Notebook: Veleno gets first playoff point

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Joe Veleno recorded his first career NHL playoff point on Sunday.

Veleno registered an assist on a Zachary Bolduc goal in the Montreal Canadiens' 6-2 Game 3 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Veleno played 12:18 in the game and also recorded one shot and five hits.

What is this pass from Logan Stanley pic.twitter.com/y2LE7mKtMq

— Rink Rat Report (@RinkRatReport) May 11, 2026

Veleno has played in all four games for the Habs in their second round series against the Sabres. This is his first career appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Canadiens and Sabres are tied 2-2 heading into Game 5 on Thursday in Buffalo.

FLAMES SIGN ALCHORN

The Saint John Flames of the Beausejour Senior Hockey League have announced another signing with Sea Dogs connections.

Forward Zachary Alchorn will play for the team this fall. He was the second player to sign with the club after former Sea Dogs forward Nick Blagden.

According to Elite Prospects, Alchorn hasn't played competitive level hockey since the 2023-24 season when he appeared in 14 games with the Southern Senior Hockey League's River Valley Rock.

The Grand Bay-Westfield native spent most of his junior career with the St. Stephen Aces/Fredericton Red Wings franchise. He appeared in 16 games with the Sea Dogs during the COVID season of 2020-21, recording three goals and two assists. He added a goal and four assists in six playoff games.

COYLE STAYS IN COLUMBUS

Former Sea Dogs forward Charlie Coyle is staying in Columbus.

The Blue Jackets announced Tuesday that they've signed Coyle "to a six-year, $36 million contract ($6 million AAV) through the 2031-32 season."

“Charlie made a tremendous impact on and off the ice for us last season and keeping him in Columbus was a priority,” said president of hockey operations and general manager Don Waddell in a news release. “He is the definition of a true pro, and a durable, reliable, productive right-shot center whose leadership, character and consistency are extremely valuable in this league.  We are thrilled that he will continue to be a very important part of the Columbus Blue Jackets for years to come.”

In his first season in Columbus, the 34-year-old had 20 goals and 38 assists in 82 games.

Coyle spent the second half of the 2011-12 season with Saint John, helping the club win a QMJHL championship.

USHL DRAFT AFTERMATH

A couple Sea Dogs prospects were selected early in the recent USHL Entry Draft.

Defenseman Matas Janulius, who was a 13th-round pick of Saint John in 2024, was taken in the first-round, 10th overall by Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. Forward Jamie Glance, meanwhile, who was a sixth-round pick of Saint John in 2024, was taken in the second-round, 32nd overall by the Green Bay Gamblers.

Former Sea Dogs defenseman Max Vilen was drafted in the ninth-round by the Youngstown Phantoms.

Quispamsis native Liam Kilfoil of the Halifax Mooseheads was selected by the Phantoms in the 13th-round.

A few notes from the USHL Futures Draft:

• Forward Jacob McKinnon, who was ranked sixth for QMJHL Entry Draft by Central Scouting, was selected in the ninth-round by the Chicago Steel.
• Forward Jackson Conroy, who was ranked 43rd by Central Scouting, was picked in the ninth-round by the Phantoms.
• Defenseman Julien Robichaud, projected to be a sixth- to eighth-round pick by Central Scouting, was taken in the 12th-round by the Omaha Lancers.
• Forward Thomas Boisvert, ranked first by Central Scouting, was taken in the 14th-round by the Gamblers.
• Robert Dekleine, who was given an 'A' rating by Central Scouting in the American player rankings, was drafted in the seventh-round by the Sioux City Musketeers. 

OTHER STUFF

• Caleb Desnoyers' goal just 20 seconds into Game 1 of the Gilles-Courteau Trophy final reminded me of the 2012 final between Saint John and the Rimouski Oceanic. Nathan Beaulieu opened the scoring 45 seconds into that game, which Saint John won 3-2 in double overtime.
• Chicoutimi defenseman Jordan Tourigny, who has three goals so far in the league final, is trying to secure a spot in his second career Memorial Cup. His first came in 2022 in Saint John where he recorded one goal in four games. The overager is committed to Northeastern University next season.
• Once again this season, the TSN play-by-play team is calling Gilles-Courteau Trophy final games remotely. The RDS team is on-site.
• Peter Loubardias, who was on the Sportsnet call for Saint John's first Memorial Cup championship in 2011, is doing play-by-play of the WHL final for TSN.
• Game 1 and 2 at Avenir Centre were not sold out. Tickets are not cheap with an adult seat costing $37. The Saguenéens, who are playing in the QMJHL final for the first time since 1997, say Games 3 and 4 sold out within 12 minutes.
• Journal de Montreal has an interview with QMJHL commissioner Marion Cecchini about possible actions the league can take to keep players around longer rather than leaving for the NCAA.
• Speaking of the CHL vs NCAA discourse, the OHL has created the below video to promote its league.

  Elite players are produced here🤝
  
  The #OHL provides junior hockey players with the best opportunity to achieve their best potential. pic.twitter.com/sfJB9KO2AR

  — Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) May 11, 2026

• Former Sea Dogs forward Aiden MacIntosh and the Evansville Thunderbolts are Southern Professional Hockey League champions. The Thunderbolts defeated the Peoria Rivermen 6-4 in the decisive Game 5 last Saturday. MacIntosh recorded a goal and three assists in 12 playoff games.
• A few NCAA commitments to mention:
• Moncton's Matthew Virgillio has committed to Yale University.
• Rouyn-Noranda's Axel Dufresne has committed to Clarkson University.
• Shawinigan's Felix Plamondon has committed to UMass-Lowell.
• Moncton's Kuzma Voronin is now committed to UMass-Lowell. He was previously committed to Maine.
• Halifax's Eddy Doyle has committed to Northeastern University.
• The NCDC, which had teams in St. Stephen and Woodstock this past season, will have a team in Perth-Andover, according to a news release about the league's 2026-27 conference setup. The Perth-Andover Bearcats will play in the Northeast Conference with the Lewiston MAINEiacs, Montreal Black Vees, Northern Maine Pioneers, Quebec Universal, St. Stephen County Moose, Thunder Hockey Club and Woodstock Slammers.