Eichel Shoots Down Rumours

Eichel: "I'll shoot it down right now. I love BU and have no plans on going anywhere."
— Hockey East (@hockey_east) December 20, 2014

Eichel answering @smclaughlin9 in pressed on the Q rumors: "I don't plan on going anywhere the second half of the year."
— Mike McMahon (@MikeMcMahonCHN) December 20, 2014

So there’s that.

Team USA defeated Boston University 5-2 in world junior pre-tournament action tonight in Boston.

Notebook: The Trading Begins

Today’s the day – the QMJHL’s holiday trading period has arrived.

For those asking, #QMJHL office will begin processing & then posting trades tomorrow at 9am ET / 10 ATL.
— John Moore (@rinkrant) December 18, 2014

Deals be going down, son. Trades can be tracked here.

THN ON EICHEL

The Hockey News’ Ryan Kennedy has a really good piece on the Jack Eichel situation. Basically, common sense says it is very unlikely Eichel leaves Boston University for the CHL.

You should read it.

Eichel and Team USA play the Terriers at BU tonight at 8:30 p.m.

CJ ON EICHEL RUMOURS

DRAFT RANKINGS

HockeyProspect.com released their latest preliminary rankings for the 2015 QMJHL Entry Draft yesterday.

The website lists Chateauguay forward Maxime Comtois as the top player available.

“Comtois is a great talent and was a unanimous choice as our top prospect,” HockeyProspect.com writes. “He’s a good skater who can play on both wings, already has good size and has outstanding vision and a great touch around the net.”

Forward Shane Bowers of the Halifax McDonalds was the only Atlantic Canadian to crack the top 10, being ranked second. He is “without a doubt the top player from Atlantic Canada this season.”

Antoine Morand of Chateauguay rounds out the top three. The top 10 can be seen for free on HockeyProspect.com.

Podcast Stirs Up Eichel Rumours

Sportsnet’s new CHL podcast “Junior” got the internet all fired up today with this tweet.

Lot's of talk/speculation about Jack Eichel leaving BU for Saint John of the Q after the WJC on the 'Junior' podcast today. Will be up soon.
— Junior (@SNetJunior) December 17, 2014

The podcast can be heard online here and also downloaded on iTunes.

On the show, hosts Jeff Marek and Sam Cosentino discussed rumours that Jack Eichel will leave Boston University and join the Sea Dogs following the world juniors. These rumours have, apparently, been heating up over the past few weeks after a couple months of relative silence.

“I’ve heard that from a couple of different, pretty good sources,” Cosentino said about the rumours.

“This isn’t just one person. I’ve heard it from three different people now – all [of whom] I would consider to be good sources.”

Cosentino and Marek then said that playing a pro-like schedule for the second half of the season would be beneficial, especially where it is unlikely Eichel will be playing anywhere but the NHL next season.

They also praised the surprising the Sea Dogs.

“For me, they might be the best team in the league,” Cosentino said about the Sea Dogs if infused with Eichel’s presence.

But, there is also this tweet from the very reliable Mike McMahon of College Hockey News.

Seems silly that I even had to ask around (again) but told there's a 0.0% chance Eichel leaves for Saint John.
— Mike McMahon (@MikeMcMahonCHN) December 17, 2014

And from the Chronicle Herald’s Willy Palov.

Only way Eichel leaves BU for Saint John is if his grades affect his 2nd half eligibility, according to my sources. Not impossible but...
— Willy Palov (@WillyPalov) December 17, 2014

And for the record, Sea Dogs GM Darrell Young has been assured Eichel's grades are fine and has no expectation of seeing him Saint John.
— Willy Palov (@WillyPalov) December 17, 2014

Eichel is tied for the NCAA Division I scoring lead with eight goals and 19 assists in 16 games with Boston University. He’s currently with Team USA preparing for the World Junior Hockey Championship. Also, he’s ranked second by every major scouting publication for the 2015 NHL Draft. 

Notebook: The Ice Is Coming Along

It's beginning to look a lot like hockey season!! Early stages of the ice going in at Harbour Station! #SJSD10 pic.twitter.com/8cdSnGqreL
— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SeaDogsHockey) August 7, 2014

Training camp is almost here.

EICHEL SPEAKS

NHL.com has an article on Jack Eichel. In it, Adam Kimelman writes that Eichel “considered moving to the Canadian Hockey League -- the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League own his rights -- but college hockey was the more appealing option.”

