Notebook: Joseph ranked second in 2027 draft rankings

JaimeLee Gouthro/Cape Breton Eagles

The 2027 NHL Draft hype for Saint John Sea Dogs forward Alexis Joseph continues to grow.

In The Athletic's 2027 draft rankings that were released this week, Joseph was ranked second behind Everett Silvertips defenseman Landon Dupont.

"Joseph, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 QMJHL draft, is a big, strong, athletic, pro-built at an early age center with skill and a strong skating stride," writes Scott Wheeler. "He was dominant at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in November, leading Canada Red to gold and the tournament in goals with six in five games, and has been a top player on a rebuilding under-.500 team in Saint John this year, playing to above a point per game."

Joseph finished his rookie season with 24 goals and 36 assists in 54 games. He added three assists in four playoff games.

Sea Dogs draft picks Jamie Glance and Finnegan Sears were both honourable mentions in the rankings. Both played with the USNTDP this season. Glance is committed to Boston University for the 2027-28 season while Sears is committed to Boston College.

MCCALLUM TURNS PRO

Former Sea Dogs defenseman Kale McCallum has signed with the ECHL's Trois-Rivieres Lions, it was announced this week. He made his debut on Friday, recording two shots in a 2-1 win over the Maine Mariners.

McCallum spent this past season with the NCAA's Providence College Friars where he posted five goals and nine assists in 31 games.

The 24-year-old spent parts of the previous three seasons with the UNB Reds.

McCallum, who played with the Saint John Vito's and at Rothesay Netherwood, spent the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons with the Sea Dogs before being traded to the Val-d'Or Foreurs.

Notebook: Rare 3-in-3 for Sea Dogs

The Saint John Sea Dogs will play their only three-in-three of the entire season this weekend.

Traditionally, if the Sea Dogs were to be playing a three-in-three, it would likely take place on the road in Quebec. But times have changed. This three-in-three will be all home games with the third contest being played in a non-QMJHL venue.

The Sea Dogs will host the Charlottetown Islanders on Friday and the Cape Breton Eagles on Saturday with both of those games being played at TD Station. On Sunday, the Sea Dogs and Eagles will travel to Fredericton to play in the first regular season QMJHL game to take place in the city.

Tickets to Sunday's game are still available – but they are limited. 

The Sea Dogs will play three games at Fredericton's Aitken Centre this season. They'll also take on the Gatineau Olympiques on Thursday, Jan. 8 and the Baie-Comeau Drakkar on Sunday, Feb. 1.

NEW MASKS

Both Sea Dogs goaltenders recently debuted new masks, becoming the first netminders to sport the club's new logo.

Here's a look at Rafaël Courchesne's new mask. He had been wearing a green mask from his time with the Saint-Hyacinthe Gaulois.

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

And here's Justin Robinson's new look. He had been wearing his mask from last season which featured Saint John's 20th anniversary logo.

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

GUELPH LANDS MEMORIAL CUP

The Guelph Storm will host the 2027 Memorial Cup, the CHL announced last week.

The Storm have played in six Memorial Cup tournaments – most recently in 2019 in Halifax – and hosted the event in 2002. The Storm franchise has yet to win the trophy.

“We are thrilled to be bringing the 2027 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota to Guelph,” said CHL president Dan MacKenzie in a news release. “The Storm put forward an outstanding bid that showcased not only their organizational strength, but also the passion, vision, and community spirit that make the Royal City such a special junior hockey market. With the Memorial Cup returning to Guelph in the same year the city marks its bicentennial, fans can expect an unforgettable event that celebrates Guelph’s history and the tournament’s rich tradition, while providing a world-class experience for players, fans, and partners alike.”

Kelowna will host the 2026 Memorial Cup. The QMJHL will host in 2028.

Notebook: Mateiko signs ELC

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Just a few days after being reassigned to Saint John, the Washington Capitals have signed Sea Dogs forward Eriks Mateiko to a three-year, entry level contract.

According to the Capitals, "Mateiko's contract will carry an average annual value of $889,167" at the NHL level.

The Latvian was a third-round pick of the Capitals in this summer's NHL Draft. He has spent the past two seasons in Saint John and made his 2024-25 debut on Friday night in Charlottetown, recording one shot and a +1 rating. He played on Saint John's top line with Tyler Peddle and Ben Cross.

The 18-year-old also worn an 'A' on his sweater Friday and is likely a strong candidate to be the team's captain this season.

HATTIE FOR PEDDLE

Welcome back Tyler Peddle.

The 19-year-old recorded his second career QMJHL hat trick in his 2024-25 regular season debut on Friday, leading the Sea Dogs to a 6-2 win over the Charlottetown Islanders.

Peddle seems to enjoy playing against the Islanders. He recorded four goals and an assist in six meetings with Charlottetown last season.

The Columbus Blue Jackets prospect picked up where he left off. Peddle ended the 2023-24 regular season with eight goals in his final 10 games.

Friday night news & notes

Major junior hockey in Mississauga is no more.

The Ontario Hockey League has officially approved the relocation of the Mississauga Steelheads to Brampton where they will become the Brampton Steelheads. The two rinks are located less than 10 minutes from each other (pictured).

Brampton's CAA Centre has been without the OHL since the Battalion moved to North Bay in 2013. The move probably won't help the Steelheads' woeful attendance much, but it's believed to be a much more financially friendly lease arrangement. 

Mississauga's Paramount Fine Foods Centre – previously the Hershey Centre – is where the Saint John Sea Dogs won their first Memorial Cup in 2011. The Steelheads franchise was then known as the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors.

The Steelheads will play their first game in Brampton on Sept. 27 against the Brantford Bulldogs.

A few other news and notes...

• The Sea Dogs website recaps the team's QMJHL Entry Draft, which includes a few comments from general manager Anthony Stella.
• Oak View Group, the company that manages TD Station, will soon manage the Saint John Trade and Convention Centre, reports Country 94.
• The Quebec Remparts could host next year's QMJHL Entry Draft, reports le Soleil. The Remparts last hosted in 2019 when the Sea Dogs selected Joshua Roy first overall.
• There's going to be plenty of attention on the 2025 QMJHL Entry Draft (and the tanking that will come with it) with Alexis Joseph expected to be taken first overall. Joseph is considered by many to be the best Quebec prospect since Alexis Lafreniere.
• The Halifax Mooseheads have named Andrew Lord the team's new head coach. Lord was the head coach and general manager of the ECHL's Greenville Swamp Rabbits. He is the reigning ECHL coach of the year.
• Times are good in Cape Breton. General manager Sylvain Couturier has signed a "multi-year" contract extension with the club, which is coming off a trip to the league semifinals.
• The WHL's Kelowna Rockets have made it known that they are bidding to host the 2026 Memorial Cup. The Rockets were set to host the 2020 event that was cancelled by the pandemic.
• Flames Nation looks back on the season former Sea Dogs defenseman Yan Kuznetsov had, which included an NHL call up.
• Gold Canada executive Bryan Crawford has been named the new commissioner of the OHL, replacing the retiring David Branch. All three CHL leagues will have relatively new commissioners next season.
• The OHL regular season will begin a week later than the QMJHL's. The OHL is expected to release its full schedule on Monday.