Reynolds invited to WJAC camp

Peter Reynolds will have the opportunity to play on the international stage for a second time this season.

The Saint John Sea Dogs 2019 second round pick was invited to Canada West's selection camp ahead of this year's World Junior A Challenge in Dawson Creek, BC. Reynolds was one of 44 players invited to take part in the camp, which will take place in Calgary from Dec. 1-3.

Reynolds has been playing with the BCHL's Chilliwack Chiefs this season where he has six goals and 10 assists in 20 games.

The Fredericton native recently participated in the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and had one assist in five games. Current Sea Dogs forward Joshua Roy played on the same team as Reynolds at the tournament and recorded two goals and two assists.

Reynolds is committed to Boston College for the 2022 season - but the Sea Dogs are no doubt hoping he decides to take the major junior route before then. The forward participated in Saint John's development camp this past summer.

The World Junior A Challenge begins on Dec. 7.

Mann-Dixon, Canada East Finish 4th

Friday was a good day for Russian goaltenders.

While Ilya Sorokin made 51 saves in a 2-1 overtime victory over Canada in world junior pre-tournament action, Ilya Samsonov made 46 saves in a 2-0 win over Canada East in the bronze medal game of the World Junior A Hockey Challenge.

According to Hockey Canada, Samsonov set a tournament record for saves in a shutout.

Sea Dogs goaltending prospect Blade Mann-Dixon was at the other end of the ice and made 27 saves in the loss. It was another solid outing for Mann-Dixon who had a strong tournament despite Canada East having its struggles.

Here’s how he performed in each game:

Dec. 14: 21 saves in 4-3 loss to Switzerland

Dec. 16: 43 saves in 3-2 loss to the United States

Dec. 17: 38 saves in 4-2 win over Canada West

Dec. 18: 40 saves in 7-1 loss to the United States

Dec. 19: 27 saves in 2-0 loss to Russia

Mann-Dixon finishes the tournament with a 3.34 goals against average and a .909 save percentage.

The United States plays Denmark for gold today at 4:30 p.m. The game can be seen on TSN.

Photo: Hockey Canada

DiDomenico To Play At Spengler; Mann-Dixon Goes For Bronze Tonight

Chris DiDomenico will play for Team Canada at this year’s Spengler Cup.

The 25-year old has been playing overseas for the past three years. This season, he has 19 goals and 24 assists in 27 games with Langnau of the National League B in Switzerland.

The Spengler Cup, an annual club team tournament that features a Canadian national team, begins on Boxing Day. Canada will play host HC Davos in their first game. The championship game will be held on New Year’s Eve.

DiDomenico spent two-and-a-half seasons with Saint John and became the team’s first major offensive star. He was traded to Drummondville during the 2008-09 trading period in what proved to be one of the most significant in team history.

In 203 career QMJHL games, the Woodbridge, Ont. Native registered 90 goals and 161 assists. He added 19 goals and 56 assists in 43 playoff games.

DiDomenico was a sixth-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2007 NHL Draft. He later had his rights traded to the Chicago Blackhawks.

He spent the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons playing in the AHL and ECHL before moving to Italy to play.

This will be DiDomenico’s second time playing for Team Canada. In 2009, he helped Canada win gold at the world juniors in Ottawa.

In other international news, Blade Mann-Dixon and Canada East will play for bronze at the World Junior A Hockey Challenge tonight against Russia. After making 38 saves in a 4-2 win over Canada West on Wednesday, Mann-Dixion allowed seven goals on 47 shots in a 7-1 loss to the United States last night. The US will face Nikolaj Ehlers and Denmark for gold tomorrow.

Photo: Twitter

Mann-Dixon Named To Canada East

Blade Mann-Dixon will be participating in the World Junior A Challenge.

The Saint John Sea Dogs prospect was named to Canada East’s roster for the annual event. Only two goaltenders were named to the team.

Mann-Dixon, an 11^th-round pick of the Sea Dogs in this year’s QMJHL Entry Draft, started the year in Saint John and posted a 4.56 goals against average and .852 save percentage in the two games he appeared in.

He was reassigned to the Maritime Hockey League’s Valley Wildcats a couple weeks ago. The Wildcats picked Mann-Dixon with the first overall pick in the 2013 MHL Draft and went on to win rookie of the year honours last season.

With Valley this season, the 17-year old is 2-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .930 SV%.

After being held in Yarmouth the past two years, the World Junior A Challenge is being held in Kindersley, Saskatchewan this year. Canada East plays an exhibition game against Russia on Friday. Their first tournament game will be this Sunday against Switzerland.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation