Notebook: New Auger Rumour Surfaces

The latest Sebastien Auger trade rumour comes from Steve Carr, a Mooseheads colour analyst for News 95.7.

@CH_WillyPalov @BKELLOWAY @StephRDSJunior hearing Auger from SJ to CB for 2 1st round picks is all but done. Could explain Bureau trade.
— Steve Carr (@scarr15) May 13, 2014

This seems like a weird deal from a Cape Breton perspective given that Auger will only be around for this season. From a Saint John standpoint, this would be a terrific return for a 20-year old goaltender.

The Chronicle Herald’s Willy Palov also tweets that Remparts goaltender Callum “Booth is Saint John's No. 1 target but Quebec is reluctant. First-round picks are plan B for Sea Dogs.”

“Auger is available but he hasn't been dealt yet,” Palov added. “Just passing on the prices”

COYLE

Charlie Coyle’s season came to an end last night as the Chicago Blackhawks eliminated the Minnesota Wild from the playoffs. Patrick Kane scored in overtime to give the ‘Hawks a 2-1 win in Game 6.

Last night, Coyle had three shots in 21:29 of ice time. In 13 post-season games this year, he recorded three goals and four assists.

BEAULIEU

Nathan Beaulieu had a good night on Monday. Playing in his first Stanley Cup Playoff game, the defenseman setup a key goal in the Montreal Canadiens’ 4-0 victory over the Boston Bruins.

Beaulieu’s long feed up ice found Max Pacioretty at 15:24 of the second period to give the Habs a 2-0 lead at the time.

The former Sea Dogs defenseman also had one shot and was a +2 in 9:36 of ice time.

Nathan Beaulieu's last playoff game was May 5th 2012 for Saint John Sea Dogs vs Rimouski in QMJHL
— Paul Hollingsworth (@PaulHReporter1) May 12, 2014

Game 7 is tonight in Boston.

Foreurs Win President's Cup

The Val-d’Or Foreurs are 2014 President's Cup Champions.

The Foreurs defeated the Baie-Comeau Drakkar 4-3 in Game 7 tonight at the Henry Leonard Centre, earning them the title of Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champs and a trip to the MasterCard Memorial Cup in London.

It looked as though the Foreurs were going to cruise to victory as they held a 3-0 lead near the midway mark of the third. But since this is junior hockey, the Drakkar made some kind of comeback and tied the game with three goals in less than nine minutes. Jeremy Gregoire tied the match at 18:01, turning the Henry Leonard Centre into more of a madhouse than it usually is.

But, at 19:08, the beast that is Anthony Mantha scored to put Val-d’Or in front and they would hang on from there.

Foreurs goaltender Antoine Bibeau, who faced 43 shots in this game alone, won the Guy Lafleur Trophy as Most Valuable Player.

This is Val-d'Or's first QMJHL title since 2001. Meanwhile, the Drakkar suffered their second straight President's Cup final series loss.

The Foreurs begin the Memorial Cup tournament on Friday night against the host Knights. The Guelph Storm and Edmonton Oil Kings are also at this year’s CHL championship tourney.

Dogs Release 10th Anniversary Logo

The Sea Dogs released their tenth anniversary season logo this morning.

"We are thrilled with the look and style of our ten-year logo," said Sea Dogs president Wayne Long in a release. "I think it captures the excitement we all feel for this season and beyond.

"It's hard to believe we are entering our tenth year as an organization. I can't be prouder of the accomplishments we have had, both on and off the ice."

The logo is much for creative and colourful than the team’s fifth anniversary logo that simply featured the Roman numeral ‘V’ behind the team logo.

The team also stated in the release that the logo "will be featured on the team's website, in news releases and various promotional and merchandising materials through the course of the season.” 

10th Anniversary Logo Coming Soon

It's coming............#10thAnniversary #logo #thisweek #watchforit
— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SeaDogsHockey) May 12, 2014

Cool? Cool.

More Info On Cooper Deal

The Guardian newspaper in Charlottetown is also reporting today that the Sea Dogs have traded Oliver Cooper to the Islanders in exchange for two first-round picks.

The Guardian also reports that “the Islanders will send the 15th overall pick in this year’s draft to Saint John along with its own pick in 2016.”

If this is all accurate, this now means that Saint John will have at least the first overall and 15^th overall pick in this year’s first-round. Obviously this could change again by the time draft day arrives.

The QMJHL trading period begins on May 30 and the Entry Draft will be held the following day in Sherbrooke.

In other news, Mikael Lalancette of TVA Sports reported yesterday that Sea Dogs head scout Christian Vermette will be joining the Quebec Remparts as an assistant general manager. Vermette has been Saint John’s head scout for the past four seasons and was the team’s co-GM following the firing of Mike Kelly this past October.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation

Notebook: Happy Anniversary

Two years ago last night, Stanislav Galiev and Tomas Jurco each had five points as they led the Sea Dogs to their second consecutive President Cup title.

Galiev had three goals and two assists while Jurco recorded two goals and three assists in Saint John’s 8-0 victory in Game 4 over the Rimouski Oceanic, completing the series sweep. Zack Phillips, Jonathan Huberdeau, and Danick Gauthier each had a goal and an assist. Mathieu Corbeil made 24 saves for the shutout.

Never forget.

Q FINAL

The Baie-Comea Drakkar are a win away from the President Cup.

The Drakkar took a 3-2 series lead in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s championship series with a 6-5 victory over the Val-d’Or Foreurs on Friday night. Game 6 is tonight at 5pm at the Air Creebec Centre in Val-d’Or.

The winner of the series will also represent the QMJHL at the 2014 Memorial Cup in London. The Guelph Storm confirmed their participation in the CHL’s championship tournament with a thrilling Game 5 win on Friday over the North Bay Battalion.

HUBERDEAU

At the IIHF World Championships in Belarus, France stunned Canada with a 3-2 shootout victory on Friday. Jonathan Huberdeau didn’t record a point or shot in 9:58 of ice time. He wasn’t used in the shootout.

Canada got back on track on Saturday with a 4-1 win over Slovakia. Huberdeau had one shot in 12:21 of ice time.

Canada’s next game is on Monday against the Czech Republic.

COYLE UPDATE

Charlie Coyle had an assist in the Minnesota Wild’s 4-2 Game 4 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, evening the second round series at 2-2. Coyle also had one hit in 17:32 of ice time.

Game 5 is tonight at 10pm in Chicago.