Notebook: Over and out in Mississauga

The building where the Saint John Sea Dogs lifted the Memorial Cup for the first time hosted its final CHL game last Friday.

The Mississauga Steelheads fell 6-2 to the Sudbury Wolves in Game 5 of their first round playoff series, officially ending the team's run in Mississauga. The Steelheads will literally move down the road to Brampton for the 2024-25 season.

The Sea Dogs won the 2011 Memorial Cup at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre (then the Hershey Centre) when they defeated the host Mississauga St. Michael's Majors in the championship game.

It's certainly possible that the OHL will return to Mississauga one day — but it probably won't be quite awhile given how rough attendance has been during the Steelheads and Majors tenures.

IMAMA MAKES SENS DEBUT

Former Sea Dogs forward Boko Imama made his Ottawa Senators debut last Saturday.

Imama dropped the gloves with New Jersey's Kurtis MacDermid in the first period.

Welcome to the Ottawa Senators, Boko Imama. 👊 pic.twitter.com/tEQhPXmqWm

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 6, 2024

Imama was one of three former Sea Dogs playing for Ottawa in the game, joining Mathieu Joseph and Thomas Chabot.

The 27-year-old has spent most of this season withe AHL's Belleville Senators where he has three goals and seven assists in 53 games.

Top 10 Sea Dogs Memorial Cup Moments: #1 - Thomas lifts the trophy

(Ed. Note: In honour of 2022 Memorial Cup tickets going on sale to the general public, we've been counting down the top 10 Sea Dogs moments in Memorial Cup history. With tickets now on sale, here's the exciting finale!)

#1 - Mike Thomas lifts the Memorial Cup

The top moment in Saint John Sea Dogs Memorial Cup history is the most obvious.

The Sea Dogs became the first team from Atlantic Canada to win the trophy after a 3-1 win over the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors in the 2011 championship game.

New Maryland native Mike Thomas, who had been with the club since the 2006-07 season, lifted the trophy first.

The Memorial Cup will be lifted on TD Station ice this June when Saint John hosts the 2022 Memorial Cup. Ticket packages are now on sale to the general public.

Top 10 Sea Dogs Memorial Cup Moments: #2 - DeSerres gets his redemption

(Ed. Note: In honour of 2022 Memorial Cup tickets going on sale to the general public on Dec. 6, we're counting down the top 10 Sea Dogs moments in Memorial Cup history.)

#2 - Jacob DeSerres gets his redemption

In the 2010 Memorial Cup final, Jacob DeSerres was in net for all nine goals against as Taylor Hall and the Windsor Spitfires defeated the host Brandon Wheat Kings 9-1 to win their second straight championship.

A year later, DeSerres made it all the way back to the Memorial Cup final - and he delivered one of his best performances as a Saint John Sea Dog.

The overage netminder made 34 saves in Saint John's 3-1 victory and was named the game's first star. He came up huge on several occasions as the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors pressed hard for an equalizer throughout the second half of the game.

Even after Jonathan Huberdeau had made it a 3-1 game late in the third, DeSerres made a huge stop on Devante Smith-Pelly to secure the win.

Top 10 Sea Dogs Memorial Cup Moments: #3 - Phillips and Huberdeau 2-on-1

(Ed. Note: In honour of 2022 Memorial Cup tickets going on sale to the general public on Dec. 6, we're counting down the top 10 Sea Dogs moments in Memorial Cup history.)

#3 - Zack Phillips and Jonathan Huberdeau 2-on-1

The Saint John Sea Dogs were clinging to a 2-1 lead in the third period of the 2011 Memorial Cup final.

The host Mississauga St. Michael's Majors were pressing hard at times ever since they got within a goal in the second period. If you were a Sea Dogs fan watching this third period, you likely had hands covering your eyes at times.

But at 16:17 of the third, Zack Phillips and Jonathan Huberdeau teamed up on a two-on-one that gave their fans a huge sigh of relief (and presumably a few cheers).

Check out 1:26 of the below video.

Top 10 Sea Dogs Memorial Cup Moments: #5 - Dogs quickly show they belong

(Ed. Note: In honour of 2022 Memorial Cup tickets going on sale to the general public on Dec. 6, we're counting down the top 10 Sea Dogs moments in Memorial Cup history.)

#5 - Sea Dogs quickly show they belong at 2011 Memorial Cup

The Saint John Sea Dogs had one of the best regular seasons in junior hockey history in 2011 but there were still some doubters when they entered the playoffs.

