Quick Hits: The WJC is officially coming

SAINT JOHN - It's official: the World Junior Hockey Championship is coming back to Atlantic Canada.

Hockey Canada confirmed media reports Thursday afternoon that the event will be co-hosted by Halifax in Moncton from Dec. 26, 2022 to Jan. 5, 2023.

“Hosting the World Juniors twice in less than six months is a unique opportunity for our organization and Canadian hockey fans, and with the IIHF’s need to find a host, we were in the position to entertain bids from passionate hockey communities across the country,” said Hockey Canada president and chief operating officer, Scott Smith, in a news release. “We appreciate the hard work and efforts put forth by the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and we strongly believe in the plans they have in place to host a successful event in Halifax and Moncton. We know the work of the host committees and volunteers will leave a lasting impression on each community, the competing teams and the fans who will travel to experience this best-on-best competition.”

We did it! The IIHF World Junior Championship is coming to Moncton and Halifax!#WorldJuniors 🏒🥅🎉 https://t.co/s7G9QcvLdY pic.twitter.com/XEM8LWKSLl

— Government of NB (@Gov_NB) May 5, 2022

According to the Hockey Canada news release, "fans eager to purchase tickets for the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship in Halifax and Moncton can enter the 2023 World Juniors Priority Draw for their chance to purchase tickets when they become available. Further ticket information will be announced at a later date."

In pre-COVID times, there would typically be pre-tournament games played in surrounding cities like Saint John. We'll see what happens with that come December.

Game Day: Round 1, Game 2 vs Oceanic

SAINT JOHN - Every playoff game is a big game, but tonight's Game 2 between the Saint John Sea Dogs and Rimouski Oceanic feels like it's gotten a lot more important over the past 12 hours.

The Oceanic surprised the Sea Dogs with a 3-1 win in Game 1 on Thursday, grabbing a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five opening round series. Game 2 takes place tonight at 7 p.m. at TD Station before the series shifts to Rimouski for the next two contests.

There's really no debating that Thursday's game was the Sea Dogs' worst performance in months. The team couldn't get much of anything going offensively and made some defensive missteps that led to Oceanic goals. Now the big question is: how will the Sea Dogs respond?

No playoff run goes completely smooth - there are always bumps. But the great teams find a way to rebound from losses and make adjustments. Tonight's game could tell us a lot about this Sea Dogs team.

The Sea Dogs hadn't lost since March 27 before Thursday's defeat. They haven't lost back-to-back games since late February. 

TV/Radio/Webcast: None/93 CFBC/CHL TV

Capacity/Proof of Vaccination/Masks: 100%/None/Not mandatory

Series status: Rimouski leads the first round, best-of-five series 1-0.

Series schedule/results:

Game 1 - May 5 Rimouski 3, Saint John 1
Game 2 - May 6 Rimouski at Saint John 7 p.m.
Game 3 - May 9 Saint John at Rimouski 8:30 p.m.
Game 4 - May 10 Saint John at Rimouski 8:30 p.m.*
Game 5 - May 12 Rimouski at Saint John 7 p.m.*
*If necessary

Playoff records: The Sea Dogs are 0-1-0 this post-season while the Oceanic are 1-0-0.

Recap: Sea Dogs lose 3-1

FINAL: Rimouski 3, Saint John 1

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - The President Cup playoffs are off to a rough start for the Saint John Sea Dogs.

The Sea Dogs struggled to generate quality scoring chances and were a bit sloppy defensively at times in a what proved to be a fairly low event game, falling 3-1 to the underdog Rimouski Oceanic. Rimouski now leads the best-of-five first round series 1-0.

Saint John opened the scoring just 5:29 in when Riley Bezeau scored from a sharp angle. The Sea Dogs weren't able to continue that positive momentum though as scoring chances seem to dry up as the game moved along.

Rimouski did what they had to do, limiting Saint John chances and taking advantage of their opportunities. Shots in the game ended 32-26 in favour of the Sea Dogs but dangerous shots were 14-12 in favour of the Oceanic.

Rimouski's Louis Robin tied the game early in the second period after Saint John was unable to clear the puck.

In the third, Julien Beland scored on an odd-man rush, ripping a wrist shot top corner on Thomas Couture to give Rimouski their first lead at 13:08. Xavier Cormier scored into an empty net at 18:54 to make it a 3-1 final.

The Sea Dogs were generating some offensive zone pressure prior to Cormier's empty net goal but could not connect.

Gabriel Robert made 31 saves in the win. Couture made several key stops when the game was tied, finishing with 23 saves.

Reports: Halifax/Moncton land 2023 WJC

The World Junior Hockey Championship is reportedly returning to the Maritimes.

According to multiple media reports, the 2023 tournament will be hosted by Halifax and Moncton. An official announcement is expected today.

