to defeat the Truro Bearcats 4-2. The Bearcats lead the series 3-2 heading into Game 6 on Sunday in Truro.
• The Edmundston Blizzard took a 3-2 series lead over the Chaleur Lightning with a 4-2 win in Game 5 on Thursday. Former Sea Dogs forward Ben Cross and defensive prospect Jesse Dunlap were both in the Lightning lineup. Game 6 is Saturday in Bathurst.
• In the NCAA's Frozen Four, Wisconsin will face Denver in Saturday's national championship game.

Second round playoff predictions

Mike Bernard/Quebec Remparts

If the first round is any indication, we could be in for a very entertaining playoffs in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.

Three series went to Game 7. There was a major upset with the Val-d'Or Foreurs eliminating the Drummondville Voltigeurs in five games and there was nearly another with the Gatineau Olympiques coming up one win short of pulling off a reverse sweep of the heavily favoured Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

Will the entertainment continue into round two?

Here are my picks.

1. Moncton vs 13. Val-d'Or - Wildcats in 4

The Wildcats will need to respect the Foreurs given what they did to the Voltigeurs. Moncton likely learned some lessons from their Game 2 scare against Saint John, winning the final two matches easily. The Foreurs should have some confidence coming into this – but they are not playing the Voltigeurs here. This will be a massive challenge for them. I expect Val-d'Or to push Moncton at times, but not enough to win the series.

2. Chicoutimi vs 9. Quebec - Sagueneens in 4

I don't feel good about this prediction given how long some of the first round series went. But I do feel good about Chicoutimi, who outscored Halifax 24-4 in the opening round. We could see some tight games here, but the Sagueneens have too much firepower and depth for the Remparts to handle. Always fun to get this matchup in the playoffs.

3. Rouyn-Noranda vs 7. Shawinigan - Huskies in 6

Both are coming off Game 7 victories. Both had their problems in the opening round and I'm not overly confident in either – which makes this a fun series to keep an eye on. I'll take the Huskies.

4. Blainville-Boisbriand vs 6. Newfoundland - Armada in 6

The Armada swept the Victoriaville Tigres in the opening round but there were a couple of close games. They had an up-and-down season, but completing a sweep shows they're on the right track so far in these playoffs. The Cape Breton Eagles gave the Regiment some problems in the first round. Newfoundland will need to keep their cool and stay out of the box, which is what we've been saying about them all season.

I picked five of the eight first round series winners correctly. I had Drummondville, Charlottetown and Sherbrooke all advancing.

Second round matchups are set

Vincent Létourneau/Shawinigan Cataractes

The first round of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League playoffs ended with three Game 7s on Tuesday night.

Here's a quick recap of all three:

• The Quebec Remparts held the Charlottetown Islanders to just 10 shots in the first two periods in a 1-0 win. The Islanders made a push in the third, outshooting the Remparts 12-3, but could not beat goaltender Patrick Déniger. Charlottetown led this series 3-2 coming back to PEI but dropped the final two games on home ice.
• The Gatineau Olympiques came up short of pulling off the reverse sweep, falling 5-0 to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. The Olympiques, who finished 40 points back of the Huskies in the standings, dropped the first three games but shockingly won the next three to make a series out of it.
• The Shawinigan Cataractes knocked off the pesky Sherbrooke Phoenix with a commanding 6-1 win on home ice. The road team had won every game in the series up until Game 7.

With those series now completed, the second round matchups have been confirmed. As a reminder, teams have been reseeded based on the overall standings.

1. Moncton vs 13. Val-d'Or

2. Chicoutimi vs 9. Quebec

3. Rouyn-Noranda vs 7. Shawinigan

4. Blainville-Boisbriand vs 6. Newfoundland

The second round begins Thursday night with the Armada – the franchise formerly known as the St. John's Fog Devils – hosting the Regiment.

Here are the former Sea Dogs still in the playoffs (in no particular order): Vince Elie (Shawinigan), Max Vilen (Moncton), Elliot Dubé (Blainville-Boisbriand), Egan Beveridge (Quebec), Jacob Beaulieu (Blainville-Boisbriand) and Patryk Zubek (Newfoundland).

Chad Bellemare (Sherbrooke) and Tyler Peddle (Charlottetown) had their seasons end in the first round. Bellemare posted three goals and two assists in his series while Peddle, playing his overage season, had three goals.

Baldwin signs ATO with Crunch

JaimeLee Gouthro/Cape Breton Eagles

It looks like Everett Baldwin's season isn't over quite yet.

The American Hockey League's Syracuse Crunch announced Tuesday that the Saint John Sea Dogs defenseman has joined the club on a tryout basis. The Crunch have five regular season games remaining and have already clinched a playoff spot.

The Crunch are the AHL affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Baldwin was a fifth-round pick of the Lightning in last year's NHL Draft.

This move will not impact Baldwin's ability to play NCAA hockey at Providence College. The 19-year-old is committed to play for his hometown school this coming season.

