Report: Huberdeau Could Become AHL Eligible

A report from TVA Sports yesterday could have a big impact on the 2012-13 Saint John Sea Dogs.

TVA Sports reported that certain exceptions could be made to the traditional CHL-NHL agreement that would allow 19-year olds to play in the American Hockey League this season.

Here’s what Patrick Caisse wrote, as translated by Cam Charron of Buzzing The Net:

If National Hockey League players are locked out on September 16, a few 19-year old players could make the jump to the American League. 

The rule normally states that a CHL player cannot play in the AHL until he is 20 years old. 

TVA Sports has learned that certain influential members of the hockey world are working right now for an exemption for first round selections from the 2011 NHL Draft, players who would be prepared to spend their 19-year old season in the NHL. 

Among the players affected by the possible exemption are notably forwards Jonathan Huberdeau, Ryan Strome and Mark Scheifele, among defenders Dougie Hamilton and Ryan Murphy. 

"I still don't know what's going to happen with all that," said Huberdeau, when questioned on the subject. "I know there's a possibility I could play with the Panthers' farm team, but there's nothing on that right now." 

In the eventuality where players could quit junior hockey for the AHL, affected clubs will be compensated. [TVA Sports]

It wouldn’t be shocking if this report proved to be true. We’ll see what happens.

The Florida Panthers farm team is the San Antonio Rampage. Their season begins on October 13 against the Texas Stars.

Photo Credit: Marc Henwood/Station Nation

Nearing Some Milestones

By Kevin Chambers

SN Staff

With the 2012-13 season approaching we take a look at some of the milestones that some of the veteran players are close to achieving.

Jonathan Huberdeau - Should last year's captain return for another season in Saint John he would not only have the chance to set some personal milestones, but also eclipse some franchise records. Huberdeau is currently 12 goals shy of the 100 goal plateau, needs 26 assists to reach 150 assists, and 38 combined points would give him 250 points on his stellar QMJHL career. With two additional combined points Huberdeau would surpass longtime Sea Dog fan favorite, Michael Kirkpatrick, who currently holds the franchise record with 251 career points as a Sea Dog. Should Huberdeau play in 45 games he would also reach 200 games played.

Kevin Gagne - Another long time fan favorite and a Steady Eddy, Kevin Gagne is close to reaching some significant milestones of his own this season. Gagne needs to play in 51 games this season to set a franchise record for games played as a Sea Dog with 289, a record currently held by Mike Thomas. Gagne would first hit the 250 game mark in 12 games and could potentially reach 300 games played if he can play in 62 games this season. Another milestone Gagne is close to reaching is his career assists mark. Gagne is currently 20 assists shy of the 100 assist plateau.

Pierre Durepos - Another Steady Eddy, Pierre Durepos won't have to wait very long to reach his first milestone. In fact, his first game of the year will mark Durepos' 200 career game. Should Durepos remain in Saint John for the duration of the season (no trade), 250 games is likely for the durable overage defender.  Durepos is also 23 points shy of reaching 100 points in his QMJHL career with the Sea Dogs.

Stephen MacAulay - Another long time Sea Dog player entering his 5th season with the club is just 29 games shy of playing in his 250th career game all of which have been with the Sea Dogs. Known for his excellent work ethic and strong defensive play MacAulay is just seven points shy of reaching 100 points in his career here.

Ryan Tesink - The Saint John native needs just five games to reach the century mark for games played. Sinker is also only 25 points away from hitting 100 point mark.

A couple of other players are close to reaching their 150th game played in Saint John. Aidan Kelly is 21 games away while Jason Cameron is 42 games from hitting the same mark.

Photo Credit: Marc Henwood/Station Nation

Busy Night For The CHLPA Twitter

On a Sunday night during the Labour Day long weekend, the CHLPA decided to take to Twitter and post estimated revenue numbers that each Canadian Hockey League team generated during the 2011-12 season.

The CHLPA tweeted several times that the numbers were ticket sales alone and did not include pre-season or playoff sales.

Here’s what they posted for Saint John’s ticket revenue.

Saint John est tickets sold for 2011/12 = 155,060 with est revenue of $2,465,454.00 . Just in ticket sales alone

— CHLPA (@theCHLPA) September 3, 2012

Nobody is quite sure how they determined the revenue estimates, but as Luber’s Lounge notes, there seems to be some issues with some estimates. No surprise there. It's hard to say how accurate the PA's estimates are.

Buzzing The Net has ranked all 60 teams and the league averages based on the CHLPA's numbers. The CHLPA has the Calgary Hitmen bringing in the most ticket revenue with $10,485,862 while the Val-d’Or Foreurs are at the bottom with $470,184.

The QMJHL average was $1,748,107.94. The CHL average was $2,719,177.38.

So, the CHLPA says that CHL teams make a lot of money off ticket sales. Cool. But how much profit these teams are making is the big question.