From the article:

"You take into account all your options," said Eichel, who already has moved onto a campus that is about a 30-minute drive from his parents' home. "You can never put anything down. It's always about having options and keeping everything open. I never really ruled it out but I had known college is what I want to do. I made a commitment to Boston University and I plan on fulfilling that commitment and going there and playing college hockey. BU is the next step in my development and it's a better route for me at this time. I get to play against older players, the coaching staff is great. I like everything about it."

BU begins play on October 4 against none other than the St. Thomas Tommies. They make their only trip to Maine in mid-November.

NO NOEL ON U-18 TEAM

Sea Dogs forward Nathan Noel did not make Canada’sunder-18 squad for the upcoming Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament.

Noel finished selection camp with one assist and four penalty minutes in three games. His lone point came in Tuesday’s Red-White game when he earned an assist on a Blake Speers third period goal. Noel’s Team White won the game 3-2.

Six QMJHL players made the team: goaltender Callum Booth; defensemen Nicolas Meloche, Guillaume Brisebois, and Jeremy Roy; and forwards Anthony Beauvillier and Nicolas Roy.

Canada begins the tournament on Monday in Slovakia against Switzerland.

PRESIDENT ENTERING POLITICS

The big news of the day:

So it's official! I intend to secure the Federal @liberal_party nomination for the riding of Saint John - Rothesay on October 4th!
— Wayne Long (@WayneLongSJ) August 7, 2014

Best of luck to the Sea Dogs President.

Notebook: Mill Rats Staying In Saint John

The Saint John Mill Rats are sticking around.

The team announced at a press conference this afternoon that they will be moving towards a community-owned model, which will keep the basketball squad playing at Harbour Station for at least the next two seasons.

"Members of the Southern New Brunswick basketball community reached out to us to help make sure the team is here for future generations," said Mill Rats President & General Manager Ian McCarthy. "They are assembling an entity that will acquire ownership in the Mill Rats over the coming months."

According to a press release, the group is in formation and seeking additional members.

TRURO TICKETS

Tickets to the Saint John Sea Dogs’ pre-season game in Truro are now on sale.

From the Halifax Mooseheads website:

Tickets for the Halifax Mooseheads preseason game versus the Saint John Sea Dogs in Truro are on sale now. The game will take place at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre on Saturday, August 23rd at 7p.m. Tickets are available online at Ticketpro.ca or in person at the R.E.C.C. for $8.50.

According to the Moose site, last year’s contest in Truro featured a packed house of roughly 3,200 fans. The game is a fundraiser for Truro Minor Hockey.

THE NEXT HUBERDEAU?

The Score has an article on how Jonathan Drouin hopes to follow in Jonathan Huberdeau’s footsteps.

Like Huberdeau, Drouin was sent back to junior for additional seasoning after being a high NHL draft pick. Huberdeau had 72 points in 37 games in his final full season of junior while Drouin had 108 in 46 games.

Huberdeau, after the lockout ended, won the NHL’s rookie of the year award. Drouin, who is basically a lock to make the Bolts, will look to do the same.

THE NEXT BIG THING?

Could Tomas Jurco become a star in the NHL? That’s a question, using advanced statistics, the Red Wings blog Winging it in Motown examined last week.

Jurco played in 36 games with the Red Wings last season, recording eight goals and seven assists.

Notebook: Eichel Unlikely To Report

The chances of Jack Eichel reporting to the Sea Dogs continue to look very slim.

In an interview with John Moore, Sea Dogs general manager Darrell Young gave everyone an update on Eichel watch.

Eichel, a top prospect for the 2015 NHL Draft, is committed to play at Boston University this fall.

SISKA UPDATE

Some positive news regarding Juraj Siska was revealed this week.

Young told the Telegraph-Journal on Tuesday (paywall) that the Slovakian centre recently passed a medical test that would allow him to play professionally in his native land. Young added that the import pick is scheduled to come to Saint John training camp for further medical evaluation.

The 18-year old was chosen by the Sea Dogs with the ninth overall pick in the 2013 CHL Import Draft but did not play last year due to a neck injury.

MEET THE IMPORTS

In his Friday column in the Chronicle Herald, Willy Palov takes a look at the QMJHL’s incoming import class. It’s looking like this is going to be a talented group.