Baldwin will still be able to attend Providence without a problem, even if he plays AHL games. Eligibility rules are different before and after initial full-time enrollment. You can't leave school and play on an ATO and then return, but you can play on an ATO before enrolling. https://t.co/mIfFzMR1kz

— Mike McMahon (@MikeMcMahonCHN) April 7, 2026

Baldwin had an impressive 2025-26 season with the Sea Dogs, posting 15 goals and 29 assists in 62 regular season games. He added two assists in four playoff games.

Baldwin's 15 goals placed him in a tie for the league lead in goals by a defenseman.

The Crunch are back in action on Wednesday night when they host the Rochester Americans.

Notebook: Joseph ranked second in 2027 draft rankings

JaimeLee Gouthro/Cape Breton Eagles

The 2027 NHL Draft hype for Saint John Sea Dogs forward Alexis Joseph continues to grow.

In The Athletic's 2027 draft rankings that were released this week, Joseph was ranked second behind Everett Silvertips defenseman Landon Dupont.

"Joseph, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 QMJHL draft, is a big, strong, athletic, pro-built at an early age center with skill and a strong skating stride," writes Scott Wheeler. "He was dominant at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in November, leading Canada Red to gold and the tournament in goals with six in five games, and has been a top player on a rebuilding under-.500 team in Saint John this year, playing to above a point per game."

Joseph finished his rookie season with 24 goals and 36 assists in 54 games. He added three assists in four playoff games.

Sea Dogs draft picks Jamie Glance and Finnegan Sears were both honourable mentions in the rankings. Both played with the USNTDP this season. Glance is committed to Boston University for the 2027-28 season while Sears is committed to Boston College.

MCCALLUM TURNS PRO

Former Sea Dogs defenseman Kale McCallum has signed with the ECHL's Trois-Rivieres Lions, it was announced this week. He made his debut on Friday, recording two shots in a 2-1 win over the Maine Mariners.

McCallum spent this past season with the NCAA's Providence College Friars where he posted five goals and nine assists in 31 games.

The 24-year-old spent parts of the previous three seasons with the UNB Reds.

McCallum, who played with the Saint John Vito's and at Rothesay Netherwood, spent the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons with the Sea Dogs before being traded to the Val-d'Or Foreurs.

Eagles stay alive on a wild Friday night

Jonathan Roy/Quebec Remparts

KALAMAZOO, MI - A wild Friday night. Here's a recap.

• The Cape Breton Eagles erased a 4-1 third period deficit to defeat the Newfoundland Regiment 5-4 in overtime, keeping their season alive and sending the series back to St. John's for a Game 6 on Sunday. Maxime Sauthier netted the game-winner just 22 seconds into overtime.

  🚨#88 Maxime Sauthier
  🍎#16 Lucas Romeo
  🍏#77 Samuel Kupec
  22 second into overtime#DefendTheIsland pic.twitter.com/lllI6IiTC6

  — Cape Breton Eagles (@CBEHockey) April 4, 2026

• Tyler Peddle and the Charlottetown Islanders are a win away from advancing to the second round. Ivan Ryabkin had a goal and an assist to help the Islanders defeat Egan Beveridge and the Quebec Remparts 3-2 at Videotron Centre. Charlottetown leads the series 3-2 heading into Game 6 on Monday at Eastlink Centre.
• Chad Bellemare scored to help the Sherbrooke Phoenix defeat Vince Elie and the Shawinigan Cataractes 6-1 and take a 3-2 series lead. The Phoenix went 4/7 on the power play. The major drama came off the ice with Shawinigan making Felix Lacerte, who finished fifth in QMJHL regular season scoring, a healthy scratch. Game 6 is Sunday in Sherbrooke.
• The Gatineau Olympiques held the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies to 14 shots in a 4-1 win, staying alive in the series once again. The Huskies lead the series 3-2. Game 6 is Sunday in Gatineau.
• The Val-d'Or Foreurs completed the upset of the Drummondville Voltigeurs, winning 5-3 to take the series in five games. The Volts finished the regular season with 27 more points than the Foreurs.
• In the Maritime Junior Hockey League playoffs on Thursday:
• The Edmundston Blizzard defeated Ben Cross and the Chaleur Lightning 4-2 to take a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 is Saturday.
• The Summerside Western Capitals tied Game 1 with 30 seconds remaining in regulation but ultimately lost 2-1 in overtime to the Truro Bearcats. Game 2 of that series is on Saturday.
• At the under-18 Atlantics in Quispamsis, Jase MacPherson allowed five goals on 28 shots in the Kensington Wild's 5-4 loss to Newfoundland's Pinnacle Growlers. In the night game, Eliot Tozer had a goal as the Saint John's Vito's defeated the Wild 7-4.
• And in Kalamzaoo tonight where I watched the Toledo Walleye defeat the Wings 6-2, former Sea Dogs goaltender Jonathan Lemieux had an eventful game. Along with allowing five goals on 32 shots, Lemieux took a delay of game penalty for flipping the puck out of play and was not happy when a goaltender interference review didn't go his way. Lemieux slapped his stick on the ice and was yelling his thoughts at the official (there was only one referee). When the period ended, Lemieux tossed his stick into the neutral zone in frustration.

