Notebook: Jones died in motorcycle accident

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Creed Jones died in a motorcycle accident on Friday, CBC News has confirmed.

The death of the former Saint John Sea Dogs goaltender was announced over the weekend. The 24-year-old was one of two people killed in the crash late Friday in the Ottawa area.

The Sea Dogs have released the below statement.

The #SJSeaDogs are saddened to learn about the passing of former goaltender Creed Jones.

Our thoughts are with Creed’s family and friends during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/4x5vqN6SR1

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) August 4, 2024

Jones also played with the Rimouski Oceanic and Gatineau Olympiques during his time in the QMJHL. The Olympiques announced Monday that they will honour Jones during their game against the Oceanic on Sept. 28.

ST. STEPHEN TICKETS

Tickets are now on sale for Saint John's pre-season opener, which will take place Aug. 20 at St. Stephen's Garcelon Civic Centre.

Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for youths and seniors. Tickets can be purchased here.

This will be Saint John's first game of the 2024 pre-season. They'll be facing the Charlottetown Islanders in the first of back-to-back games between the two. The Sea Dogs travel to Pownal, PEI the next night to face the Islanders again.

Notebook: Gauthier off to strong start

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Mathis Gauthier has gotten his Gatineau Olympiques career off to a strong start.

The former Saint John Sea Dogs defenseman recorded a goal and four assists in his first two games with the Olympiques last week, helping last-place Gatineau earn back-to-back wins.

Gauthier's performance earned him a spot on the QMJHL's team of the week.

Here are your top performers from the first week of 2024! 👇#QMJHL | #TOTW

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) January 8, 2024

The 20-year-old recorded five goals and 12 assists in 36 games with Saint John before being dealt. He was traded to the Olympiques for a draft pick.

The Sea Dogs visit Gatineau on Jan. 28 and host them on Feb. 17.

NEW CAPTAINS?

All three members of Saint John's official leadership group have been traded away in recent weeks.

Captain Peter Reynolds was traded to the Halifax Mooseheads while alternates Noah Reinhart and Mathis Gauthier were traded to the Drummondville Voltigeurs and Gatineau Olympiques, respectively.

No players have been wearing letters for the Sea Dogs in recent games. That will surely change soon.

SAINT JOHN VISIT

QMJHL commissioner Mario Cecchini will make his first official visit to Saint John on Thursday and will hold a press conference at 11:30 a.m.

According to a Sea Dogs release, "this is Commissioner Cecchini's first visit to the Maritimes since changing the League's name from Quebec Major Junior Hockey League to Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. He will be discussing the significance of the change and the future of the League."

Sea Dogs president Trevor Georgie will also be in attendance.

Cecchini will also hold a press conference in Bathurst on Sunday morning.

Notebook: Burbidge gets Sens camp invite

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Saint John Sea Dogs forward Cole Burbidge has received an invite to Ottawa Senators development camp.

The 17-year-old was not selected during this week's NHL Draft. He was ranked 110th amongst North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting's final rankings, making him a candidate for a late round pick.

Off to the Nation's Capital 🔜

Sea Dogs forward Cole Burbidge has been invited to the Ottawa Senators Development Camp!#CityOfChampions | @Senators pic.twitter.com/pEXZBnmjSq

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) June 30, 2023

Burbidge was not ranked at all in the mid-season rankings, proving just how much his play improved as his first season in the QMJHL progressed. The Falmouth, NS native finished the regular season with 19 goals and 50 points in 68 games.

Ottawa's development camp begins Sunday and ends on Thursday, July 6. 36 players will be attending.

HALL OF FAME RECAP

A quick video recap of last Friday's Sea Dogs Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Gerard Gallant and Mike Kelly.

Saturday stuff: Ice on the move

The Winnipeg Ice are no more.

After a couple years of relocation speculation, the Western Hockey League announced the sale of the Ice franchise on Friday. The team will move to Wenatchee, Washington where they'll become the Wenatchee Wild, replacing the city's existing BCHL team.

The Ice moved from Cranbrook, BC to Winnipeg in 2019 on the promise of a major junior sized arena being built in the Manitoba capital's suburbs. No solid agreements were ever reached on a new rink and shovels were never close to being put in the ground. After four seasons of playing at the University of Manitoba's 1,600-seat rink, the Ice have been sold and are moving back to the Pacific time zone.

pic.twitter.com/VVwZHjHRgC

— Winnipeg ICE (@WHLWpgICE) June 16, 2023

The entire situation is likely a cautionary tale for all three CHL circuits: it's probably best not to relocate a team unless a suitable rink is already built or shovels are in the ground.

The Wenatchee WHL franchise will play out of the Town Toyota Center, a 4,300-seat facility that opened in 2008. Wenatchee is located between Seattle and Spokane and north of Kennewick (where Tri-City plays), making the team a natural fit in the league's American division.

While the Ice could never get things sorted off the ice, they were quite successful on it. The team has had back-to-back 50-win seasons and lost to the Seattle Thunderbirds in the WHL final this year. They have some pieces returning but are likely in for a long rebuild at some point due to a lack of draft picks.

The Wenatchee Wild and OHL's Brantford Bulldogs (formerly the Hamilton Bulldogs) will be the only CHL teams in new homes in 2023-24.