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| Jeff Parsons/Newfoundland Regiment |
The Sea Dogs scored three power play goals in a 4-2 season opening victory over the Newfoundland Regiment on Friday at Mary Brown's Centre. It's the first time the Sea Dogs have ever defeated the Regiment after going 0-6-2-0 against the club last season.
Friday's victory also marked the first Sea Dogs win in Newfoundland since Jan. 3, 2008.
Dylan Rozzi got things started by scoring two power play goals in the opening frame. Ryan Howard and Alexander Donovan also had Saint John goals. Samuel Meloche, in his Sea Dogs debut, carried a shutout into the third period and made 25 saves in the victory.
Matthew Frost and Dmitry Kubantsev scored for the Regiment. Louis-Antoine Denault, who went 6-0 against the Sea Dogs last season, made 35 stops in the loss.
Saint John looked quite good for much of this game. The team looked better defensively than last season and generated some strong offensive chances. The Dogs definitely could have added a few more goals in this game.
The Sea Dogs were very good on special teams, going 3/5 on the power play and a perfect 4/4 on the penalty kill.
It's just one game, but this is certainly a promising start to the Jim Hulton era. But... the Sea Dogs have also had some strong starts in recent seasons. The big test awaits: can this level of play be sustained – and improved.
LINEUP
Morin - Joseph - Glance
Rozzi - Groulx - Donovan
Howard - Seymour - Lemieux
Ozogany - Gauthier - Cancik
Lanthier - Chartrand
Delarosbil - Damphousse
Williams - Charbonneau
Meloche
Courchesne
SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without forward Logan Roop (healthy) along with defensemen Olivier Duhamel (injury), Oskar Drabczynski (healthy) and Jesse Dunlap (healthy).
NOTES: Jamie Glance, Lawrence Williams, Matyas Cancik and Oliver Ozogany all made their QMJHL debuts in this game... Ryan Howard, Thomas Charbonneau, Julien Lanthier, Brandon Delarosbil, Olivier Lemieux and Samuel Meloche all made their Sea Dogs debuts... the Regiment were without Will Reynolds due to NHL camp (Seattle) and recently signed import Nikita Bloch (injury)... Newfoundland premier Tony Wakeham took part in the ceremonial puck drop... like they did in the pre-season, the Sea Dogs' top power play unit consisted of five forwards: Glance, Alexis Joseph, Olivier Groulx, Alexander Donovan and Zachary Morin... Dylan Rozzi's first goal was the first goal scored in the 2026-27 QMJHL season... Ozogany and Cameron Chartrand each had five shots. Ozogany had three shots in the first period alone... Maddex Marmulak scored in the third period but, following a review, the goal was overturned for an offside... Canick and Glance each recorded assists in this game. It's the first QMJHL points for both... attendance was 5,996.
HIGHLIGHTS
NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs and Regiment meet again tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at Mary Brown's Centre.
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