  Watching Toledo/Kalamazoo tonight. Former Sea Dog Jonathan Lemieux starting for the Wings.
  
  Yes, those are Margaritaville jerseys. Yes, the goal posts are green. pic.twitter.com/AWA3rCAZ8y

  — Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) April 3, 2026

Three sweeps completed in QMJHL playoffs

FORT WAYNE, IN - What a wild night at the historic Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

The Wheeling Nailers were up 6-2 entering the third period against the Fort Wayne Komets and ultimately won 8-5. It was a battle between two of the top teams in the ECHL with Wheeling sitting third and Fort Wayne sixth.

Former Sea Dogs forward William Dufour was one of the best players on the ice and could have finished the game with four or five points. He posted two assists in the loss along with four shots and a -3 rating.

Some positive Sea Dogs news tonight: William Dufour has two assists in this Komets/Nailers game I’m at. pic.twitter.com/L2LbN0gSiS

— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) April 2, 2026

The 24-year-old has posted impressive numbers with the Komets. He now has eight goals and 18 assists in 22 games.

As for the rink itself, it definitely gives a Kitchener Memorial Auditorium vibe – an old barn that underwent a major expansion but still has some of its old school features. Announced attendance was 5,893, although there was maybe half of that actually in the building

Recap: Sea Dogs lose 7-3

FINAL: Moncton 7, Saint John 3

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs' season came to a close on Wednesday at TD Station.

The Moncton Wildcats defeated the Sea Dogs 7-3 in Game 4 of their first round Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League playoff series, completing a sweep.

The Wildcats, as regular season champions, will now face the lowest remaining seed that advances in the second round of the playoffs. Moncton is looking to repeat as QMJHL champions.

The Sea Dogs, meanwhile, have not won a playoff series since capturing the President Cup championship in 2017. They've made the playoffs five times (including the 2021 provincial tournament thing) since then but have lost in the first round each time.

With the exception of Game 2, which required overtime, this series wasn't overly close and it was clear the Wildcats are several steps above the Sea Dogs. That was evident again on Wednesday with Moncton scoring seven straight goals before Saint John was able to net three in the third when the game was well out of reach.

Preston Lounsbury scored a pair of goals for Moncton while singles came from Alex Mercier, Gavin Cornforth, Teddy Mutryn, Gabe Smith and Kuzma Voronin. Rudy Guimond made 19 saves in the win.

Angelo Fullerton, Zachary Morin and Olivier Groulx scored for Saint John. Arseni Radkov made 32 stops in the loss.

Recap: Sea Dogs lose 6-0

FINAL: Moncton 6, Saint John 0

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - It took the Moncton Wildcats over 59 minutes to score against the Saint John Sea Dogs on Saturday.

On Tuesday, the Wildcats needed just nine seconds – and it was a sign of things to come. Moncton scored three times in the first period in a 6-0 win over the Sea Dogs at TD Station to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven first round series.

The Wildcats can complete the series sweep on Wednesday night in Saint John.

The game felt like it was over quick with the Wildcats jumping out to a quick start. Kuzma Voronin opened the scoring and then Alex Mercier and Gavin Cornforth scored less than a minute apart halfway through the period. Shots ended 12-3 in favour of the Wildcats in the first.

Starts have been an issue for the Wildcats in this series – but you wouldn't know it by Tuesday's performance. The Sea Dogs scored first in both games one and two.

Saint John had a better showing in the second and third periods but the game was out of reach. Arseni Radkov was pulled in the second period after allowing five goals on 15 shots. Rafaël Courchesne made 24 saves in relief.

Voronin had a pair of goals for Moncton while singles came from Mercier, Cornforth, Simon Binkley and Preston Lounsbury. Rudy Guimond made 22 saves in the win.

Sea Dogs debut dark Under Armour jerseys

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs debuted a new look on Tuesday at TD Station.

For the first time, the Sea Dogs took to the ice in their dark Under Armour jerseys, featuring the club's blue, black and grey colours. Tuesday's playoff match against the Moncton Wildcats was Saint John's first home game since the jerseys arrived.

After waiting nearly all season for the corrected Under Armour jerseys to arrive, Saint John debuted their new white jerseys on March 20 in Sydney – the final weekend of the regular season. The club has worn the new white jerseys on the road four times.

Sea Dogs debuting the dark Under Armour jerseys tonight. pic.twitter.com/fy0euiyT7t

— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) March 31, 2026

The majority of teams across the CHL have been wearing Under Armour jerseys since opening night in September. Saint John announced on Sept. 18 that the new jerseys would be delayed.

Two teams in the QMJHL – the Sea Dogs and Halifax Moosheads – had been wearing old CCM jerseys all season. The CCM logos were covered over.

It was announced last May that Under Armour would replace CCM as the CHL's official jersey provider. The switch hasn't come without problems. A number of teams reportedly had errors with their new looks. 

The Sea Dogs unveiled their updated logo and mockups of the new jerseys at an event during the summer. The Sea Dogs had been wearing the same styled jersey since the 2009-10 season.

