Sea Dogs appear close to full strength

It looks as though the Saint John Sea Dogs will be close to full strength when the 2026-27 Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League season opens on Friday.

The Buffalo Sabres announced Tuesday that Sea Dogs goaltender Samuel Meloche has been reassigned back to junior. The 19-year-old was a fourth-round pick of the Sabres in the 2025 NHL Draft and had been attending the team's rookie camp, which included seeing some action in a game against Boston Bruins rookies.

With NHL training camps shortened by the increased 84-game season, many players like Meloche probably won't get main camp invites like they once did.

Two other Sea Dogs attended NHL rookie camps last weekend: Alexander Donovan joined the Montreal Canadiens while Ryan Howard earned a Winnipeg Jets invite. Both the Habs and Jets prospects played in a tournament with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators in Gatineau over the weekend.

Neither Donovan nor Howard earned invites to their team's main camp.

On the injury front, the only Sea Dogs player expected to be out long term is defenseman Olivier Duhamel. The 18-year-old is expected to miss the first couple months of the season.

In short, the Sea Dogs will be close to full strength when they open the season in St. John's on Friday night. Game time against the Newfoundland Regiment is 6:30 p.m. Atlantic.

Of note, it looks like the team will start the season with just two overagers (forward Olivier Lemieux and defenseman Julien Lanthier) and two imports (forwards Matyas Cancik and Oliver Ozogany). The Saint John lineup that starts the season likely won't be the same as the one that finishes it.

Notebook: Single game tickets now available

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Single game tickets to every Saint John Sea Dogs home game are now on sale.

Tickets to all 32 home games went on sale Monday at noon. The team had previously announced season ticket details.

Here's a look at the total single game ticket prices – which includes the lovely service and order processing fees – for each age demographic.

Adult: $26

Senior: $25

25 and under: $21

9 and under: $17

It looks like total ticket prices (which, again, include fees and taxes) are pretty similar to what they have been in recent seasons.

One change is that it does appear fans can purchase any seat in the upper bowl this season (with the exception of most end zone seating). Last season, the top half of most upper bowl sections could not be purchased until ticket sales volume required it. 

IT'S GAME WEEK

The Sea Dogs will play regular season hockey this week.

Saint John will open the season on the road this Friday and Saturday, visiting Gordie Dwyer and the Newfoundland Regiment. The Sea Dogs struggled at Mary Brown's Centre last season, going 0-4, and will likely be playing in front of a capacity crowd on Friday.

Both teams will be well rested. The Regiment last played a pre-season game on Aug. 31 while the Sea Dogs haven't played since Sept. 4.

The Sea Dogs will play their first home games the following weekend. Saint John hosts the Moncton Wildcats on Friday, Sept. 25 and the Cape Breton Eagles on Saturday, Sept. 26.

Three Sea Dogs get NHL rookie camp invites

Three Saint John Sea Dogs will attend National Hockey League rookie camps this weekend.

Goaltender Samuel Meloche, a fourth-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2025 NHL Draft, is off to Sabres camp. Forwards Alexander Donovan and Ryan Howard will attend Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets rookie camps, respectively, on a free agent basis.

The Sabres will host the Boston Bruins prospects for a pair of games on Sunday and Monday.

The Times Herald reports that Meloche will likely start one of Buffalo's games against Boston. The Times Herald also reports that Meloche expects to join Northeastern University next fall.

“It’s great for everyone, especially goaltenders, because as we know, it takes longer to develop,” Meloche said. “… It’s advantageous for everyone that you don’t have to rush to sign your contract and turn pro early. You can (have) a couple more years to develop and keep growing your game.”

The Canadiens and Jets will both participate in the NHL Prospect Challenge in Gatineau this weekend. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators will also take part.

The Jets and Habs will meet on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday, Winnipeg will play Toronto while Montreal will face Ottawa.

Sea Dogs prospect Brian McFadden, meanwhile, will take part in Washington Capitals rookie camp. McFadden, who is playing with the USHL's Chicago Steel this season, was a fifth-round pick of the Caps in this year's NHL Draft.

