Notebook: Calder Cup final tied 1-1

Ian Yount

The AHL's Calder Cup final is heading to British Columbia tied 1-1.

The Charlotte Checkers tied the best-of-seven series with a 3-2 overtime win on Sunday. This comes after the Abbotsford Canucks took Game 1 by a final score of 4-3 in double overtime.

The next three games will all be played in Abbotsford beginning with Game 3 on Tuesday night.

Riley Bezeau is the lone Saint John Sea Dogs alumnus on either roster. He was serving a one-game suspension for a checking-to-the-head major penalty in Game 1 and did not dress for Game 2.

Bezeau has appeared in four playoff games with the Checkers, recording three goals.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

The Sea Dogs announced that they are looking to fill a number of game day operations positions for this coming season.

One of those openings includes a mascot performer. The team is looking for someone to "embody the spirit and character of Fleaburn, the team’s mascot." The requirements include "strong communication skills (non-verbal)."

The team is also looking for videoboard operators and game day staff. 

Sea Dogs prospects drafted into MHL

MHL

Three Saint John Sea Dogs prospects were selected in Saturday's Maritime Hockey League Draft.

Saint John Vito's forward Eliot Tozer, who was a 12th-round pick of the Sea Dogs in this year's QMJHL Entry Draft, was taken with the first pick of the second-round (13th overall) by the Bouctouche-based West Kent Steamers.

Tozer was the first player from the Vito's picked on Saturday. Forward Brock Lyons, the younger brother of former Sea Dogs forward Kiefer Lyons, was drafted by the Amherst Ramblers with the next pick. Lyons was not selected in the QMJHL Entry Draft despite Central Scouting projecting him as a fourth-round pick.

Two Sea Dogs prospects were taken in the eighth-round. Rothesay Netherwood defenseman Jesse Dunlap, a fourth-round pick of the Sea Dogs this year, was taken 88th overall by the Bathurst-based Chaleur Lightning while Kensington Wild goaltender Jase MacPherson, a second-round pick of the Sea Dogs, was selected 95th overall by the Summerside Western Capitals.

Newfoundlander Ethan Jones of the East Coast Blizzard was drafted first overall by the Valley Wildcats. The full draft results can be found on the MHL website.

The QJHL also held its draft on Saturday. Defenseman Benjamin Amyot, who has spent the past two seasons with the Sea Dogs, was taken in the second-round, 17th overall by the Valleyfield Braves.

MacDougall named CHL Coach of the Year

Gardiner MacDouagll was named the CHL Coach of the Year on Friday.

MacDouagll, who led the Saint John Sea Dogs to the 2022 Memorial Cup title, guided the Moncton Wildcats to a QMJHL championship in his first year as head coach.

From the CHL:

Named in recognition of former Ottawa 67s head coach and the CHL’s all-time winningest coach Brian Kilrea, the Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award is presented annually to the Canadian Hockey League’s top coach. Gardiner MacDougall becomes the first head coach in Moncton Wildcats history to win the CHL Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award. In his debut QMJHL season, MacDougall led the Wildcats to a 53-9-2-0 record and a .844 points percentage – eighth-best all-time in the QMJHL and 10th-best in the CHL since 2000. Under his guidance, Moncton captured the Jean-Rougeau Trophy as QMJHL regular season champions for the first time since 2005–06. Their CHL-best defensive showing (2.25 goals-against average) ranked fifth in QMJHL history, while their 144 goals against tied for the 11th-fewest in CHL history. The Wildcats also led the CHL in goal differential (+150), regulation losses (9), and penalty kill (86.4%), while setting franchise records in wins (53), points (108), regulation losses, goals against, and points percentage.

According to the CHL, he joins Craig Hartsburg (1994-95) and Gerard Gallant (2009-10) as the only coaches to win the award in their first season. Gallant, who is a PEI native like MacDougall, won the award as head coach of the Sea Dogs. He also won the award the following season.

The long-time head coach of the UNB Reds, MacDougall won U Sports coach of the year honours three times with the latest coming in 2023-24.

It will be interesting to see what MacDougall and the Wildcats are like next season. In normal times they'd likely be heading for a rebuild, but the team has gotten some American commitments in recent weeks and announced the return of goaltender (and Yale commit) Rudy Guimond on Friday.

QMJHL players to win awards on Friday included Mathieu Cataford of the Rimouski Oceanic (CHL Scholastic Player of the Year) and Maxwell Jardine of the Charlottetown Islanders (CHL Humanitarian Player of the Year).