Playoff Game Day 3 & 4: vs Wildcats

Daniel St Louis/Moncton Wildcats

SAINT JOHN - After a heartbreaking loss in Game 2, the Saint John Sea Dogs will look to rebound on home ice.

The Sea Dogs were up 2-0 entering the final minute of play against the Moncton Wildcats on Saturday at Avenir Centre. Moncton pulled off an improbable comeback, scoring twice in the final minute and then winning in overtime to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven first round playoff series.

The Wildcats will look to take a commanding 3-0 series lead tonight at TD Station. Game 4 is Wednesday, also in Saint John.

It will be interesting to see how the Sea Dogs respond to Saturday's result. Saint John played a great road game against a superior opponent – and it still wasn't quite enough. We'll see if they're motivated by the close game or if it knocked the wind out of their sails.

You have to think the Wildcats will look for a better start tonight. The Sea Dogs have scored first in both games.

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

Series status: The Wildcats lead the best-of-seven first round series 2-0.

Regular season records: The Sea Dogs were 23-36-5-0 for 51 points (eighth Eastern/15th QMJHL) while the Wildcats were 50-10-2-2 for 104 points (first Eastern/first QMJHL).

Last games: The Wildcats defeated the Sea Dogs 3-2 in overtime on Saturday at Avenir Centre. Niko Tournas, Gabe Smith and Gavin Cornforth scored for Moncton. Saint John goals came from Angelo Fullerton and Zachary Morin. Rudy Guimond made 22 saves in the win. Arseni Radkov made 47 stops in the loss.

Plenty of former Sea Dogs in QMJHL playoffs

Vincent Létourneau/Shawinigan Cataractes

SAINT JOHN - Vince Elie and the Shawinigan Cataractes are in some trouble.

The Cataractes find themselves down 2-0 in their first round series against the Sherbrooke Phoenix following back-to-back losses on home ice over the weekend. Elie was held scoreless and was a -2.

Sherbrooke goaltender Kyan Labbé, a fourth-round pick of Saint John in the 2023 QMJHL Entry Draft, has been excellent for the Phoenix, allowing just two goals on 59 shots in the first two games combined.

Former Sea Dogs forward Chad Bellemare has one goal for the Phoenix.

The Phoenix can take a commanding 3-0 series lead with a win on home ice on Tuesday.

Elliot Dubé, Jacob Beaulieu and the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada will also look to take a 3-0 series lead against the Victoriaville Tigres on Tuesday. That series shifts to Victoriaville for Games 3 and 4.

In Quebec City, Egan Beveridge and the Quebec Remparts will look to take a 2-1 series lead against Tyler Peddle and the Charlottetown Islanders. Beveridge already has two goals in this series, tying him for the team lead. 

Peddle has also scored twice. The Islanders will need the overage forward to step up again on Tuesday with Ivan Ryabkin reportedly set to serve a one-game suspension for abuse of officials. Charlottetown was without Nathan Leek in Game 2 due to an injury.

Defenseman Patryk Zubek, who appeared in just five games with the Newfoundland Regiment in the second half, has not seen action in these playoffs yet. The Regiment and Cape Breton Eagles are tied 1-1 heading into Tuesday night's Game 3 at Centre 200.

Lastly, Max Vilen has been held scoreless with the Moncton Wildcats so far in these playoffs. The Wildcats will look to take a 3-0 series lead over the Sea Dogs on Tuesday at TD Station.

Notebook: MacPherson named playoff MVP

Noah Murray/Charlottetown Islanders

MONCTON - Jase MacPherson was on the Saint John Sea Dogs bench a night after being named the most valuable player of the PEI under-18 provincial championship series.

MacPherson made 38 saves on Thursday to help the Kensington Wild defeat the Charlottetown Knights 3-2 and clinch the provincial title in six games. The 17-year-old went 4-1 in the final with a 2.57 goals against average and a .936 save percentage.

MacPherson faced 39 or more shots in every game against Charlottetown.

“I just played my game and worked hard out there,” MacPherson told the Journal Pioneer. “The boys helped me so much. I wouldn’t have gotten (the MVP award) without them.”

A second-round pick of Saint John in the 2025 QMJHL Entry Draft, MacPherson appeared in one game for Saint John this season. MacPherson was Saint John's backup in Friday's playoff opener with Arseni Radkov still serving his suspension.

The Wild will represent PEI at Atlantics, which will take place April 1-5 in Quispamsis.

MHL GAME 7

The Summerside Western Capitals are moving on to the second round of the Maritime Junior Hockey League playoffs.

The Capitals defeated the Amherst Ramblers 1-0 in Game 7 on Saturday night. Eliott Robert scored the game's only goal while Caps netminder Kolton Bourret made 25 saves in the shutout.

The Capitals include former Sea Dogs goaltender Justin Robinson and defenseman Matthew MacLean. The Ramblers feature defenseman Jeremie Richard and forward Darrien Reynolds.

Summerside, who are hosting the Centennial Cup national championship in May, will face the Truro Bearcats in the South Division final. The North Division final, meanwhile, will feature the Edmundston Blizzard facing the Chaleur Lightning.