Palov also notes that the Red Line Report lists Sea Dogs defenseman Jakub Zboril, the fifth overall pick in this year’s CHL Import Draft, at No. 32 for the 2015 NHL Draft.

WECKWORTH JOINS RAVENS

Former Sea Dogs defenseman David Weckworth will play for the Carleton University Ravens this season.

“David’s size and skating ability were evident when we scouted him this season,” Ravens head coach Marty Johnston said in an article on the team’s website. “I think that those skills will help us continue to push the attack from our d-core again this season. After talking to teammates and coaches, we feel that David will be a very positive influence on campus and in the Carleton community.”

Weckworth played with the Sea Dogs the past two seasons. As an overager last season, the Ottawa native registered two goals and 13 assists in 64 games.

The Ravens also feature former Sea Dogs defenseman Jason Seed.

News & Notes: Taking It Outdoors

The QMJHL and Shawinigan Cataractes announced on Wednesday that they will hold two outdoor games this coming January.

The two games will be played at the Saint-Tite Western Festival on Friday, January 23 against the Victoriaville Tigres and on Saturday, January 24 against the Quebec Remparts.

"This is the first time in league history that QMJHL players will play outside," said Commissioner Gilles Courteau in a release. “Outdoor games are great gathering events for a community and I'm sure the Shawinigan Cataractes, the oldest franchise in the League, will organize two great events. In addition, I would like to thank the Tigres and the Remparts who will collaborate in these inaugural games."

While outdoor games are new to the QMJHL, they have happened in the CHL before. But Shawinigan’s will be interesting because of its smaller scale. The facility will reportedly hold around 7,500 people.

If these games are a success, there will no doubt be more outdoor matches played in the Q in the future. From a Maritimes perspective, Moncton Stadium is by far the best option for a roofless contest. Having a weekend outdoors featuring Wildcats/Sea Dogs, Wildcats/Mooseheads, and maybe even an AUS or MHL game sounds pretty great. Just a thought.

Some other news and notes…

• Jimmy Murphy, an NHL writer and radio talk show host, tweets that Gerard Gallant will be named the next head coach of the Florida Panthers. I personally don’t consider Murphy a terrific source, but you can make your own decision on that matter.
• It was reported earlier this week that the Panthers job was down to Gallant, Dan Bylsma, and Marc Crawford.
• The Sea Dogs website has a solid article on Alex Grant.
• To the surprise of nobody, Jack Eichel has been invited to Team USA’s world junior team evaluation camp. The Eichel/McDavid showdown in New Year’s Eve is going to be something.
• The MHL released the full results of their QMJHL Supplementary Draft today. Former Sea Dogs forward Nicolas Hebert was picked by the St. Stephen County Aces.
• The NHL Draft is next Friday and Saturday in Philadelphia.

Notebook: The Telus Cup Is Coming

Via John Moore, here’s Luke Green getting selected first overall by Jonathan Huberdeau and the Sea Dogs.

TELUS CUP

If you haven’t heard, the Saint John Vito’s will host the 2016 Telus Cup at the qplex. Hockey Canada made the announcement last weekend.

The national major midget hockey championship will take place from April 18-24 in 2016. The tournament could feature plenty of future NHLers along with prospects for the 2016 QMJHL Entry Draft.

Along with the Telus Cup, the Saint John area could be hosting the Memorial Cup in 2017. Good times ahead.

THE AMERICANS

SB Nation’s college hockey blog offered some analysis on each American taken in last weekend’s QMJHL Entry Draft. The Dogs picked two Americans – forwards Monte Graham and Lincoln Griffin from Thayer Academy.

“The Hanover, Mass. native has very good vision on the ice and could be a terrific playmaker as his career progresses,” writes Jeff Cox about Graham.

“The Northeastern recruit out of Walpole, Mass. possesses great setup skills and can be an impact offensive player,” Cox notes about Griffin.

The Chronicle Herald's Willy Palov notes in his latest column that Graham and Charlie Coyle are cousins. "That connection should assure Graham’s presence in Saint John in August, and it wouldn’t even surprise me to see his Thayer Academy teammate, Lincoln Griffin, the Sea Dogs’ 14th-rounder, join him," writes Palov.

MHL

Only three Maritime Junior ‘A’ Hockey League players were selected in last weekend’s QMJHL Entry Draft. Two of them were picked by the Sea Dogs.