Former Sea Dogs forward Eriks Mateiko will also participate in Capitals rookie camp. A 2024 draft pick of Washington, Mateiko missed a large chunk of last season with an Achilles injury. 

Former Sea Dogs defenseman Max Vilen, who the team traded to the Moncton Wildcats last season, will attend Tampa Bay Lightning rookie camp. Vilen was a seventh-round pick of Tampa Bay in this summer's NHL Draft.

Notebook: Donovan invited to Habs rookie camp

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Saint John Sea Dogs forward Alexander Donovan will attend Montreal Canadiens rookie camp.

The Canadiens announced their rookie camp roster last week. Donovan will attend as a free agent invite, joining former Sea Dogs defenseman Kale McCallum and goaltender Arseni Radkov.

According to a news release, the camp "will be held at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard and Slush Puppie Centre in Gatineau, from September 11-15. Habs prospects will play two games against the Winnipeg Jets and Ottawa Senators at the Slush Puppie Centre on September 12 and 13 as part of the 2026 NHL Prospect Challenge."

Donovan, 19, is entering his second season with the Sea Dogs. Last year, the Connecticut native recorded 25 goals and 28 assists in 63 regular season games. He had another goal and an assist in four playoff games.

COMING UP

The start of the QMJHL regular season is now less than two weeks away.

The Sea Dogs will open the year Sept. 18-19 with a pair of games in St. John's against the Newfoundland Regiment. Saint John went winless at Mary Brown's Centre last season.

Saint John will host the Moncton Wildcats on Friday, Sept. 25 in the team's home opener at TD Station.

Before all that though, the Sea Dogs have one pre-season game left to play. Saint John, 2-2-0-0 in exhibition play, will take on the Halifax Mooseheads, 4-1-0-0, on Friday at Dartmouth's RBC Centre. These two met last Friday in Saint John where Halifax posted a 7-3 win.

Baldwin reassigned to Saint John

Rena Laverty

The Saint John Sea Dogs are getting a big boost to their backend.

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced Wednesday that defenseman Everett Baldwin has been reassigned to Saint John. Baldwin was one of 10 players reassigned from the Lightning's training camp roster.

Baldwin, a fifth-round pick of the Lightning in this year's NHL Draft, was taking part in his first NHL training camp. He played 15:08 in Tampa Bay's pre-season game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday, recording two shots, one block and three giveaways in the 2-1 win. Baldwin was paired with Gatineau Olympiques defenseman Jan Golicic, who was also sent back to junior on Wednesday.

This will Baldwin's first – and potentially only – season in the QMJHL. He's currently committed to Province College for the 2026-27 season.

The 18-year-old looked very good during pre-season play with the Sea Dogs, recording three goals in two games. He showed that he is not afraid to make things happen offensively and will likely be a key piece of Saint John's power play.

A Rhode Island native, Baldwin spent most of last season playing US prep school hockey. He was a second-round pick of Saint John in June's QMJHL Entry Draft.

Baldwin will presumably be in the Sea Dogs lineup this weekend when they face the Halifax Mooseheads on Friday and Saturday night at Scotiabank Centre.

Notebook: Groulx named Dogs captain

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - Olivier Groulx has been named captain of the Saint John Sea Dogs, the team announced Thursday.

Veteran forward Jacob Beaulieu along with overagers Angelo Fullerton and Natan Éthier have all been named alternate captains.

“We are delighted to name Olivier, Angelo, Natan and Jacob as our captains for the upcoming season,” Sea Dogs head coach and general manager Travis Crickard said in a news release. “Olivier has earned the captaincy because he fully embodies our team’s values of humble, hunger and honour every day.”

Groulx is the 24th captain in franchise history and will play his third season with the Sea Dogs. The 18-year-old wore an 'A' last season.

HALIFAX TO HOST

The QMJHL Entry Draft is coming east.

During the league's season opening press conference on Tuesday, it was confirmed that Halifax will host the 2026 QMJHL Entry Draft, which is scheduled for June 5-6.

