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.

All six Atlantic teams have qualified for the playoffs. Here's a look at the first round matchups.

Eastern Conference

1. Moncton Wildcats vs. 8. Saint John Sea Dogs 

2. Chicoutimi Saguenéens vs. 7. Halifax Mooseheads 

3. Newfoundland Regiment vs. 6. Cape Breton Eagles 

4. Charlottetown Islanders vs. 5. Québec Remparts

Western Conference

1. Rouyn-Noranda Huskies vs. 8. Gatineau Olympiques 

2. Blainville-Boisbriand Armada vs. 7. Victoriaville Tigres 

3. Drummondville Voltigeurs vs. 6. Val-d’Or Foreurs 

4. Shawinigan Cataractes vs. 5. Sherbrooke Phoenix

The playoffs officially begin Thursday when the Cape Breton Eagles visit the Newfoundland Regiment.

New this year, teams will be reseeded in the second round based on the league's overall standings. Teams weren't reseeded until the third round in recent years.