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.

A few other news and notes...

• With two goals last night, Alexander Donovan now has 25 on the season. He is one goal away from tying the Sea Dogs franchise record for goals in a season by a rookie. Alexis Joseph, meanwhile, has 24.
• Everett Baldwin enters the day in a tie with Charlottetown's Marcus Kearsey for the league lead in goals by defensemen with 15.
• The semifinals are set at the University Cup. Saint Mary's will face Windsor at 1 p.m. while UNB will battle UQTR at 7 p.m. SMU advanced with a 4-3 overtime win over No. 1 ranked Saskatchewan on Thursday while UNB advanced with a 5-2 victory over Queen's last night.
• Université de Moncton's season came to an end yesterday afternoon with a 4-0 loss to UQTR. Former Sea Dogs forward Jeremie Jacob had one shot and a -1 rating in the loss.
• In the Maritime Junior Hockey League playoffs...
• The Amherst Ramblers now lead the Summerside Western Capitals 2-1 thanks to a 1-0 overtime win on Thursday. Game 4 is tonight in Summerside.
• With a 3-1 win on Friday, the Chaleur Lightning lead the Grand Falls Rapids 3-1 heading into Game 5 on Sunday in Grand Falls. Former Sea Dog Ben Cross had an empty net goal on Friday to secure the Lightning win.
• The other series have the Truro Bearcats leading the Pictou County Weeks Crushers 3-1 and the Edmundston Blizzard leading the West Kent Steamers 3-0.