Meet The New Sea Dogs

There will be plenty of new and unfamiliar faces at Harbour Station this week when Saint John Sea Dogs training camp starts up again.

Some players were just drafted by the Sea Dogs a few months ago. Some have been to camp before but have seen limited game action. Others already have CHL experience but will be wearing a Saint John jersey for the first time.

Here’s a look at the many new players who will be hitting the ice at camp this week. Any player who hasn’t played at least 10 games as a Sea Dog was included.

FORWARDS

Jakub Izacky – one of Saint John’s two new import players, the Sea Dogs selected him 52^nd overall in the CHL Import Draft. The Czech forward recorded five goals and nine assists in 41 games with the HC Trinec under-20 team last year. The 6’00”, 187 lbs forward will turn 19 in November.

Marcus Cuomo – A seventh-round pick of the Sea Dogs in June’s draft, the 17-year old recorded 22 goals and 13 assists in 25 games with the St. John’s Privateers of the Newfoundland Midget AAA ranks. He also had 23 points in just eight playoff games which was a league high. In three pre-season games with the Sea Dogs he has two goals and an assist.

Matthew Highmore – Selected eighth overall by the Dogs in June, Highmore had 13 goals and 13 assists in 25 games with the Dartmouth Major Midgets last season. He added 11 points in 16 playoff matches. He had surgery to repair a dislocated shoulder in late-May. He did not attend Sea Dogs rookie camp last month.

Andreas Tsogkas – The 19-year old from Toronto played 44 games with the Ontario Hockey League’s Brampton Battalion last season, recording a goal and four assists. In 2010-11 he registered two goals and 10 assists in 52 games with the Battalion.

Spencer Smallman – Listed at 5’11” and 162 lbs, Smallman was a fourth-round pick of Saint John in June. Smallman scored 16 goals and 25 assists in 34 games with the Fredericton Canadiens of the NB/PEI Major Midget Hockey League last year. He had another four goals and 13 assists in 10 post-season contests. Smallman has three assists in two pre-season games with Saint John, a team high.

Sea Dogs Notebook

SEASON TICKETS

The Sea Dogs announced yesterday that they have a goal of selling 2,700 season tickets for this upcoming season.

“Our fans helped us reach our goal last season, and we think they can do it again,” team president Wayne Long said in a release.

The Sea Dogs averaged 4,561 fans per game at Harbour Station last season while icing one of the best teams in the country. Attendance will probably dip this season, but it’s hard to say by how much.

“This year, we are not going to focus on the past. We have made history over the last three years, but that is not our focus this season,” Long said. “Our focus lies on the ice for the 2012-13 season and beyond. Our fans have made the journey all that much better, and we are looking to them to join us on the next run.”

Season ticket and flex pack information can be found on the SeaDogs website. Single game tickets are now on sale as well.

SHOWCASE

Some more stuff from the NHLPA’s Rookie Showcase that was held earlier this week in Toronto. Former Sea Dogs Tomas Jurco, Nathan Beaulieu, and Charlie Coyle took part in the event that saw prospects sign memorabilia, have photos taken, and do other promotional stuff.

The Upper Deck website has some video and photos from the event which includes Beaulieu opening a pack of cards and Jurco showing off some skills at the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Trading card company Panini America has blog posts with a bunch of photos.

Panini America On Location: A Live Gallery from the 2012 NHLPA Rookie Showcase

Panini America On Location: Day Two at the 2012 NHLPA Rookie Showcase (Updated)

Panini America’s Final Photo Farewell from the 2012 NHLPA Rookie Showcase

The Hockey News has an interview with Tomas Jurco from the Rookie Showcase.

Single Game Tickets Now On Sale

Tickets to all 34 Saint John Sea Dogs regular season home games are now on sale. Tickets can be purchased at the Harbour Station box office, online, or by calling 506-657-1234.

Here are the 2012-13 walk-up ticket prices according to the Sea Dogs website.

                                      Upper Bowl          Lower Bowl         
Adult                                $15.00                   $17.00                
Senior*/Student                $14.00                   $16.00                
Youth*                             $11.50                   $13.50
             
Prices include all applicable taxes.
Each ticket is subject to a $1 service fee.
*Senior is 60 years and older.
**Youth is ages 2 - 14. Under 2 years is free.

The Sea Dogs open the regular season on Thursday, September 20 against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan at the Station where the team is expected to celebrate their 2011-12 championship campaign.

Other highlights on the home schedule include four games against the very talented Halifax Mooseheads, two home matches against the rival Shawinigan Cataractes, and the annual New Year’s Eve game against the Moncton Wildcats returns to Saint John this year. Their final home game is on Friday, March 8 against the Titan. The full Sea Dogs schedule can be found here.

All Friday games will begin at 7:30pm, Sunday games at 3pm, and all other contests at 7pm.

The Sea Dogs have four pre-season games remaining. Two of them will be played at Harbour Station, including this Saturday’s match against the Wildcats.