Valley Wildcats netminder Blade Mann-Dixon was selected in the 11^th round by the Sea Dogs while Campbellton Tigers forward Francis Theriault was taken in the 13^th round. The other MHL player picked was Woodstock Slammers forward Peter Woulds who was taken in the 11^th round by the Gatineau Olympiques.

TESSIER

The Shawinigan newspaper Le Nouvelliste has an article on the Sea Dogs picking Julien Tessier in the first round. He is compared to former Shawinigan Cataractes forward and current Montreal Canadien Michael Bournival.

Tessier had seven goals and 21 points in 38 regular season games this past season with the Trois-Rivieres Estacades of the Quebec Midget AAA League. He added four goals and nine points in five playoff games.

Notebook: Friday Trading Aftermath

SHERBROOKE, Que. - On Friday, the Sea Dogs officially picked up the 15^th overall pick from Charlottetown, meaning the Dogs now have two first-round picks for Saturday's draft.

Having two first-round picks in nothing new for Saint John. The Sea Dogs selected twice in 2007 (Simon Despres and Steven Anthony), 2009 (Pierre Durepos and Jonathan Huberdeau), 2012 (Matthew Highmore and Olivier LeBlanc) and 2013 (Nathan Noel and Will Thompson).

Of note, each time the Dogs have had two first rounders they picked a forward and a defenseman.

COOPER AFTERMATH

Islanders general manager Grant Sonier told The Guardian that he believes the price his club paid to acquire Oliver Cooper was appropriate.

“People might suggest we paid a lot for him, I’m going to suggest otherwise," Sonier said. "To go through the league and find six-foot-three, 30-goal scorers that have character, it’s a very short list.”

Cooper led Saint John in scoring last season with 28 goals and 29 assists in 68 games. With Cooper gone, Matthew Highmore is the only returning player that had over 40 points (he had 50 in 68 games).

YOUNG SPEAKS

The Sea Dogs website has a solid interview with Sea Dogs general manager Darrell Young conducted by Tim Roszell. In the interview, Young discusses each deal, some of the free agents that are coming in for training camp, and offers an early outlook on next year’s squad.

GOLF

.@seadogshockey coach Ross Yates, assts. Jeff Cowan and Greg Leland, and Gov. Joe Richard at Q Draft golf tourney!! pic.twitter.com/av1fchPMOy
— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SeaDogsHockey) May 30, 2014

CHILLER

The federal government helped fund a new ice plant chiller at Harbour Station and they want you to know about it. The thing is quite expensive.

“The Government of Canada, through ACOA, is investing $81,497 under the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund (CIIF), while the Harbour Station Commission is contributing $126,829,” states a press release.

That’s literally cool news, I guess.

Notebook: Memorial Cup Begins Tonight

The 2014 MasterCard Memorial Cup begins tonight with the host London Knights taking on the Val-d’Or Foreurs, the champions on the QMJHL.

London has not played in 34 days. Val-d’Or clinched the President’s Cup on Tuesday night in Baie-Comeau. It’s going to a battle between the rested and the fresh.

Tonight’s game starts at 8pm and can be seen on Sportsnet.

Over at Yahoo Sports, former Sea Dogs forward and Memorial Cup veteran Stephen MacAulay offered his advice for those playing in this year’s tournament.

LEBLANC

Sea Dogs defenseman Olivier LeBlanc was among the players invited to the annual NHL Draft Combine.

According to NHL.com, “Dan Marr, the director of NHL Central Scouting, is anticipating the attendance of 119 players, including 101 North Americans, at the Combine from May 26-31.”

LeBlanc had seven goals and 26 assists in 56 games this past season. Saint John has not had a player selected in the NHL Draft since five were picked in 2011.

THE HABS

Nathan Beaulieu, Gerard Gallant, and the Montreal Canadiens are off to the Eastern Conference Final after eliminating the Boston Bruins in Game 7 on Wednesday night. The Habs will face the New York Rangers in the third-round.

Beaulieu registered his second assist of the playoffs in Game 7, helping setup Daniel Briere’s goal late in the third period to secure the win. As you’d expect, Beaulieu didn’t play a whole lot in the game, seeing just 7:57 of ice time. Milan Lucic did not appear to threaten his life in the hand shake line, which is great.