Medicine Hat Tigers forward Gavin McKenna was named CHL Player of the Year. It's still unclear where he'll play next season despite speculation that he is leaning towards a commitment to Penn State.

Notebook: Changes coming to Station Street

Big changes are coming to Station Street – changes that will definitely impact traffic flow to and from Saint John Sea Dogs games.

Bike lanes are being added from the ball hockey pad all the way down Station Street and onto City Road, essentially connecting the Harbour Passage to the walking bridge. The change will see Station Street reduced from four lanes to three.

From the city's press release:

In 2025, Station Street and City Road, stretching from Smythe Street to just east of the Stanley Street pedestrian bridge, will undergo a road diet, transforming the current four-lane roadway into a more efficient and accessible space for all users. This project will convert the existing four vehicle lanes into three, introducing dedicated bike lanes on both sides of the road alongside the curb. The remaining three vehicle lanes will accommodate two through lanes, one in each direction, and a center turning lane for motorists.

The city adds that "traffic studies confirm that the lane reductions will maintain acceptable service levels, ensuring smooth vehicle flow while repurposing historically overbuilt roadway space."

We'll see how this change goes, although the TD Station parking lot seems to be a lot less popular these days due to the increased costs in recent years.

FUTURE MEM CUPS

Le Soleil reports that, at this time, three teams have expressed interest in hosting the 2028 Memorial Cup: Moncton, Quebec and Gatineau.

The only issue for a potential Moncton bid is where the team will be at in their cycle come 2028. Quebec and Gatineau, both in the early stages of a rebuild, could very well be at the top of the league in three years.

All three franchises have hosted previously but none have done so in their new buildings.

The 2026 Memorial Cup will be held in Kelowna while the 2027 edition will be hosted by an OHL city. Notably, le Soleil also reports that the tournament format could change come 2027.

Sea Dogs sign free agent Donovan

Saint John Sea Dogs

The Saint John Sea Dogs are the latest Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League team to dip their toe into the American free agent market.

The Sea Dogs announced Wednesday the signing of 18-year-old forward Alexander Donovan to a QMJHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. The Connecticut native is eligible for this year's NHL Draft and is ranked 197th amongst North American skaters by Central Scouting.

“As we continue to shape our roster for next season we are delighted to announce the signing of Alex Donovan,” said Sea Dogs head coach and general manager Travis Crickard in a news release. “Alex has demonstrated scoring punch and a winning mentality in helping his Shattuck St. Mary’s team win the U18 National Championship last season along with his international experience. He is a quick, gritty player with a high level of hunger to improve who Sea Dogs fans will enjoy watching.”

In 58 games with Shattuck St. Mary’s in US Prep play last season, Donovan posted 45 goals and 46 assists. It was his fourth season at the prestigious hockey school.

Donovan also appeared in two USHL games with the Sioux Falls Stampede last season.

Listed at 5'11" and 170 lbs, Donovan played with Team USA at last year's Hlinka Gretzky Cup where he recorded a goal and four assists in five games, finishing in a tie for the team's scoring lead.

The forward is committed to the NCAA's University of Denver for the 2026-27 season, one of college hockey's best programs in recent years. He was selected first overall by the Acadie-Bathurst Titan in the 2023 QMJHL American Draft.

Donovan's time with the Sea Dogs may be short, but he could add some serious offensive firepower to a team that struggled to score last season. The Sea Dogs finished with a league low 2.38 goals per game.

Saint John is looking much stronger offensively to start this season compared to how they ended the last with the additions of Donovan; at least a couple forwards from their 2025 QMJHL Entry Draft class; their returning players; plus the potential for more impact adds through the CHL Import Draft and free agency.

NCDC expansion teams have names, logos

Charlotte County's new junior hockey teams now have names and logos.

The NCDC officially announced Tuesday that the St. Stephen-based franchise will be called the St. Croix Seawolves while the Blacks Harbour-based squad will be named the Eastern Charlotte Kingfishers. Both teams have the same owner, Ted Colley.

From the NCDC:

The Seawolves name was submitted by a resident of Lachine, Que. Season tickets were awarded to the winners of both team-naming contests, but as the resident lived far from St. Croix, N.B., that winner was happy to see the season tickets instead go to a member of the St. Croix community.

The Kingfishers were the name of a local minor hockey team more than 30 years ago. That name was submitted three times, so there was an extra draw to select the winner of the season tickets.

Both teams will play in the New England Division of the NCDC, along with the fellow expansion Woodstock Slammers and Presque Isle Frontiers. The league has an updated footprint on their website.