Recap: Sea Dogs lose 3-2 (OT)

FINAL: Saint John 2, Moncton 3 (OT)

Daniel St Louis/Moncton Wildcats

MONCTON - Losses don't get much more heartbreaking than that.

The Saint John Sea Dogs blew a 2-0 lead in the final minute of regulation time in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Moncton Wildcats on Saturday at Avenir Centre. The Wildcats now lead the best-of-seven first round series 2-0 as things shift to Saint John for the next two games.

The Sea Dogs had taken a 2-0 lead at 9:46 of the third period when Zachary Morin scored. Saint John was playing with confidence and energy following the goal – but it simply wasn't meant to be on this night.

The Wildcats pressed hard in the final few minutes and finally broke through. Niko Tournas scored with 51.8 seconds remaining and then Gabe Smith connected with 4.3 seconds left, sending the match into overtime. Gavin Cornforth, who had a hat trick in Friday's Game 1, scored at 11:00 of extra time to give the Wildcats an improbable come-from-behind victory.

It was a cruel outcome for Saint John, who played just about as well as they possibly could against a superior opponent. Angelo Fullerton netted the Sea Dogs' other goal while goaltender Arseni Radkov, in his first start since his fighting suspension, was excellent in net, making 47 stops in a first star performance.

Rudy Guimond made 22 saves in the win.

Recap: Sea Dogs lose 5-1

FINAL: Saint John 1, Moncton 5
Embed from Getty Images

MONCTON - The Moncton Wildcats scored five unanswered goals in 5-1 win over the Saint John Sea Dogs on Friday at Avenir Centre.

The win gives the Wildcats a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven first round playoff series.

Gavin Cornforth scored a hat trick to lead the way for Moncton while Teddy Mutryn and Gabe Smith added singles. Rudy Guimond made 16 saves in the win.

Alexander Donovan scored Saint John's lone goal. Despite the loss, Rafaël Courchesne had a strong game in net, making 45 saves.

Saint John struggled to create quality scoring chances, registering just nine dangerous shots. Their lone goal came on a power play. The Wildcats, meanwhile, went 2/5 on the man advantage.

Saint John had a solid first period, limiting Moncton's quality chances and taking a 1-0 lead when Donovan scored on a power play at 16:44. The goal was scored during a four-minute high sticking penalty that saw the Sea Dogs struggle to create chances – but were able to score on one of the few they did get.

The Wildcats started to get things rolling in the second period. Cornforth netted back-to-back goals less than a minute apart and then Mutryn scored on a power play at 10:50 to give Moncton a 3-1 lead after two. Shots were 17-5 Wildcats in the middle frame.

Smith and Cornforth scored in the third to make it a 5-1 final. Shots were 20-5 in favour of the 'Cats in the third.

Playoff Game Day 1 & 2: at Moncton

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

MONCTON - The Saint John Sea Dogs make their return to the playoffs this weekend at Avenir Centre.

The Sea Dogs and Moncton Wildcats will play the first two games of their best-of-seven first round series Friday and Saturday night, respectively. Both games have 7 p.m. starts.

This will be Saint John's first playoff appearance since the 2023-24 season and they have not won a playoff series since the 2017 QMJHL final. Moncton, meanwhile, are looking to repeat as league champions – and they've got a legitimate chance of doing so after posting a 104-point season.

The Wildcats are the heavy favourites to win this series. For the Sea Dogs, this is likely a series where they'll look for small victories. Can they win shifts. Can they win periods. Can they keep these games close. Most importantly, it'll be about gaining some experience for next season.

This is just the second playoff series between the provincial rivals. They last met in the 2010 QMJHL final, which Moncton won in six games.

Stream/TV/Radio: FloHockey/None/None

Series status: These are the first two games of the best-of-seven first round series.

Regular season records: The Sea Dogs were 23-36-5-0 for 51 points (eighth Eastern/15th QMJHL) while the Wildcats were 50-10-2-2 for 104 points (first Eastern/first QMJHL).

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 3-2 win in Cape Breton on Saturday. Angelo Fullerton scored a pair of goals while Nolann Héroux added a single. Rafaël Courchesne made 24 saves in the win. The Wildcats are coming off a 6-1 home win over the Charlottetown Islanders on Saturday. Niko Tournas scored twice for Moncton while singles came from Gabe Smith, Caleb Desnoyers, Kuzma Voronin and Preston Lounsbury. Rudy Guimond only faced 16 shots in the win.

Eagles upset Regiment in Game 1; MHL, NCAA updates

Jeff Parsons/Newfoundland Regiment

If night one is a sign of things to come, we could be in for quite a post-season in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.

The Cape Breton Eagles, who entered the playoffs having won just two games since Valentine's Day, opened their series against the Newfoundland Regiment with a 3-2 win at Mary Brown's Centre on Thursday night.

The Eagles, who are without one of their leading scorers in Roman Litalien, never led until 10:52 of the third period when Caden Kelly scored just his sixth goal of the entire year – which ended up being the game-winner.