Premier David Alward watched at Rocky’s Sports Bar and was sporting a Beaulieu jersey.

@RockysSportsBar Where were you when @CanadiensMTL scored their second goal? We were with @PremierNB pic.twitter.com/eC5H9dsKB3
— Rockys (@RockysSportsBar) May 15, 2014

The Conference Final begins tomorrow.

Notebook: QMJHL Final Begins Tonight

The 2014 President’s Cup Final begins tonight as the Baie-Comeau Drakkar host the Val-d’Or Foreurs for Game 1.

It’s the first time since Drummondville and Shawinigan met in 2009 that the QMJHL final does not feature a Maritime team.

In the season series, the Drakkar went 2-0-1-0 against the Foreurs while Val-d’Or was 1-2-0-0 against Baie-Comeau.

WILD OFF TO CONFERENCE SEMIS

Charlie Coyle had an assist in Wednesday’s classic 5-4 Minnesota Wild Game 7 overtime victory over the Colorado Avalanche to advance to the second-round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Coyle assisted on Mikko Koivu’s first period goal that tied the game at 1-1 at the time. It was an eventful period for the former Sea Dog as he also got a nasty cut on his chin via a shot to the face. He left the game but did return for the second period.

@Russostrib #15zippers pic.twitter.com/kvlBKPwdWk
— nate skinner (@skinnat19) May 2, 2014

Coyle also had four hits and a shot in 14:59 of ice time. In the series he recorded a solid three goals and two assists.

The Wild begin their Western Conference semi-final series against the Blackhawks in Chicago tonight. NHL.com says Coyle could be an x-factor.

#EICHELWATCH

In Le Soleil this week, Quebec Remparts general manager and head coach Philippe Boucher confirmed he tried to acquire Jack Eichel’s rights this past Christmas and will try to acquire them again.

Also this week, Eichel signed a letter of intent to play at Boston University this fall but that doesn’t change a whole lot from a Saint John/QMJHL standpoint.

The United States of Hockey has a big time article on Eichel.

Eichel Signs BU Letter Of Intent

Extremely excited to officially sign my letter of intent to play hockey at Boston University. #Terriers http://t.co/oW6S1fhaNe
— Jack Eichel (@Jack_Eichel11) April 30, 2014

Jack Eichel tweeted tonight that he has signed a letter of intent to play college hockey at Boston University next season.

As Mike McMahon noted on Twitter, the signing shows Eichel's commitment to play NCAA hockey ay BU but, from a Sea Dogs and QMJHL perspective, doesn't change much. He could still jump ship at any time and play junior.

On News 95.7 tonight, Sea Dogs general manager Darrell Young once again said he is open to trading Eichel's rights. Logic says the Memorial Cup hosting Quebec Remparts will have interest.

Remparts Named Memorial Cup Host

If you haven’t heard, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League awarded Quebec City the 2015 Memorial Cup tournament today.

The Remparts and Chicoutimi Sagueneens were the only teams to bid on the tournament. The selection committee chose Quebec “based on the fact that their bid had all the elements from top to bottom to convince us that they would present an excellent 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup: great hockey team, good organizing committee and superior installations.”

Today’s decision could potentially be huge for the Saint John Sea Dogs. This certainly makes the Remparts an even more attractive destination for players next season. They’ve been able to attract plenty of top talent in the past and you have to wonder if they may try and land Jack Eichel, the American forward who is one of the top prospects for the 2015 NHL Draft.

The Sea Dogs currently hold Eichel’s rights, and although it would be awesome to see him playing in a Saint John jersey, the assets the team would get in return for trading him would be greatly beneficial in the team’s quest to peak in 2017. No matter where Eichel ends up playing next season he is likely in the NHL come the 2015-16 campaign.

But, y'know, maybe Eichel will fulfill his commitment to Boston University and spend the entire season there and none of this speculation will even matter. We shall see.

In related news, the Sagueneens said they are uncertain on whether or not they will bid on the 2017 Memorial Cup. The 2015 tournament will be the third straight time the QMJHL has awarded the tournament to a Quebec city so there will probably be some added pressure on the league to give it to a Maritime city come 2017. 

VIDEO: Hotstove Talks Eichel

Hockey Night in Canada’s Hotstove examined the Jack Eichel rumours tonight. The talk starts around the one-minute mark.