Still a young team by junior-hockey-contender status and loaded much more with skill than sandpaper, the Sea Dogs proved a lot of those doubters wrong with a strong playoffs, winning their first President Cup title. But, ahead of the 2011 Memorial Cup in Mississauga, many still wondered if they were ready for the big stage or if they were still a year away from being a serious contender.

The Sea Dogs quickly showed they belonged amongst the Canadian Hockey League's best teams.

Tomas Jurco scored just 1:44 into the tournament's opening game against the host Mississauga St. Michael's Majors.

Nine years ago tonight...

It was nine years ago tonight that the Saint John Sea Dogs defeated the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors 3-1 to win the 2011 Memorial Cup.

Because there is nothing else to do right now, the CHL has been posting quite a bit about past Memorial Cups. Here's Sportsnet's Sam Cosentino remembering the tournament:

2011 #MemorialCup Highlights 🏆

A shorthanded snipe by Simon Despres plus a goal and an assist from both Zack Phillips and tournament MVP Jonathan Huberdeau led the @QMJHL’s @SJSeaDogs to a 3-1 championship win over host Mississauga.

FULL GAME 🖥: https://t.co/Tlf8hspPxb pic.twitter.com/hKZnvGKKMT

— CanadianHockeyLeague (@CHLHockey) May 29, 2020

The CHL aired the championship game on its website last night.

As Cosentino mentioned, the Majors outshot the Sea Dogs 26-14 in the final two periods. While Jordan Binnington was probably the right choice for the tournament's top goaltender award, it really can't be understated just how good - and how valuable - Jacob DeSerres was in the Saint John goal.

As the highlight package shows, DeSerres essentially had the game of his life in net. He was named the game's first star and finished the tournament with a wild .946 save percentage and 1.82 goals against average - this a year after allowing nine goals in the Brandon Wheat Kings' 9-1 loss to the stacked Windsor Spitfires.

DeSerres didn't celebrate much when the final horn sounded. “I was almost so excited and so happy you don't show it. It's just all inside," he told NHL.com after the game.

“I have the simplest job title in the world — just stop the puck," he added.

Six years ago tonight

(Ed. Note: This is an annual post that has been updated)

It was six years ago tonight that Simon Despres scored shorthanded, Zack Phillips netted the game-winner, Jonathan Huberdeau secured the victory and Jacob DeSerres had the game of his life in the Saint John net.

It’s hard to believe it has been six years since the Sea Dogs’ 3-1 win over the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors, clinching the first Memorial Cup title for Atlantic Canada.

Five Seasons Later

Embed from Getty Images

It's been five whole seasons since the Sea Dogs made their Memorial Cup debut in Mississauga.

Obviously, a lot has changed since then. Saint John went on to reach the tournament again in 2012 and then went into rebuild mode. They hadn't come close to making the Memorial Cup until this past season where they reached the QMJHL's final four.

We know how Saint John has performed over the past five seasons, but what about the other teams that participated in the 2011 Memorial Cup? Here's a look at how the host Mississauga St. Michael's Majors, OHL champion Owen Sound Attack and WHL champion Kootenay Ice have performed since then.

Saint John Sea Dogs

Season	Record	Playoffs
2011-12	50-15-0-3	Won championship
2012-13	23-44-1-0	Lost in round 1
2013-14	19-44-2-3	Missed playoffs
2014-15	32-26-4-6	Lost in round 1
2015-16	42-20-6-0	Lost in round 3

DOGS DAILY: Big Weekend For LeBlanc

Former Sea Dogs defenseman Olivier LeBlanc had an impressive weekend.

With a total of three goals and two assists in two games against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles alternate captain was named the QMJHL’s first star of week.

Olivier Leblanc (@3LeBlanc), a @BlueJacketsNHL pick, has the game winner for @CBSEHockey tonight in Sydney pic.twitter.com/g97pvYCd6n

— Kris Abbott (@EastlinkKris) January 17, 2016

LeBlanc, who returned from a three-game suspension handed to him following a hit to head on Saint John’s Oliver Felixson, now has five goals and 27 points in 38 games with the Screaming Eagles this year.

Cape Breton is in third place in the Maritimes Division with 50 points, which is seven points back of second place Saint John. The Sea Dogs also have three games in hand.