“The QMJHL is very pleased and excited to hold its 2026 draft presented by Fenplast in the beautiful city of Halifax, a very important market in our league,"said QMJHL commissioner Mario Cecchini in a statement. "The players, families and teams present at the draft will be able to fully enjoy the beautiful attractions of the city.”

It's the first time the event will be held in Halifax.

Quebec City hosted the draft this past June. Moncton hosted in 2024.

Also, it sounds like the OHL may have an in-person draft in the near future as well.

Notebook: It's game week

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

The time has come.

The Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League regular season begins this week and it will feature the Saint John Sea Dogs playing two home games. The Sea Dogs will host the Cape Breton Eagles both Friday and Saturday night at TD Station.

The Sea Dogs were 12-20-0-0 on home ice last season, a record they'll look to improve this season.

The team has a number of events planned for inside and outside the arena this weekend.

The QMJHL's regular season will officially begin on Thursday when the defending league champion Moncton Wildcats visit the Newfoundland Regiment. It will be the first QMJHL game to be played in St. John's since 2008.

BALDWIN SCORES

Sea Dogs defenseman Everett Baldwin scored in the Tampa Bay Lightning's 5-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday at the Tampa-hosted Prospect Tournament.

Prep last year, NHL rookie tourney the next. Nice to see Everett Baldwin get on the board for Tampa in their game vs Carolina pic.twitter.com/ENnalfrdac

— Robert Chalmers (@IvanIvanlvan) September 15, 2025

The Lightning finished the three-game tournament with a 2-1 record, recording wins over the Hurricanes and Florida Panthers.

Notebook: Baldwin, Lightning set for Prospect Tournament

Tampa Bay Lightning

Everett Baldwin is the only current Saint John Sea Dog attending an NHL training camp this year.

Baldwin, a fifth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in this year's NHL Draft, is in Tampa for a prospect tournament the team is hosting. The Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes and Nashville Predators are also participating.

The Lightning prospects will play Nashville on Friday, Florida on Saturday and Carolina on Monday.

Baldwin was a second-round pick of Saint John in this year's QMJHL Entry Draft. He appeared in two pre-season games, registering three goals. 

The Rhode Island native is committed to Providence College for the 2026-27 season.

62 QMJHL players will attend NHL camps this year. The Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and Moncton Wildcats each have nine.

HOME OPENER DETAILS

The Sea Dogs have announced a number of events surrounding the team's season opening weekend. Here are some of the highlights from a news release.

• On Friday, Sept. 19, there will be a Season Kickoff on the Saint John Boardwalk. From 4:30-6 p.m., fans can enjoy free live music from The Last Call, games, rides in the Saint John Firefighters’ antique fire truck, and autographs with Fleaburn and Sea Dogs players. Plus, the first 300 fans will receive a free hot dog.
• Thousands of rally towels will be handed out at the door as fans enter TD Station for the Sea Dogs' season opener that same night.
• On Saturday, Sept. 20, the Sea Dogs Ball Hockey Classic presented by TD will be held held and will run from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Memorial Cup outdoor rink on Station Street. Full details are on the Sea Dogs website.
• The Sea Dogs also have a home game later that night. The team notes that throughout the weekend, fans can stop by the TD Community Zone, where TD will be giving away limited edition Sea Dogs scarves and other gifts to celebrate Opening Weekend.
  

NEW EQUIPMENT MANAGER

The Sea Dogs have named Dave Campbell the team's new equipment manager. Campbell was with the club for last weekend's pre-season games.

Campbell replaces the recently hired Zak Larnaudie, who accepted a position with the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies.

“I am thrilled to join the Saint John Sea Dogs organization,” said Campbell in a news release. “I look forward to contributing to the success of the team on and off the ice to allow the players to succeed to their potential.”

According to the team's news release, "Campbell’s experience includes time with the P.E.I. Rocket and the Cape Breton Eagles in the QMJHL, as well as the Woodstock Slammers (MHL), Alberni Valley Bulldogs (BCHL) and Grande Prairie Storm (AJHL) at the Junior A level." He's also worked a number of Hockey Canada events.

Sea Dogs past and present earn NHL development camp invites

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Former, current and perhaps future Saint John Sea Dogs have received invites to NHL development camps, most of which are taking placing this week.