Nothing we all didn’t already know or assumed, really. Nice to see the HNIC crew is aware of Saint John’s situation regarding 2017, though.

More On Jack Eichel

This Jack Eichel stuff isn’t going away anytime soon. So let’s keep things going.

Here’s Sea Dogs general manager Darrell Young talking to Mooseheads broadcaster John Moore before Saturday’s game at Harbour Station.

If you have a Telus Webcast subscription, Young talked to Moore on News 95.7 during the first intermission of Saturday’s game. Interview starts at the 58:50 mark.

#EichelWatch Begins Again

It's Darrell Young’s first week as Sea Dogs general manager and he has already been thrown into the spotlight.

It was only a matter of time before the Jack-Eichel-to-the-CHL-rumours got started – and they got started in a big way today. TSN’s Bob McKenzie tweeted this afternoon that there is speculation that Eichel wants to play in the OHL and take on Connor McDavid. But that would be difficult with the Sea Dogs currently owning his CHL rights.

Saint John would have to place Eichel on waivers and then have every QMJHL team pass on him in order to go to the OHL. Crazier things have happened in the CHL, but Young assured fans that the Sea Dogs will not be letting Eichel, who could challenge for the first overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft, simply slip away.

"There is no way we're ever going to let him go to the Ontario Hockey League and I don't see any way he could get waived through our league," Young told College Hockey News. That article has plenty of interesting tidbits. Young hopes to meet with the Eichel family next week.

These rumours aren't going away any time soon - and they probably won't stop until after the World Juniors.

Some thoughts on this situation:

• If Eichel is in the CHL next year, there is just no way the Sea Dogs are not getting something. If he is with Saint John, that’s great. If he only wants to play for the Remparts, then they can send some quality draft picks Saint John’s way as payment for his rights.
• Wherever Eichel plays next season, it is probably for just one season. He’s real good. And, if the Remparts get the 2015 Memorial Cup, you’d have to think they’d want him even more. It’d be great having him play for the Dogs, but trading him might be best for the 2017 run.
• I’m surprised situations like this don’t happen more, and it’s one of the flaws with the CHL and their draft system. I don’t even know if there is a perfect fix to this.
• Boston University fans must just hate Saint John by now.
• Eichel was also pick in the 2013 KHL Draft! Let's not forget about that now!
• Some article links: College Hockey News, SB Nation, Buzzing The Net, and CJ’s video is up top
• Plenty of Sea Dogs fans have expressed their frustration with the team’s inability to get American players to report – and rightfully so. Other than Charlie Coyle, the team has had very little luck. Hopefully Young can change that.
• Young mentioned getting “a few good European players” again in the College Hockey News article. The Import Draft is going to be exciting.

Jack Eichel To OHL? [Update]

TSN’s Bob McKenzie went on Twitter this afternoon and dropped some bombs.

There are whispers elite 2015 prospect Jack Eichel may consider not going to BU if he could play head-to-head in OHL vs. Connor McDavid.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) March 7, 2014

But Eichel currently obliged to play in QMJHL if he goes jr instead of college. Halifax originally owned his rights, now it's Saint John.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) March 7, 2014

As McKenzie also noted, the only way Eichel could move to the OHL is if Saint John placed him on waivers and every other QMJHL team passed on him. That would seem unlikely, especially with the Quebec Remparts being the Quebec Remparts. But, as McKenzie also notes, far stranger things have happened in the CHL.

Eichel, who was a 10^th-round pick of the Sea Dogs in last year’s QMJHL Entry Draft, is expected to play at Boston University next season. There has been talk of him challenging Connor McDavid for the first overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens here, especially with Darrell Young now running the show in Saint John. With the exception of Charlie Coyle, the Sea Dogs have had little luck attracting American players despite the city being predominantly English speaking and an hour from the border.

SB Nation’s college hockey blog has a great rundown of everything.

On a side note, how great is Bob McKenzie? The guy knows how to spell Saint John correctly.

UPDATE: Darrell Young laughs at these rumours.

Spoke to Darrell Young, GM of the Saint John Seadogs: "There is no way we're ever going to let [Eichel] go to the Ontario Hockey League."
— Mike McMahon (@MikeMcMahonCHN) March 7, 2014

Sea Dogs Notebook

JURCO

Tomas Jurco made his NHL debut with the Detroit Red Wings in their 3-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday. The 20-year old had one shot and two hits in 16:45 of ice time. He also saw 1:27 of ice time on the power play.

