RECAP: Comeback Kids. Dogs Win 3-2.

FINAL (OT): Shawinigan 2, Saint John 3

SAINT JOHN – What a game on Saturday night at Harbour Station.

The Memorial Cup champion Saint John Sea Dogs needed overtime to defeat the Memorial Cup hosting Shawinigan Cataractes 3-2. The win extended Saint John’s home winning streak to 15 games.

The Sea Dogs had a sloppy first period and were down 1-0 at intermission. The Cataractes then went up 2-0 in the second before the Sea Dogs turned it on. Saint John managed to tie the game and send it into overtime where Nathan Beaulieu scored the game-winner on a power play.

Oliver Cooper and Zack Phillips had the other Saint John goals. Phillips’ goal extended his point streak to 21 games. Goaltender Mathieu Corbeil picked up the win, making 37 saves.

Shawinigan had goals from Maxime Le Sieur and Michael Bournival. Gabriel Girard made 29 saves in the loss.

Although it wasn’t the prettiest game of the year, it was certainly one of the most entertaining. The two teams meet three more times this season.

LIVE BLOG: Cataractes vs Sea Dogs

GAMEDAY 33 - vs Cataractes

GAMEDAY

Shawinigan Cataractes vs Saint John Sea Dogs

Tonight, December 3, 2011 at 7pm

Harbour Station

PREVIEW

SAINT JOHN – Two teams that hope to see each other in May will meet for the first time this season tonight at Harbour Station.

The Memorial Cup hosting Shawinigan Cataractes roll into Saint John to face the Memorial Cup defending Sea Dogs this evening at 7pm. Normally, two of the top teams in the league facing off against each other would be a big enough storyline. But what happened off the ice last April will be everyone’s mind.

The two teams will forever be linked after the 2012 Memorial Cup selection committee chose Shawinigan over Saint John. Cape Breton and Halifax also had bids, but everyone knew going into decision day that it would come down to the Sea Dogs and Cataractes.

“We wish Shawinigan all the best, but we know our organization had an outstanding bid from top to bottom. An incredible amount of work went into this bid and we felt Saint John showed it was by far the best option as a Memorial Cup host city,” Sea Dogs majority owner Scott McCain said in reaction to the news in a release. “We’re obviously disappointed but, having said that, we respect the decision and our organization will move forward.”

The choice has created a bizarre little rivalry that should development quite nicely as the season goes on. How many rivalries have been created off stuff that happened solely off-ice? But the Sea Dogs and Cataractes will play each other a maximum four times this season, and with both teams being serious contenders, the hate level can only get bigger.

The Cataractes are viewing tonight’s game as a hugematch. Hopefully the Sea Dogs are doing the same.

Shawinigan enters play tonight with a record of 20-8-1-2 for 43 points. They sit second in the Telus East Division and fourth overall in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. They are 8-4-1-1 on the road this year.

Saint John is 24-7-0-1 for 49 points. They sit first overall in the QMJHL and are winners of three straight. They have been dominant on home-ice this year, having lost just one of their 15 games at Harbour Station. They have outscored opponents 81-34.

In the BMO CHL MasterCard Top 10 Rankings this week, the Sea Dogs were ranked second while the Cataractes were No. 6.

Why D'Aoust Was Suspended

Here is the official reasoning behind the Olivier D’Aoust suspension. From the QMJHL website:

The disciplinary prefect of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Raymond Bolduc, suspended today Moncton Wildcats left-winger Olivier Daoust for 8 games. The suspension was given following an extreme game misconduct for a check from behind which occurred during the November 29th game against the Saint John Sea Dogs. 

Here is the rationale which led to the decision: 

- The player at fault was in the neutral zone at the opposing team’s blue line. He accelerated and took 7 to 8 strides and let himself slide for the last 20 feet. 

- His opponent was facing the boards at the goal-level red line. He was in a vulnerable position and didn’t see the player at fault coming towards him. The player at fault hit his opponent with force in the back and finished his check with his arm close to the neck. 

- The opponent placed himself in a vulnerable position. However, the player at fault had the time to react and avoid partial or full contact. The opponent’s head hit the glass with force. 

- The opponent suffered an injury on the play. 

- The distance traveled, speed and force of the impact were determining factors which led to the decision. 

The decision was rendered after reviewing the videotape of the incident, gathering the testimonies from the players and the organizations involved, reading the officials’ report and consulting the independent committee in the matter of disciplinary sanctions. 

The video of the incident will be available in the next few days.

Here is the footage of the hit.

D'Aoust Gets 8 Games For Seed Hit

The verdict is in – Oliver D’Aoust has been suspended eight games by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for his hit on Jason Seed.

The play took place in the third period of Tuesday’s 2-1 Saint John Sea Dogs overtime win over the Moncton Wildcats at the Coliseum. The Wildcats forward drilled the Sea Dogs defenseman from behind and into the end boards. D’Aoust was given a game misconduct and major penalty for his actions while Seed left the game and did not return.

D’Aoust has three goals and two assists in 26 games with the Wildcats this season. He has served a team high 66 penalty minutes.

As luck would have it, the left winger will be eligible to play on New Year’s Eve when the Wildcats host the Sea Dogs. Moncton and Saint John meet once prior to New Year’s as they play each other on December 18 at the Moncton Coliseum.

Personally, I’ve found the QMJHL’s suspensions this season to be a little weak – especially in comparison with the OHL. But eight games for the D’Aoust hit seems appropriate.

There was another questionable hit in that game as Danick Gauthier appeared to get his elbow up on Brandon Gormley. According tothe QMJHL website, the Wildcats filed a complaint to the league but it was rejected. Wildcats head coach and director of hockey operations, Danny Flynn, was fined $500. 

The video of the play isn't great, but I'm a little surprised Gauthier didn't get something. Still not sure how the officials didn't call a penalty on that play. 

Sea Dogs Notebook

PHILLIPS NAMED FIRST STAR

The QMJHL named Sea Dogs forward Zack Phillips the first star for November yesterday.

“In 13 games, the Saint John Sea Dogs forward tallied five goals and 18 assists while posting a +13 rating,” states the league’s website. “Phillips established a new team record by recording at least one point in 20 consecutive games. With a total of 48 points, he trails league-leader Zach O’Brien by only four points. Phillips registered 16 of his 23 points during the Sea Dogs’ eight road games. Phillips has been a key offensive producer in the absences of Stanislav Galiev and Jonathan Huberdeau.”

Quebec Remparts forward Mikhail Grigorenko, who netted a hat trick against Saint John a couple of weeks ago, was named second star. Moncton Wildcats goaltender Roman Will, who suffered a 2-1 overtime loss to Saint John on Tuesday, was the third star.

MOVEMBER

The Sea Dogs announced their Movember results yesterday.

According to a Sea Dogs release, “the team solicited donations throughout the month, amassing nearly $2,000 towards the cause. Sea Dogs Chairman and CEO Scott McCain matched that amount Thursday, bringing the total to nearly $4,000.”

Stephen MacAulay raised $490, the most on the team. In a social media poll issued by the Dogs, fans voted Spencer MacDonald as the best moustache grower while Mathieu Corbeil was named the worst.

RAISING THE ROOF

The Sea Dogs also announced yesterday they “helped promote another community cause this week, making a donation to the Raising the Roof campaign to fight youth homelessness.

“The team purchased red toques for players, coaches and staff, and posed for photos wearing the distinctive headwear, which is being sold to raise money for the Saint John Youth House project.”

Toques can be purchased at the Human Development Council on the 3rd floor of the City Market, or go to http://www.raisingtheroof.org/ to order online.

Here is a SeaDogsTV video about the campaign.