Photos: Sea Dogs championship parade

SAINT JOHN - 2022 Memorial Cup festivities ended with a championship parade on Thursday afternoon in Saint John.

The Memorial Cup champions Saint John Sea Dogs paraded down King Street before making the turn down Water Street en route to Area 506 Waterfront Container Village stage. Once at the stage, brief speeches were made by Scott McCain, Gardiner MacDougall, Trevor Georgie, Mark-Anthony Ashfield, Vincent Sevigny and William Dufour.

The Sea Dogs held a similar parade in 2011 when the team won its first Memorial Cup championship. That year, the parade ended at the Market Square stage where speeches were made.

Sea Dogs Notebook

MEMORIAL CUP

Every team at the 2013 Memorial Cup sits at 1-1 entering action tonight. This evening, the Halifax Mooseheads battle the London Knights at 9pm and tomorrow the Portland Winterhawks take on the Saskatoon Blades.

All the possible scenarios about who advances to which game and how can be found on the CHL website.

The Mooseheads lost their first game of the tournament on Sunday night, a surprising 5-2 loss to the host Blades. The Moose have not lost much all year and they’ll need to rebound quickly.

MACAULAY

Former Sea Dog Stephen MacAulay is having a solid Memorial Cup so far. He sits fifth in tournament scoring entering tonight's game with two goals and an assist in two games.

Playing in his third straight Memorial Cup, MacAulay has two goals and two assists in 10 career games at the national championship. Despite all the success he has had at the junior level, he currently is not affiliated with a NHL club.

“In my mind I think I deserve a shot, hopefully an entry-level deal but if not, maybe something else,” MacAulay told the Chronicle Herald. “I think I’ve done everything I could do but one last Memorial Cup won’t hurt, especially if I play well and do well personally. I’m thankful for the opportunity.”

THE STATION

Forget to post this the other day so... here it is.

Stefan Fournier says the CUC looks an awful lot like Harbour Station in Saint John, N.B.
— Patrick King (@SNPatrickKing) May 17, 2013

SEA DOGS NOTEBOOK

DRAFT TIME
It’s draft weekend in Victoriaville and the Desjardins Colisee is just about ready to roll.

COMBINE STUFF
Mike Morreale of NHL.com tweeted this morning that Zack Phillips “likely won't participate in the bench press portion of the fitness testing” because of his “upper body” injury.

Phillips injured his shoulder in Game Four of the President’s Cup final but returned to play in the Memorial Cup.

PARADE AFTERMATH
NHL.com spoke to the Sea Dogs taking in the draft combine in Toronto about Tuesday’s parade.

"It was unbelievable," forward Ryan Tesink said. "We felt like Gods. We had about six vehicles, including a fire truck, and three or four of us each were on one. We're not the biggest city and in the middle of the day on a Tuesday … I was impressed. I grew up (in Saint John) my whole life."

"One sign out there read, 'Tesink for Mayor'", said the 5-foot-11, 157 pound Tesink. "I thought that was funny and the boys loved that one. I was so proud to be a St. Johner during that parade. I couldn't believe the support. We had about 500 fans come to the final (in Mississauga) and everyone flew or some drove and spent a lot of money to watch us win that (Memorial Cup). That means the world to me."

Here is CBC New Brunswick’s coverage of the parade:



DRAFT TRACKER
Over at Buzzing The Net, Tomas Jurco is featured in the “Draft Tracker.”

HOFFMAN UPDATE
The Ottawa Senators website had a feature on prospect and former Sea Dogs sniper Mike Hoffman.

"I don’t even hardly recognize him," Binghamton Senators head coach Kurt Kleinendorst said when asked about the improvement he's seen in the rookie forward. "Seriously, from where he was to where he is now ... He was an early scratch. He was out of the lineup in the first round against Manchester."

Hoffman got off to a slow start in his first year of professional hockey but has gradually improved his play.

"The first couple of months, it takes time to get used to the league," said Hoffman. "Some players adjust different than others. I feel like I’ve adjusted now, but it took some time. I feel good out there now. Just the experience (makes a difference). You know you’ve got to work hard to keep up to the pace up here."

The Sens play Game Four of the Calder Cup Final on Friday in Binghamton. Their opponent, the Houston Aeros, currently lead the best-of-seven series 2-1.

HUBERDEAU PROFILE
Another day, another draft profile on Jonathan Huberdeau. The Minnesota Wild blog “Hockey Wilderness” had a profile on the Memorial Cup MVP posted today.

HOCKEY’S FUTURE REPORT
Hockey’s Future has their recap up fot the Memorial Cup tournament.