The only current Sea Dog to earn an invite (so far, anyways) is forward Zachary Morin, who is heading to Vancouver Canucks camp. Morin was passed over in last weekend's NHL Draft.

The Athletic considers the Boston University commit to be the 12th best player not picked.

"I could see him pop next year and put it all together without the pressure of the draft, but there’s also risk he remains a mercurial, what-could-have-been prospect who doesn’t have the interest or willingness to change his style of play," writes Scott Wheeler.

Two of Saint John's overagers from last season – defensemen Nate Tivey and Matteo Mann – have both received camp invites. Tivey will attend Colorado Avalanche camp while Mann will join the Dallas Stars.

Tivey, who captained the Sea Dogs in the second half of last season, will take part in Avs camp before joining Quinnipiac University for the 2025-26 season.

Mann, meanwhile, is no stranger to NHL camps having been selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2023 draft. The Sackville, NB native was not signed by the Flyers, making him a free agent and able to join Stars camp.

Eriks Mateiko, who captained the Sea Dogs in the first half of last season before being dealt to the Rimouski Oceanic, will attend Washington Capitals development camp as expected. Mateiko was a third-round pick of the Capitals in last year's NHL Draft and will likely play professionally within the organization this coming season.

Everett Baldwin was the only player with Sea Dogs connections to get drafted this weekend. The Rhode Island native was a fifth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning after spending most of last season with St. George's School, a US prep school program. He'll attend Lightning development camp.

Baldwin was a second-round pick of Saint John in this year's QMJHL Entry Draft but he has yet to sign with the club. He's committed to Providence College for the 2026-27 season.

Jack Williams, a 2018 pick of the Sea Dogs who made his NHL debut last season, will attend Columbus Blue Jackets development camp.

We'll update this past if more players receive invites.

Mann returns to Sea Dogs

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

BATHURST - The Saint John Sea Dogs made a literally large addition to their lineup on Thursday.

6'06", 234 lbs defenseman Matteo Mann made his season debut with the Sea Dogs at the KC Irving Regional Centre in Bathurst. He was placed on the team's second pairing with Nicolas Bilodeau.

Mann immediately made an impact, assisting on Tyler Peddle's goal just 5:34 in. The goal was originally credited to Mann but soon changed.

Stay hot, Peds. 😤#GoDogsGo pic.twitter.com/oFJ7VAHo5x

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) October 3, 2024

With Mann back, Saint John has a full set of overagers on their roster: Mann, defenseman Nate Tivey and goaltender Charles-Edward Gravel.

There was a chance Mann cracked a professional roster this season. The Sackville, NB native appeared in one game with the ECHL's Reading Royals last season and, after attending Philadelphia Flyers camp, was assigned to the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms camp.

Mann was a seventh-round pick of the Flyers in the 2023 NHL Draft.

The Sea Dogs acquired Mann last year. He appeared in 42 games with Saint John, recording six goals and seven assists.

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.

Mann assigned to AHL camp

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Matteo Mann is off to American Hockey League training camp.

The Philadelphia Flyers assigned Mann to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Wednesday morning. The Flyers cut 14 players, five of whom were assigned back to their junior teams.

Lehigh Valley training camp begins Sept. 29. They begin pre-season play on Oct. 1 against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Mann, who will turn 20 on New Year's Eve, is eligible to play professional hockey this season. He appeared in one game with the ECHL's Reading Royals late last season.

Mann is still eligible to be returned to Saint John for his overage season of junior hockey – and there is a good chance that he is in the near future. Getting an invite to AHL camp shows that the Flyers must be pleased with where his development is at.

The Sackville, NB native recorded six goals and seven assists in 42 games with the Sea Dogs last season. 

Mann was one of three current Sea Dogs attending NHL training camps this week. Forwards Eriks Mateiko and Tyler Peddle were both reassigned to Saint John on Tuesday.

The Sea Dogs are back in action on Friday when they visit the Charlottetown Islanders.

Mateiko, Peddle returned to junior

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

The Saint John Sea Dogs' offense is about to get a major boost.

Forwards Eriks Mateiko and Tyler Peddle are both on their way back from NHL training camps. The return of the two should help a Sea Dogs offense that struggled to create quality scoring chances during last weekend's games.

Mateiko was reassigned by the Washington Capitals while Peddle returns from Columbus Blue Jackets camp. 

Both appeared in NHL pre-season games over the past couple days. Mateiko, a third-round pick of the Capitals in this year's NHL Draft, was a -2 with two shots and two penalty minutes in Washington's 6-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday. Peddle, a seventh-round pick of the Blue Jackets in the 2023 NHL Draft, appeared in the Blue Jackets' 6-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Monday where he was a -2 with two penalty minutes.

Mateiko, who will likely be a strong candidate to wear the 'C' for Saint John, is entering his third season with the Sea Dogs. The Latvian has 39 goals and 40 assists in 111 career QMJHL games and is poised to be one of the QMJHL's top import players this season.

The Sea Dogs acquired Peddle mid-season last year from the Drummondville Voltigeurs. The Antigonish native has never quite reached his full potential in the QMJHL but a strong showing with the Dogs in the second half (11 goals and seven assists in 28 games) is a positive sign heading into 2024-25.

Defenseman Matteo Mann is the only current Sea Dog that remains at an NHL training camp. The Flyers were expected to announce the first round of cuts Tuesday.

The Sea Dogs are back in action on Friday, visiting the Charlottetown Islanders.

Mateiko, Peddle appear in NHL pre-season games

Embed from Getty Images

A couple Saint John Sea Dogs have made appearances in NHL pre-season games.

Sea Dogs forward Eriks Mateiko, taking part in his first NHL training camp, skated for the Washington Capitals on Sunday in their 6-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Mateiko, wearing No. 73, was a -2 with two shots in the loss. He also picked up a boarding penalty in the third period.

The 18-year-old was a third-round pick of the Capitals in this year's NHL Draft.

The Capitals' next pre-season game is Tuesday against the Boston Bruins.

Tyler Peddle, meanwhile, appeared in the Columbus Blue Jackets' 6-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Monday. Wearing No. 88, Peddle was a -2 with two penalty minutes.

⁦@station_nation⁩ pic.twitter.com/1HlmieVMS8

— CBJProspects (@CBJProspects) September 22, 2024

The 19-year-old was a seventh-round pick of the Blue Jackets in the 2023 NHL Draft.

The Blue Jackets take on the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday.

Sea Dogs defenseman Matteo Mann remains away from the team as well, taking part in Flyers training camp.

All three are expected to be returned to the Sea Dogs at some point in the near future. Mann is the only one eligible to play pro hockey this season.

A number of Sea Dogs alumni have also seen pre-season action, including Jeremie Poirier (Calgary Flames), Julien Gauthier (New York Islanders), Mike Hoffman (Edmonton Oilers), Thomas Chabot (Ottawa Senators), Yan Kuznetsov (Calgary Flames), Jonathan Huberdeau (Calgary Flames) and Joshua Roy (Montreal Canadiens).

21 former #SJSeaDogs are attending NHL Training Camps this year 👏#GoDogsGo | #SeaDogsAlumni pic.twitter.com/ra1eoWboQT

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) September 18, 2024

Three current Dogs earn main NHL camp invites

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

All three current Saint John Sea Dogs who attended NHL rookie camps have been invited to the main training camps of their respective teams.

Eriks Mateiko (Washington Capitals), Matteo Mann (Philadelphia Flyers) and Tyler Peddle (Columbus Blue Jackets) have all earned invites to main camps.

Of the three, only Mann has the option to play in the AHL or ECHL this season. A seventh-round pick of the Flyers in the 2023 NHL Draft, Mann appeared in one game with the ECHL's Reading Royals at the end of last season. He recently scored for the Flyers rookies in a game against the New York Rangers over the weekend.

Mann is entering his overage season of junior hockey, meaning a 20-year-old spot would open up on Saint John's roster if he turned pro.

Mateiko and Peddle will be returned to junior unless they surprise and make their respective NHL teams.