The Regiment finished 11 points ahead of the Eagles in the standings but are considered heavy favourites given Cape Breton's injury woes and the way they finished the regular season.

Game 2 is Friday night before the series shifts to Sydney. This is a 2-3-2 series.

A few other news and notes from this Thursday night...

• The remaining playoff series get going Friday night, which includes the Saint John Sea Dogs visiting the Moncton Wildcats.
• Sea Dogs prospect Jase MacPherson made 37 saves to help the Kensington Wild defeat the Charlottetown Knights 3-2, winning the PEI under-18 championship in six games. The Wild advance to Atlantics, which will take place in Quispamsis from April 1-5.
• In the Maritime Junior Hockey League playoffs, the Summerside Western Capitals have forced a Game 7 in their first round series with a commanding 9-3 win over the Amherst Ramblers. Former Sea Dogs defenseman Matthew MacLean had two assists for the Western Capitals. Game 7 is Saturday night in Summerside.
• The NCAA men's hockey tournament began on Thursday and saw Nate Tivey and the Quinnipac Bobcats defeat Kale McCallum and the Providence Friars 5-2 in the Sioux Falls regional. Tivey was held off the score sheet while McCallum finished a -2 with three shots. The Bobcats will face the winner of the Merrimack/North Dakota game in Saturday's regional final – a game that will have a trip to the Frozen Four in Las Vegas on the line.

First round playoff predictions

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

The opening round of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League playoffs begin Thursday night in St. John's – so let's get to some predictions.

Now, if you've read this site long enough, you'll know that I am a first round hater. I have six of the eight series being sweeps. I hope I am pleasantly surprised and we get more drama than I expect.

Eastern Conference

1. Moncton vs. 8. Saint John - Wildcats in 4

Sorry. The Sea Dogs are going to have to play the best defense they've played all year and get outstanding goaltending to have any chance against a Wildcats team that is rolling right now. 

2. Chicoutimi vs. 7. Halifax - Sagueneens in 4

Halifax pulled off a big first round upset in last year's playoffs but they don't have their star (goaltender Jacob Steinman) from that series anymore. Like Moncton, the Sags have been rolling down the stretch and I don't expect them to have much trouble with the Mooseheads.

3. Newfoundland vs. 6. Cape Breton - Regiment in 4

Cape Breton has just two wins since Valentine's Day and are not entering the playoffs fully healthy. They can't score. I don't think the Regiment will have a lot of trouble here, but the wildcard with Newfoundland remains their discipline, which will be interesting to follow in these playoffs.

4. Charlottetown vs. 5. Québec - Islanders in 5

Only three points separated these two in the standings but it really feels like Charlottetown could take off in these playoffs. All eyes are on Ivan Ryabkin who could legitimately carry the Isles on a deep run.

NCAA tournament begins Thursday for ex-Dogs

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

The NCAA men's hockey tournament begins Thursday and two former Saint John Sea Dogs are set to meet.

Kale McCallum and the Providence Friars will take on Nate Tivey and the Quinnipiac Bobcats in the opening game of the Sioux Falls regional on Thursday. McCallum and Tivey are the lone Sea Dogs alumni that have qualified for the 16-team tournament.

There are four regionals with four teams in each. The winner of each regional will advance to the Frozen Four in Las Vegas, which is set to take place April 9 and 11.

Also in the Sioux Falls regional are the North Dakota Fighting Hawks and the Merrimack Warriors. North Dakota is the top-ranked team in the group followed by Providence, Quinnipiac and Merrimack.

McCallum and the Friars won the Hockey East regular season title but were upset in the single elimination quarterfinals, falling to the No. 8 seeded Warriors who went on to win the tournament. 

Similarly, Tivey and Bobcats were ECAC regular season champions but were upset in the quarterfinals, getting swept in a best-of-three series by the No. 8 seeded Clarkson Golden Knights. The Dartmouth Big Green ultimately won the ECAC tournament.

Here's a look at the full NCAA tournament bracket. 

College Hockey News

The tournament format is neat in theory – but it comes with some problems and is a cautionary tale for the CHL if they ever wanted to do something similar with an expanded Memorial Cup format. Thursday's game between Province and Quinnipiac, for example, is being played on a Thursday afternoon 1,500 miles away from where the two schools are based. The regionals struggle to replicate one of the major aspects that make college hockey so much fun to watch: the atmosphere of the arenas.

Here's a final look at how former Sea Dogs skaters performed in their first college hockey seasons.

Player	Team	GP	Goals	Assists	Points
Charles Savoie	Lindenwood	23	9	18	27
Noah Reinhart	Michigan Tech	38	9	12	21
Cam MacDonald	New Hampshire	33	7	7	14
Kale McCallum	Providence	30	5	9	14
Nate Tivey	Quinnipiac	36	3	5	8
Matteo Mann	Colorado College	28	0	2	2

Charles-Edward Gravel of Mercyhurst was the only ex-Dogs goaltender to play NCAA hockey this season.

Sea Dogs announce award winners

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Saint John Sea Dogs captain Olivier Groulx has been named the team's most valuable player for the 2025-26 season.