The Eagles could inch closer to the Dogs this weekend if they are able to pick up some points when the two meet on Friday and Saturday at Harbour Station.

Meanwhile, Victoriaville’s Alexandre Goulet and Moncton’s Conor Garland were named the second and third stars of the week, respectively.

Three Years Ago...

Before spending the next few days discussing the future of the Saint John Sea Dogs, let us take a moment to appreciate the past.

It was three years ago today that Simon Despres, Zack Phillips, and Jonathan Huberdeau scored to give the Sea Dogs a 3-1 victory over the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors and win Atlantic Canada’s first Memorial Cup championship.

Sea Dogs Notebook

A special moment for the MacAulays. twitter.com/HFXMooseheads/…
— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) May 27, 2013

GALIEV

Got news for you: Stanislav Galiev is a winner.

As Russian Machine Never Breaks breaks down, Galiev has now won league championships in each of his past three seasons thanks to back-to-back QMJHL titles with Saint John and an ECHL title with the Reading Royals this season.

Galiev also won a USHL title with the Indiana Ice in 2009 before joining the Sea Dogs and came within two wins of a 2010 QMJHL Championship.

The Russian forward, playing in his first pro season, only played in Game 5 of the Kelly Cup Final due to injury.

“It’s something special for me because the coach trusts me,” he told The Sports Lair. It’s a Game 5. I was a little injured and wasn’t 100-percent. My foot still hurts a little bit, but it was nice to forget everything out there and help my team get the Cup.”

Galiev had 23 goals and 24 assists in 64 regular season ECHL games and added four goals and seven assists in 10 post-season contests.

Thanks to Emily B. from Japers’ Rink for the link.

CAPITALS

This news came out of nowhere.

The Summerside Journal Pioneer reports that the MHL’s Summerside Western Capitals might be moving. This comes just a couple weeks after hosting the RBC Cup.

The newspaper reports that the team has “given notice to the league that the team is now in the process of seeking another venue for the 2013-2014 junior A hockey season. The reason behind the move is a breakdown in negotiations between the city and management and owners of the team.”

The Caps have had plenty of Sea Dogs connections over the years.

Sea Dogs In NHL 12 Trailer

Winning the Memorial Cup gets you a lot of things. Among those things apparently is a spot in an "NHL 12" video game trailier.

Via GameTrailers.com, here is the trailer featuring the Saint John Sea Dogs' Memorial Cup win over the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors.

POSTSCRIPT: Majors 1, Sea Dogs 3

RECAPS
A collection of recaps on last night’s Memorial Cup win:

Scott Briggs’ recap. The Canadian Hockey League championship didn’t get away from Jacob DeSerres this year.

Marty Klinkenberg’s recap. “It is almost hard for me to describe right now” – Jonathan Huberdeau

The Mississauga News’ recap. “You never get used to the losing” – Dave Cameron

The Canadian Press’ recap. “Once again, Dave Cameron's team came up short when it mattered most.”

Rogers Sportsnet’s recap. “The Saint John Sea Dogs captured the franchise’s first MasterCard Memorial Cup in just their sixth season of existence.”

NHL.com’s recap. “I was almost so excited and so happy you don't show it. It's just all inside" – Jacob DeSerres

The National Post’s recap. “I have the simplest job title in the world — just stop the puck. But I think goalies probably have the most complicated minds” – Jacob DeSerres

The Toronto Sun’s recap. “Before he passed away, I told my father I thought we had a chance to win a trophy” – Scott McCain

Yahoo! Sports’ recap. “To be on the other side is probably the worst feeling I’ve ever felt” – Justin Shugg

SAINT JOHN SCTRATCHES
All hands were on deck last night with the exception of Jason Cameron who is still recovery from a bruised kidney. He was at the game though and celebrated with the team afterwards.

Healthy scratches were forwards Aidan Kelly and Devon Oliver-Dares, defensemen Jason Seed and Spencer MacDonald, and goaltender Jacob Edwards.

SEA DOGS WIN MEMORIAL CUP

SN RECAP
FINAL: Majors 1, Sea Dogs 3

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – For much of the season, the Saint John Sea Dogs were ranked No. 1 in the Canadian Hockey League. On Sunday night in Mississauga, they proved to be worthy of that ranking.