The 18-year-old Mateiko is attending his first camp with the Capitals after being selected in the third round of the 2024 NHL Draft.

Peddle, meanwhile, was a seventh-round pick of Columbus last year. The 19-year-old is entering his fourth season in the QMJHL.

All three could miss Saint John's first two games of the regular season, which will be played this Friday and Saturday at TD Station.

Current, former Sea Dogs take part in NHL rookie camps

Embed from Getty Images

We know three current Saint John Sea Dogs are taking part in NHL rookie camps this year, but there are also a few former Sea Dogs participating.

Current Dogs Matteo Mann, Tyler Peddle and Eriks Mateiko have all been on the ice this weekend with their respective organizations. Below is a full list of current and former players who earned invites this year.

Vancouver: Jonathan Lemieux

Utah: Drew Elliott

Columbus: Tyler Peddle

New York Islanders: William Dufour

New York Rangers: Kale McCallum

Philadelphia: Matteo Mann

Washington: Eriks Mateiko

Montreal: Charles Savoie

Ottawa: Philippe Daoust

Elliott (UNB), McCallum (UNB) and Savoie (Concordia) are all attending as free agent invites.

It's good to see Philippe Daoust at Ottawa camp, who has had a rough run of injuries since turning pro. William Dufour, meanwhile, will be looking for a bounce back year with the New York Islanders organization. Dufour posted 25 points in 55 AHL games last season after registering 48 in 69 games in his rookie season.

Dufour #Isles pic.twitter.com/rccCTumzyp

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) September 14, 2024

A few Sea Dogs draft picks from over the years are also taking part in rookie camps: Matt Stienburg (Colorado), Justin Hryckowian (Dallas) and Fedor Svechkov (Nashville).

Main NHL training camps begin later this week.

Mann scores, Peddle fights in eventful Saturday at NHL rookie camps

Philadelphia Flyers

It was an eventful Saturday for a couple Saint John Sea Dogs currently attending NHL rookie camps.

In Allentown, PA, Matteo Mann scored for the Philadelphia Flyers rookies in a 3-2 overtime win over the New York Rangers rookies. Mann's power play goal opened the scoring.

You're the Mann, Matteo. 🚀 #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/XTjL5ahhLt

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) September 14, 2024

Not many would have predicted Mann to score in this game. The Sackville native has scored just nine goals in his entire 170-game QMJHL career.

Here's Mann speaking after the game.

Mann made some headlines earlier in the week for practicing some fighting techniques in practice.

Sawyer Boulton and Matteo Mann working on fighting technique 👊🏻 @NastyKnuckles pic.twitter.com/6IoWzprCB6

— Travis Ballinghoff (@travieballin26) September 13, 2024

Saturday's game was the second and final rookie matchup of this portion of Flyers camp. Mann, who is eligible to turn pro this season and appeared in one ECHL game with the Reading Royals last year, is likely to earn an invite to the next stage of training camp.

Notebook: Regular season coming soon

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

We're less than two weeks away from the start of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League regular season.

Just one more weekend of pre-season play remains before the games get real. Saint John closes out exhibition action next Saturday, taking on the Charlottetown Islanders in Tyne Valley, PEI.

Then things get serious. The Sea Dogs will play their first two games of the regular season on home ice, hosting the Moncton Wildcats on Friday, Sept. 20 and the Halifax Mooseheads on Saturday, Sept. 21.

There will be plenty of excitement around Saint John's season opener as Gardiner MacDougall returns behind a TD Station bench for the first time since leading the Sea Dogs to the 2022 Memorial Cup championship.

LAFORGE TO ONTARIO

Former Sea Dogs forward Nico Laforge has found a new home for the 2024-25 season.

The MHL's Grand Falls Rapids have traded Laforge's rights to the OJHL's Cobourg Cougars. The 20-year-old forward made his Cougars debut in the club's season opener on Friday, scoring in a 7-4 loss to the Trenton Golden Hawks. 