In the article, all of Saint John’s draft eligible and already drafted players are analyzed.

SEA DOGS NOTEBOOK

CITY FLAG

Via @SJSDhockeyfan on Twitter, City Hall’s Sea Dogs flag flying high.

COMBINE
After winning the Memorial Cup and spending a couple days celebrating, several Sea Dogs players are now attending the National Hockey League’s Draft Combine in Toronto.

Six Sea Dogs were invited to attend - Nathan Beaulieu, Jonathan Huberdeau, Tomas Jurco, Scott Oke, Zack Phillips, and Ryan Tesink.

The best place for coverage is by visiting the draft combine blog on NHL.com.

Brian Huddle over at Hockey Buzz noted this via Twitter:

Nathan Beaulieu has made sure to mention fellow Sea Dog and Draft-Eligible, Ryan Tesink in each interview. Don’t really know why. But Tesink is a Leafs fan. (Thanks to @mike_morreale for this one)

TSN will have coverage of the combine on Friday at 8:30 pm AST.

RATINGS
Rogers Sportsnet’s PR guy Dave Rashford today tweeted: “thanks to all the CHL fans for making the 2011 Memorial Cup the most watched since the 2005 NHL lockout.”

Some solid ratings considering Owen Sound and Kootenay are classified as “small market teams.”

GERRY DEE
Comedian Gerry Dee from The Score had some fun with several Sea Dogs players, coaches, and even Mayor Ivan Court following their Memorial Cup victory on Sunday.

You can check that out over at The Score’s website.

WATCH THE DRAFT
The QMJHL Entry Draft is sure to gave some drama on Saturday. According to a QMJHL release, fans will finally be able to view a stream of the festivities.

From the QMJHL website:

Fans can follow the choices of their favourite teams live on the league's official website at 10am on Saturday or watch a special broadcast beginning at 9 o'clock on VOX. It will be broadcasting on channels 9 and 609 in HD as well as the VOX website at www.voxtv.ca and on Illico.

ON THE HOT LIST
Sea Dogs forward Tomas Jurco topped The Hockey News’ Hot List after having a very solid Memorial Cup tournament.

“It’s great,” Jurco said about playing with several other highly touted draft eligible players. “It just shows what a great team we have, how strong we are. I hope we all go in the first round.”

Most mock drafts and scouting services have the Slovakian forward going very late in the first round or in the first half of the second round.

Also making the Hot List was defenseman Nathan Beaulieu.

“What made Beaulieu so dangerous in the Memorial Cup final was his willingness to dash up ice with the puck, sometimes carrying it all the way behind Mississauga’s net,” writes Ryan Kennedy of THN. “Those offensive instincts, coupled with his great size (6-foot-3, 191 pounds), will make him popular come draft day.”

BIG TURNOUT FOR CHAMPIONS PARADE

SAINT JOHN – You couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day to end a perfect season.

Thousands showed up in Uptown Saint John this afternoon as the 2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup Champion Saint John Sea Dogs paraded down King Street. It was an absolutely beautiful day as fans packed streets and sidewalks.

The parade started at King Square and then turned down King Street. Players were on fire trucks, convertibles, and trucks and waved to an exuberant crowd of supporters ranging from all ages. Also involved were mascot Fleaburn, a Harbour Station Zamboni, and the team bus.

Sea Dogs captain Mike Thomas and forward Steven Anthony held the Memorial Cup in a car near the end of the parade.

The players exited their vehicles at the bottom of the hill and took part in a rally on the Market Square Boardwalk. Hosted by Sea Dogs play-by-play man Tim Roszell, the rally featured talks from Mayor Ivan Court, owner Scott McCain, president Wayne Long, Thomas, head coach Gerard Gallant, and a dance performed by Danick Gauthier.

News 88.9 and the CBC both have stories from today’s events.

SN’s photographer Marc Henwood has some great photos HERE.

After the jump, YouTube videos galore.

PARADE TODAY AT NOON

SAINT JOHN – After winning their second straight Maritimes Division and regular season title and their first ever President’s Cup and Memorial Cup, the time has come to celebrate the accomplishments of the 2010-11 Saint John Sea Dogs.

The City of Saint John has planned a parade that will begin at noon today from King Square and travel down King Street to a rally at the Market Square boardwalk (rain location, Market Square Atrium) at approximately 12:20pm.

Fans attending the events are asked to wear Sea Dogs colours and other apparel.

Here’s hoping this doesn’t happen:



Fans unable to attend can follow us on Twitter for updates and (hopefully) pictures.