The Sea Dogs defeated the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors 3-1 in their own building to capture junior hockey’s Holy Grail – the MasterCard Memorial Cup. They become the first ever Atlantic Canadian team to win the trophy and just the eighth in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Simon Despres scored a shorthanded marker, Zack Phillips netted the eventual game winner, and Jonathan Huberdeau put it away with a nifty deke late in the third period.

Goaltender Jacob DeSerres was unbelievable in net, making several game-saving stops. He made 34 stops in total, erasing all of the bad memories that happened in last year’s final with the Brandon Wheat Kings.

The win ended an incredible season, a campaign that is difficult to put into words.

The victory solidifies the Sea Dogs as one of the greatest QMJHL teams of all time. Maybe even one of the greatest in CHL history.

Enjoy it. Saint John doesn’t win a national championship everyday.

LIVE BLOG: Memorial Cup Final - Majors vs Sea Dogs

PRE-GAME: Majors vs Sea Dogs

GAME DAY

2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup – Championship Game

Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors vs Saint John Sea Dogs

Tonight, May 29, 2011 at 8:00 pm

Hershey Centre

PREVIEW
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – Well, here we are.

It’s Championship Sunday at the 2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup and the Saint John Sea Dogs are just a single win away from a national title. Their opponent will be the host team, the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors, who have been preparing for this day for a full year.

The Sea Dogs and Majors met in the tournament opener and they will meet again to tonight to close it out. Saint John won the first meeting last Friday by score of 4-3. Nathan Beaulieu scored the winner on a missed offside call.

The Majors advanced to the final after going through the round-robin with a 2-1 record and then defeated the Kootenay Ice in the semifinal game to advance to the final. Saint John went 2-1 in the round-robin with their only loss coming in a meaningless contest against the Ice.

The question tonight will be who has the advantage: the well rested Sea Dogs are the momentum-gaining Majors?

Saint John has dealt with rest a lot this post-season. They swept Cape Breton, had a layoff, but took the first game against Victoriaville. They beat the Tigres in five games, had a week off, and then took the opener against Lewiston. They swept the Maineiacs, had a layoff, then beat Gatineau in the opener of the league final.

Another positive is that the Sea Dogs are coming off a loss. They have only lost two straight games once all year.

Saint John will be trying to become just the eighth Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team to win the Memorial Cup. The last QMJHL team to win the trophy was the Quebec Remparts back in 2006. A Sea Dogs win tonight and it will all but guarantee them the title of one of the greatest teams in Q-league history.

No matter what happens, it has been an incredible season in Saint John – a season that comes to a close on the final day of the Canadian Hockey League campaign.

May the best team win.

ANTHONY WILL PLAY TONIGHT

News out of Mississauga this afternoon is that Saint John Sea Dogs forward Steven Anthony will play tonight in the 2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup Championship Game against the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors at 8:00 pm (Rogers Sportsnet/RDS; News 88.9 FM).

Anthony has not played since Game One of the President’s Cup final (May 5) against the Gatineau Olympiques because of a knee injury he suffered in that contest. He missed the last five games of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League final and all three round-robin games at the Memorial Cup.

Before getting injured, Anthony has been playing quite well on the team’s second line with Michael Kirkpatrick and Tomas Jurco.

In 61 regular season games he recorded 23 goals and 37 assists. In 14 post-season games he added five goals and seven assists.

Anthony recently signed a contract with the Vancouver Canucks, meaning tonight could be his last game in a Sea Dogs uniform. In 244 career regular season games he has 66 goals and 97 assists. In 33 playoff games he has seven markers and 10 helpers.

Photo Credit: Marc Henwood/Station Nation

SEA DOGS NOTEBOOK

CAMERON IN MISSISSAUGA
Forward Jason Cameron is in Mississauga to give the Sea Dogs a morale boost heading into the championship game. Cameron has not played since Game Four of the President’s Cup final because of a bruised kidney.

"Even not playing, I'm happy to be here," said Cameron to the Mississauga News. "I couldn't ask for more than to be here and for us to win a championship hopefully."

“I just felt like I had to be here and it’s great to see the guys again,” he said to the Toronto Sun. “When I got in, I gave them all a hug. I spent five days in the Gatineau hospital and the day the team flew out to the Memorial Cup, I flew home.”

The Sea Dogs took the President’s Cup to the Gatineau hospital he was staying at after their victory.

HUBERDEAU RANKED THIRD
Kevin Allen of USA Today released his Top 10 list for the upcoming NHL Entry Draft yesterday. He has Jonathan Huberdeau going third overall to the Florida Panthers.