Groulx guided a young Sea Dogs team through a challenging season. He finished the year with a team high 66 points and was tied for fourth in goals with 20.

Along with MVP honours, Groulx won the club's top scorer award, players' choice MVP honour and was named top defensive forward.

The Sea Dogs announced the full list of team award winners on social media on Wednesday.

Pepsi Top Scorer — Olivier Groulx 

McDonald's Rookie of the Year — Alexis Joseph 

TD Community Impact Award — Alex Donovan 

Alpine Three Stars Award — Alexis Joseph 

Mike Thomas Players' Choice MVP — Olivier Groulx 

SJ Airport Student-Athlete of the Year — Alexis Joseph 

Irving Oil Team Player Award — Angelo Fullerton 

Make-A-Wish Fan Choice Award — Zach Morin 

Deloitte Top Defensive Forward — Olivier Groulx 

Tim Horton's Most Improved Player — Angelo Fullerton 

NTI Boilers Top Defenceman — Olivier Duhamel 

Bell Aliant Most Valuable Player — Olivier Groulx

Last season, Groulx took home the top scorer, top defensive forward and most improved player awards.

This is the second straight year Zachary Morin won the fan choice award.

The Sea Dogs begin the QMJHL playoffs on Friday when they visit the Moncton Wildcats.

Notebook: Impressive rookie seasons

JaimeLee Gouthro/Cape Breton Eagles

Both Alexander Donovan and Alexis Joseph came up just short of tying the Sea Dogs franchise record for goals in a season by a rookie.

Donovan finished the year with 25 goals while Joseph posted 24. The team record is 26, which is held by Tomas Jurco (2009-10) and Ostap Safin (2017-18).

Joseph did set team records for most goals (24) and points (60) in a season by a 16-year-old. 

Jospeh's 60 points tie him with Stansislav Galiev (2009-10) for the second most in team history amongst all rookies. The overall rookie points record remains Chris DiDomenico's 75 in 2006-07)

BALDWIN'S NUMBERS

Everett Baldwin finishes the season with 15 goals, placing him in a tie with Charlottetown's Marcus Kearsey for the league lead in goals by defensemen.

Baldwin ties Alex Grant for the third most goals in a season by a Sea Dogs defenseman. Jeremie Poirier had 20 in 2019-20 and 16 in 2021-22.

Baldwin set the Sea Dogs franchise record for both goals (15) and points (44) by a rookie defenseman. 

UQTR wins University Cup; MHL playoffs update

HALIFAX - The UQTR Patriotes love playing in Nova Scotia.

The Patriotes captured their second University Cup title in five years with a 3-2 overtime win over the Saint Mary's Huskies on Sunday afternoon at Scotiabank Centre. The last time the tournament was held in Nova Scotia – 2022 in Wolfville – the Patriotes defeated the Alberta Golden Bears 5-4 in double overtime.

Felix Lafrance, who played with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, Cape Breton Eagles, Chicoutimi Sagueneens and Acadie-Bathurst Titan, scored the overtime winner with 5:35 remaining in the first session of extra time.

While UQTR's roster is loaded with former QMJHL talent, none played for the Saint John Sea Dogs. The Huskies lineup featured former Sea Dog Connor Trenholm.

The Huskies were the tournament's hosts and, after being eliminated in the first round of the AUS playoffs, were the No. 8 seed. They upset No. 1 Saskatchewan in their opener on Thursday and then defeated Windsor 4-1 in the Saturday afternoon semifinal.

UQTR advanced to the championship game with a 7-4 win over the UNB Reds in Saturday night's semifinal. The Patriotes scored four times in the first period – including twice in the first 4:41 – to take control of the game.

The Reds were victorious in the bronze medal game, which took place at 9 a.m. (not a typo) at Scotiabank Centre. Former Sea Dogs forwards Nick Blagden and Leighton Carruthers both had assists in the 5-1 win. Peter Reynolds remained out of the lineup.

Playoff schedule, matchups released

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

HALIFAX - The Saint John Sea Dogs will begin the first round of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League playoffs on Friday in Moncton.

As expected, the first two games of Saint John's series with the Moncton Wildcats will take place Friday and Saturday at Avenir Centre, respectively. The series will then shift to Saint John.

Here is the full schedule:

The Sea Dogs have been locked into the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference for a couple weeks but had to wait until Saturday afternoon to have their opponent determined. The Wildcats secured top spot with a win over the Charlottetown Islanders, edging the Chicoutimi Sagueneens by a single point.

This is will be just the second playoff series between the Sea Dogs and Wildcats. They last met in the 2010 QMJHL final which Moncton took in six games.

The Sea Dogs and Wildcats also met in the opening round of the COVID impacted 2021 playoffs, which was a round robin format that also included the Acadie-Bathurst Titan.

Sea Dogs to face Wildcats in first round

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

MONCTON - For just the second time, the Saint John Sea Dogs will face the Moncton Wildcats in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League playoffs.