Nico LaForge with his first OJHL Goal! Assists to Liam Oravsky (First OJHL Point) and Duncan Schneider!#DoTheROAR pic.twitter.com/EI1EEwE7J2

— Cobourg Cougars (@CougarsHockey) September 7, 2024

Laforge has spent parts of the past three seasons with the Sea Dogs, which included 21 games during the Memorial Cup year of 2021-22. He leaves the QMJHL having posted eight goals and 17 assists in 126 career games.

The 5'7", 170 lbs Laforge was a long shot to make this year's Sea Dogs team as an overager. He did not attend training camp.

Sea Dogs taking part in NHL Development Camps

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

It's NHL Development Camp season and three current Saint John Sea Dogs will be taking part.

Forwards Eriks Mateiko (Washington Capitals) and Tyler Peddle (Columbus Blue Jackets) along with defenseman Matteo Mann (Philadelphia Flyers) are all taking part in camps this week.

It's a fairly light year for Sea Dogs players past and present taking part in development camps. Here's a look at the full list in no particular order.

Columbus – Tyler Peddle

New York Rangers – Kale McCallum

Philadelphia – Matteo Mann

Washington – Eriks Mateiko

Montreal – Charles Savoie

Vancouver – Jonathan Lemieux

There are a few other notable names attending summer camps this year. Sea Dogs draft picks Guillaume Richard (Columbus Blue Jackets), Justin Hryckowian (Dallas Stars) and Ben MacDonald (Seattle Kraken) are all heading to camps.

Brothers Bradly Nadeau and Josh Nadeau of Saint-François de Madawaska are taking part in Carolina Hurricanes development camp. They'll join Justin Poirier – the brother of former Sea Dogs defenseman Jeremie Poirier – at 'Canes camp. 

Josh Nadeau, a free agent, is also listed on the Montreal Canadiens' camp roster.

Two of the QMJHL's top free agent goaltenders – Drummondville's Riley Mercer and Rouyn-Noranda's William Rousseau – are both attending Minnesota Wild camp. Mathis Rousseau of the Halifax Mooseheads was invited to Nashville Predators camp.

It's worth noting as well that Jordan Dumais is on the Blue Jackets camp roster. The Mooseheads forward, who will likely play pro this year, missed the second half of the season with an injury and suspension.

Notebook: More draft rankings

QMJHL

MONCTON – Fredericton forward Tynan Lawrence tops Puck Preps' rankings for this year's QMJHL Entry Draft.

Puck Preps lists the likelihood of Lawrence taking the college hockey route at 90%. He'll hear his name called at some point this weekend – it's just a matter of when.

Keeping with our 2024 QMJHL Draft Ranking unveil we present our final Top Ten of the year!

The list includes a slew of players from @lsllionsaaa @EstacadesMAAA @VikingsAAA among others! pic.twitter.com/5zM450aKhm

— Puck Preps Eastern Canada (@PuckPrepsEastCa) June 4, 2024

"If he were to report, which seems improbable since has tendered in the USHL with the Muskegon Lumberjacks, Lawrence has the all the tools to be a premiere #1 center in the QMJHL, including the smarts, skill and defensive acumen," writes Auston Robson of Puck Preps. "In my opinion, he’ll be the biggest wildcard on draft day."

Interestingly, Puck Preps lists forward Maddox Dagenais at No. 7. Dagenais, who was ranked No. 1 by QMJHL Central Scouting, is expected to be picked first overall on Friday night.

BOOTS JOINS WILDCATS

Paul Boutilier is back in the QMJHL.

The Moncton Wildcats announced Wednesday that Boutilier has joined the club's hockey operations staff as a defense consultant. 

“I am thrilled to add Paul 'Boots' Boutilier to our development staff in Moncton," said Wildcats general manager and director of hockey operations Taylor MacDougall in a news release. "His experience and work in player development is revered across the hockey world, but more importantly he is a person whose values and ideologies around player development are aligned with ours. He will play an integral role in our organization, and I couldn’t be more excited for him to begin working with our current players and prospects."

Boutilier is a former Sea Dogs assistant coach, helping the club win the 2017 President Cup. He was a defense consultant with Saint John in 2022 – where he worked with now Wildcats head coach Gardiner MacDougall – and helped the club win the Memorial Cup.