WJC Update - Look for an announcement later today about the host cities for the 2023 World Juniors. Nothing confirmed but there's a lot of speculation about Halifax/Moncton.

— Jeff Marek (@JeffMarek) May 5, 2022

As reported first by @JeffMarek the #Sens and OSEG bid was passed over by Hockey Canada for the 2023 IIHF world junior. Tournament is expected to be in Halifax/Moncton.

— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) May 5, 2022

Expect n official announcement early this afternoon confirming Halifax/Moncton have been awarded the 2023 World Junior Hockey Championship.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) May 5, 2022

The 2023 event was originally set to be held in Russia but the IIHF removed the country's hosting rights following its invasion of Ukraine.

The tournament will presumably begin this coming Boxing Day and wrap up in early January.

It's been 20 years since the much hyped junior tournament has been held in Atlantic Canada. Halifax and Sydney hosted the 2003 world juniors - a tournament that is still talked about to this day because of the electric arena atmosphere.

Game Day: Round 1, Game 1 vs Oceanic

SAINT JOHN - On this day 10 years ago, the Saint John Sea Dogs were heading into Game 2 of the President Cup final after a 3-2 double overtime win the night before.

The Sea Dogs' opponent 10 years ago? The Rimouski Oceanic, the same franchise that the Sea Dogs will face tonight in Game 1 of the 2022 President Cup playoffs opening round.

It's sure to be an unusual playoff with the first three rounds being best-of-five series. But it's nice to have "real" playoff hockey back after last year's provincial tournament thing.

The Sea Dogs, who ended the regular season on a 15-game winning streak, are the heavy favourites against the Oceanic. Saint John is an older, more experienced team with a lot more star power and depth - but they also have more pressure on them to perform than any other team. They Sea Dogs have clearly handled that pressure well down the stretch, now we'll see how they perform when the games have much more meaning.

Game time tonight at TD Station is 7 p.m.

TV/Radio/Webcast: None/93 CFBC/CHL TV

Capacity/Proof of Vaccination/Masks: 100%/None/Not mandatory

Series status: This is the first game of the first round, best-of-five series.

Series schedule/results:

Game 1 - May 5 Rimouski at Saint John 7 p.m.

Game 2 - May 6 Rimouski at Saint John 7 p.m.

Game 3 - May 9 Saint John at Rimouski 8:30 p.m.

Game 4 - May 10 Saint John at Rimouski 8:30 p.m.*

Game 5 - May 12 Rimouski at Saint John 7 p.m.*

*If necessary

Memorial Cup events announced

SAINT JOHN - Several 2022 Memorial Cup events were announced Wednesday.

The Canadian Hockey League and the Host Organizing Committee released a long list of events that will surround the tournament's game schedule. The list includes a number of concerts taking place at the soon-to-be-constructed Area 506 Waterfront Container Village.

Highlights from the CHL's news release are below:

• Saturday, June 18: "five events counting two community-based projects including a legacy mural near the host venue as well as a new, state-of-the-art ball hockey platform. A ball hockey tournament presented by J.D. Irving Ltd. spans the week as the first of six themed street parties dubbed the One for All District."
• Also on Saturday, June 18: "an open-air concert at the new AREA 506 Waterfront Container Village dubbed the Port City Party – a concert featuring the Juno Award-winning band The Strumbellas. Memorial Cup pass holders will benefit from priority admission as space is limited. The night finishes off with a fireworks display presented by CIBC and Day & Ross."
• Sunday, June 19 features "the the Arrival of the Cup through a unique Uptown Rally event including a parade that will take the Memorial Cup from Long Wharf to the AREA 506 Waterfront Container Village."
• Monday, June 20 kicks off Fan Fest, Bash on the Bay and the games themselves.
• "Fan Fest takes place from Monday, June 20 to Wednesday, June 29 in Market Square including an exhibit from the Hockey Hall of Fame as well as the weeklong Speaker Series presented by Deloitte with speakers reflecting the One for All concept."
• "Bash on the Bay takes place at the AREA 506 Waterfront Container Village and will feature performances from talent from across Canada including Big Wreck, Alan Doyle, Classified, Matt Mays, and more. Performances are scheduled for either before or after game time, with games broadcasted on the big screen for sold out games. Memorial Cup pass holders will be offered priority admission as space is limited. General admission will be offered based on capacity." More details in the image above.
• Also taking place during the tournament: "on-ice skills sessions have been organized and will be run by elite male and female leaders including past and present personalities from the CHL and NHL."
• The final note in the CHL's release: "Olympic medalist Curt Harnett will host a bike rodeo and community bike ride on Saturday, June 25. The public is encouraged to attend to learn new skills, decorate, and tune their bikes for this family-friendly event."

That's a lot to take in.