Huberdeau (Saint John, QMJHL). To build the Panthers, general manager Dale Tallon needs scorers and Huberdeau is one. His stock kept spiking later in the season. The Panthers have two good defensemen in their system in Dmitry Kulikov and Erik Gudbranson, so they could pass on Larsson.

In the latest Red Line Report, posted last Friday in USA Today, Huberdeau is projected to go fifth overall. Also, thumbs up to Red Line for pointing out Gatineau's Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Victoriaville’s David Honzik as players to watch out for.

THE RISE OF THE MARITIMES
The awesome James Mirtle had an awesome article in yesterday’s Globe and Mail on the rise of maritime hockey in the QMJHL.

Gerard Gallant on the rise of hockey on the east coast:

“It definitely translates into more kids playing in the NHL,” he said. “There’s more kids playing in the Quebec league than ever before and a lot of them are good hockey players and getting an opportunity.

THE STORY OF ROSZELL
Today’s must read comes from Chatham Daily News as they tell the story of how Tim Roszell became the voice of the Saint John Sea Dogs.

"For me, this will be my Stanley Cup," said Roszell about today’s game.

IVAN COURT IN DA HOUSE
Saint John Mayor Ivan Court will be taking in tomorrow’s game at the Hershey Centre, reports News 88.9.

From News 88.9’s website:

Ivan Court has received an invitation to attend the game from Mississauga's long serving mayor Hazel McCallion.

Court tells us he's not going to miss the event. " I will be sitting right in Mississauga, right in the arena and probably get a chance to say hello to the people back at Harbour Station", says Court. " I think it's that important this is another historic moment for Saint John".

TSN FEATURE
TSN had a great feature on Jonathan Huberdeau that aired last week. You can check it out by clicking HERE.

DOGS - MAJORS FOR ALL THE MARBLES

FINAL: Ice 1, Majors 3

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – The Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors will play the Saint John Sea Dogs in the championship game at the 2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup.

The Majors advanced to Sunday’s winner-take-all contest after eliminating the Western Hockey League champion Kootenay Ice 3-1 in the tournament’s semifinal game.

Devante Smith-Pelly scored a pair for the Majors while Chris DeSousa iced the game with an empty netter in the final minute of regulation. JP Anderson was stellar in goal, making 28 stops to send the hosts into the game they have preparing for all year.

Joe Antilla netted the only Kootenay goal. Goaltender Nathan Lieuwen made 23 stops in the loss.

Mississauga had a 1-0 lead after one and 2-1 advantage after 40 minutes at the Hershey Centre.

Despite being eliminated, Kootenay made an impressive run just to reach the semifinal. After an 0-2 start, they saved their season with a 5-4 overtime win against Saint John. They then blasted the Ontario Hockey League champion Owen Sound Attack 7-3 in the tiebreaker game last night.

The Majors, who finished third in the Canadian Hockey League final rankings, only have one loss at the Memorial Cup and that came in the opener – against the Sea Dogs.

Saint John will be the more rested team having not played since Tuesday night. In the time span, Mississauga has played twice.

Game time for Sunday’s final is 8:00 pm on Rogers Sportsnet and RDS. Harbour Station will be opening its doors for fans to watch the game.

WHO WILL THE SEA DOGS PLAY?

GAME DAY

2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup – Semifinal

Kootenay Ice vs Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors

Tonight, May 27, 2011 at 8:00 pm

Hershey Centre

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – The Saint John Sea Dogs will find out who their opponent is for Sunday’s MasterCard Memorial Cup final tonight.

The Western Hockey League champion Kootenay Ice face the host Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors tonight at 8:00 pm at the Hershey Centre in the tournament’s semifinal game. The winner will advance to Sunday’s final while the loser will have their season come to an end.

The two teams faced each other last Sunday with the Majors coming out in top by score of 2-1.

The Ice, who started the tournament off with a 0-2 record, have staved off elimination in both of their last two games. They beat Saint John 5-4 in overtime on Tuesday and then eliminated the Owen Sound Attack 7-3 in the tiebreaker last night.

Mississauga has lost just one game in the Memorial Cup and that came in the tournament opener one week ago against the Sea Dogs.

Saint John has not played since Tuesday and will be much more rested than either team they face.

Tonight’s game can be seen on Rogers Sportsnet and RDS.