Jurco, who leads the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins in scoring, was placed on the Wings top line with Pavel Datsyuk and Daniel Alfredsson.

“When I first find out I’m coming here I have no idea that I’m going to start with Pav and Alfie,” Jurco told NHL.com. “I just found out before the game and it was a great feeling. I think we played pretty well. We didn’t score but we had some chances. It’s an unbelievable experience for me. It’s experience that you take. I know what to expect from other games and I know where I should get better and where I’m at right now. Just to be here gives me a lot, just to know where I’m at right now.”

MLive.com also has an article on the Slovak’s debut, which includes Mike Babcock’s take on how he played. Also, he nearly took off Ben Bishop’s head.

EICHEL SPEAKS

NHL.com had an article on Jack Eichel and his invitation to attend the US national junior team selection camp.

Eichel, who is committed to Boston University for next season, also spoke about being selected twice in the QMJHL Entry Draft and picked in the KHL Draft. He was a 10^th-round selection of Saint John in the 2013 Q Draft.

"I try not to think about that too much," Eichel said. "I guess it just opens up more options for you, which is always nice, but I'm really excited to go to BU."

So there’s that.

PASSINGHAM

Former Sea Dogs goaltender Troy Passingham (pictured above) saw some action for the CIS squad that took on the Canadian National Junior Team in an exhibition match in Toronto earlier this week. Team Canada won the game 3-0.

The Hockey Canada boxscore is a little confusing but it looks like Passingham allowed two goals on 16 shots in the third period.

Passingham, who is now playing with the Ryerson University Rams, was 1-1 with a 3.02 GAA and 0.897 SV% in two games with Saint John in 2007-08.

Jack Eichel Named To US Camp Roster

Jack Eichel has been named to the US National Junior Team’s preliminary roster for the upcoming 2014 World Junior Hockey Championship.

Eichel was the only underage player named to the United States’ camp roster. 26 players will take part in a training camp in Minnesota beginning on December 15^th. They will then play two exhibition games in Sweden before naming their final 23-man roster on December 23^rd.

Considered a top prospect for the 2015 NHL Draft, Eichel has 12 goals and nine assists in nine United States Hockey League games with the US National Under-18 Team.

The 17-year old has committed to play at Boston University next year. He was a 10th round pick of the Sea Dogs in the 2013 QMJHL Entry Draft.

This has been your Jack Eichel Watch update for today.

November CSS List, Button's Rankings, And McKeznie On Eichel

Four members of the Saint John Sea Dogs have made Central Scouting’s November list of players to watch for the 2014 NHL Draft.

Sea Dogs centre Matthew Highmore, defenseman Oliver LeBlanc, and winger Spencer Smallman were all given a “C rating,” indicating a 4th/5th/6th round candidate. Centre Juraj Siska was also listed and given a “limited viewing” rating.

Highmore has five goals and nine assists for 14 points in 22 games and has been in the league’s top 10 in shots for most of the season. LeBlanc has four goals and 11 assists in 22 games while Smallman has five goals and five assists in 21 games. Siska has not played a game this year and it’s unclear when, or if, he will this season.

LeBlanc also made Craig Button’s latest draft rankings, coming in at 68^th. The TSN analyst has him one spot ahead of Sherbrooke’s Daniel Audette who was taken first overall in the 2012 QMJHL Entry Draft, the same draft LeBlanc was taken 11^th overall by Saint John.

Looking ahead to the 2015 NHL Draft, TSN’s Bob McKenzie had this to say about Sea Dogs property Jack Eichel in the latest Insider Trading column:

Everybody knows that the 2015 NHL draft is the so-called Connor McDavid draft and rightfully so. But keep an eye on Jack Eichel; a young American - a late 1996 birth date - who just tore up the Four Nations Cup in Finland. He had four goals and seven points in only three games for the Americans. He's slated to go to Boston University at some point. His CHL rights were initially owned by the Halifax Mooseheads but they dropped him when he committed to BU, and now the Saint John Sea Dogs hold his CHL rights. He's a big centre who could put points on the board.

I wouldn’t order that Eichel Sea Dogs just yet, but the Bob McKenzie didn’t exactly say that Eichel is 100% absolutely guaranteed for sure going to Boston University next year. So that’s something, right? RIGHT?

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation