Notebook: Theme schedule announced

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

The Saint John Sea Dogs released their theme night schedule for the 2026-27 season earlier this week.

There are a few notable new themes, like Dia De Los Muertos (a popular theme in southern US markets), Hockey Benders takeover and Cirque de Sea Dogs.

The usual theme games are also returning, like Sea Dogs fight cancer, military appreciation, teddy bear toss and so on. 

Saint John will also have a 4 p.m. home game on Halloween. The Sea Dogs last played on Halloween in 2024 and had a season low crowd that night.

JOSEPH FIGHT

Here's better video of Alexis Joseph's third period fight on Friday in Cape Breton – the first of his QMJHL career.

The fight took place after Eagles defenseman Aiden McCullough put a hit on Sea Dogs forward Olivier Lemieux. Lemieux has not played since the hit.

CROTEAU TO BCHL

Former Sea Dogs defenseman Vincent Croteau has landed in the BCHL.

The Prince George Spruce Kings announced last week that Croteau has been added to the team's roster. The Sea Dogs recently traded the 19-year-old to the Sherbrooke Phoenix in the Brandon Delarosbil deal.

“Vincent is a player that we are very familiar with therefore we know that he is a great addition to our D core," said Spruce Kings general manager Mike Hawes in a news release. "He’s a big player that does everything well. We are excited that he’s joining us.” 

Croteau has appeared in two games with the Spruce Kings, registering four penalty minutes.

Croteau appeared in 41 games with the Sea Dogs last season, posting two goals and three assists. He had yet to appear in a game with the Phoenix.

Before joining the Sea Dogs, Croteau played three seasons in British Columbia at Shawinigan Lake School.

Other former Sea Dogs playing in the BCHL right now include goaltender Justin Robinson (Sherwood Park) along with defensemen John Lumsden (Cowichan Valley) and Carl-Otto Magnusson (Nanaimo).

BEAULIEU UPDATE

Jacob Beaulieu now has four points in seven games with the WHL's Swift Current Broncos.

Beaulieu posted a goal and an assist in Swift Current's 5-4 loss to the powerhouse Victoria Royals on Oct. 2. It was the second WHL goal the former Sea Dogs forward has scored with the Broncos this season.

Beaulieu also has 35 penalty minutes, which includes three fights.

Travis Crickard's squad is off to a 4-3-0-0 start. They're four games into a six-game British Columbia road trip, which still has stops in Kamloops and Prince George.

RENAUD SCORES FIRST

Former Sea Dogs forward Cole Renaud and the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies make their only regular season visit to Saint John on Friday.

Renaud, a sixth-round pick of Saint John in the 2025 QMJHL Entry Draft, appeared in one game with the Dogs last season. He's appeared in seven games with the Huskies this year and recorded his first career QMJHL goal on Sept. 25.

Et voici le premier de Cole Renaud 🔥 La reprise est une présentation du restaurant Superbol de Rouyn-Noranda #HuskiesRN #EnsemblePourLesHuskies https://t.co/it8yPJJZmv

— Huskies de Rouyn-Noranda (@HuskiesRn) September 26, 2026

The Huskies are on a big Atlantic road trip. They played two games in St. John's last weekend, visited Halifax on Thursday and will now face Saint John, Moncton and Charlottetown before heading home.

HLACAR SUSPENDED

Overage forward Matthew Hlacar, who was invited to Sea Dogs training camp but opted not to attend after finding a home with the Brantford Bulldogs, has been suspended eight games by the OHL.

The suspension was the result of this high stick in a game against the Peterborough Petes.

Here's the video of the high stick. Thanks @OMEGA_RAZER for the video. https://t.co/pNFPJ2gECt

— Madhouse on Market (@bbulldogsfan) September 26, 2026

Prior to the suspension, Hlacar recorded a goal and an assist in three games with the Bulldogs.

OTHER THINGS

• In Daily Faceoff's early season top-40 for the 2027 NHL Draft, Alexis Joseph was ranked ninth and Jamie Glance 28th.
• Sportslogos.net has a story on Saint John's new third jerseys.
• The CHL website is really hyping up the CHL USA Prospects Challenge. They had a profile of Joseph posted this past week.
• The Sea Dogs website has a feature on this year's team.
• Former Sea Dogs forward Chad Bellemare leads the Sherbrooke Phoenix in points with eight and has scored the team's second most goals with four. He's been held pointless in just one of Sherbrooke's six games.
• Former Sea Dogs forward William Yared has been held pointless and is a -9 in his first six games with the Shawinigan Cataractes. The Cataractes, who many predict will struggle this season, are 1-4-1-0 to start the year and have been outscored 35-16.
• William Dufour recently made his debut in the DEL with the Nürnberg Ice Tigers after missing the start of the year with an injury. The former Sea Dogs forward has a goal and an assist in three games.
• The Krayer brothers both have seven points in six games with the USHL's Tri-City Storm. Matthew Krayer has three goals and four assists while Dylan has two goals and five helpers.
• Former Sea Dogs forward Peter Reynolds has been named an alternate captain of the UNB Reds for the 2026-27 season.
• Due to a fire in the Keating Centre's ice plant room, the StFX men's hockey team will play their three October home games at the nearby Antigonish Arena. StFX's roster includes former Sea Dogs Patrick Leaver, Tyler Peddle, Brandon Casey and Nathan Casey.