The Wildcats secured the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference on Saturday, defeating the Charlottetown Islanders 6-1. The Sea Dogs have been locked into the No. 8 seed for a couple weeks now but have been waiting to see who would finish first: the Wildcats or the Chicoutimi Sagueneens.

The Wildcats won nine straight games down the stretch to edge the Sagueneens in the standings. Moncton finishes as the QMJHL's top regular season team for a second straight year, posting a record of 50-10-2-2 for 104 points.

The playoff schedule has not been announced yet but the series will likely start Friday night at Avenir Centre. Games 3 and 4 will be played on Tuesday, March 31 and Wednesday, April 1 at TD Station, respectively.

The only other time the Sea Dogs played the Wildcats in a playoff series was the 2010 QMJHL final, which Moncton won in six games.

The Sea Dogs and Wildcats did technically meet in the playoffs during the 2021 COVID provincial tournament thing, which also included the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. Saint John won two of the three meetings against Moncton.

Saint John will be major underdogs in this series, finishing 15th overall in the QMJHL with a 23-36-5-0 record for 51 points. The Sea Dogs were 1-7-0-0 against the Wildcats in the regular season.

This will be the Sea Dogs' first playoff appearance since the 2023-24 season. They have not won a playoff series since the 2017 QMJHL final.

Recap: Sea Dogs win 3-2

FINAL: Saint John 3, Cape Breton 2

JaimeLee Gouthro/Cape Breton Eagles

SYDNEY, NS - The Saint John Sea Dogs ended the regular season on a winning note on Saturday,

Angelo Fullerton scored a pair of goals against his former team to lead the Sea Dogs to a 3-2 win over the Cape Breton Eagles at Centre 200. Nolann Héroux scored Saint John's other goal while Rafael Courchesne made 24 saves in the win.

The Eagles opened the scoring but the Sea Dogs scored the next three to take a 3-1 lead in the third period. At 16:10 of the final frame, Reece Peitzsche scored to cut Saint John's lead to 3-2. Peitzsche had a couple other quality chances in the final couple minutes to net an equalizer but could not beat Courchesne.

Raoul Boilard scored Cape Breton's other goal. Connor Towle made 28 saves in the loss.

The victory ended a five-game losing streak for the Sea Dogs, who will begin post-season action on the road next weekend.

Sea Dogs still waiting on playoff opponent; University Cup, MHL updates

Mike Bernard/Charlottetown Islanders

MONCTON - It's the final day of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League regular season and the Saint John Sea Dogs won't know who their first round playoff opponent is until later today.

The Sea Dogs, who take on the Cape Breton Eagles at 3 p.m. in Sydney, are locked into the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference, meaning they'll face the No. 1 seed. Who that No. 1 seed will be is the big question.

The Moncton Wildcats enter the day with 102 points while the Chicoutimi Sagueneens are right behind them with 101. The Wildcats host the Charlottetown Islanders at 4 p.m. while the Sags host the Quebec Remparts at 5 p.m.

Here are the scenarios:

• If Moncton wins today, they'll clinch first and face the Sea Dogs in the first round. The Sagueneens' result is not relevant.
• If Moncton loses and Chicoutimi wins, the Sagueneens clinch first and will face the Sea Dogs in the first round.
• If the two teams end up tied (Moncton loses in extra time and Chicoutimi wins or Moncton loses in regulation and Chicoutimi loses in extra time), the Sagueneens clinch first and will face the Sea Dogs in the first round. Chicoutimi has the tie-breaker.
• Of course, if both teams lose today, the Wildcats will clinch first and face the Sea Dogs in the first round.

Moncton enters today's game on an eight-game winning streak.

The Sea Dogs were 1-7-0-0 against the Wildcats in the regular season and, oddly, 2-0-0-0 against the Sagueneens.

Recap: Sea Dogs lose 4-2

FINAL: Saint John 2, Cape Breton 4

JaimeLee Gouthro/Cape Breton Eagles

SYDNEY, NS - The losing streak continues for the Saint John Sea Dogs.

The Sea Dogs lost a fifth straight game on Friday night at Centre 200, falling 4-2 to the Cape Breton Eagles. The victory ended a six-game losing streak for the Eagles.

Saint John thought they had opened the scoring halfway through the first period when Bo Damphousse scored. But the goal was called back due to an offside – and the Eagles would take advantage, grabbing momentum and scoring twice to lead 2-0 after the first.

After a scoreless second period, Alexander Donovan scored on a power play at 6:59 of the third to get Saint John within one. The Eagles would respond with a man advantage goal of their own at 12:14, restoring Cape Breton's two-goal lead.

The Sea Dogs pulled goaltender Rafaël Courchesne with 3:34 left and the move paid off. At 17:00, Donovan netted his second of the game to get Saint John within one again. But the Eagles secured the win with an empty net goal at 18:14.

Shots in the third period were 14-2 in favour of Saint John.

Lucas Romeo scored twice for Cape Breton while Raoul Boilard and Eliot Litalien added singles. Felix Hamel made 35 saves in the win.

Courchesne made 19 saves in the loss.

These two meet again tomorrow afternoon at Centre 200 in the regular season finale for both teams.