SN's 2nd Round Predictions

Did you know the second round of the President Cup Playoffs began last night? Well they did. Here are our predictions for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s quarter-finals.

Baie Comeau Drakkar (1) vs Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (10)

Kevin Chambers: The Drakkar had little trouble dispatching the Shawinigan Cataractes in four straight games but should face a tough test in the Huskies. Both teams are capable of scoring goals in bunches. The biggest difference in this series will be the depth and goaltending of the Drakkar.

Drakkar 4 - Huskies 1

Jamie Tozer – Baie Comeau is my pick to win the league this year so I will pick them to win this series. It is the logical choice. A confident Huskies team should give the Drakkar a good test, though. It seems like in the recent past it’s been the second-round that causes good teams some difficulties. Drakkar in 5.

Halifax Mooseheads (2) vs Gatineau Olympiques (8)

Kevin: This should be a closer series than some might think. Halifax has plenty of offensive weapons but Gatineau has no shortage of firepower either. The difference in this series may just come down to the defense and goaltending both of which favour the Mooseheads.

Mooseheads 4 - Olympiques 2

Jamie: This has the potential to be a close series, especially with Gatineau being Gatineau. Should be a good challenge for the Moose and, if things go there way, get them well prepared for the rest of the playoffs. Mooseheads in 5.

Krys Commits To NTDP

USA Hockey's National Team Development Program announced yesterday that defenseman Chad Krys will join the U.S. National Under-17 Team for the 2014-15 season.

Krys, a Connecticut native, is viewed as the best player available for the upcoming 2014 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Entry Draft. He’s been ranked No. 1 by HockeyProspect.com in their last few rankings.

From the USA Hockey website:

Krys skated in 27 games for the New Jersey Rockets 19U team. The defenseman scored one goal in one exhibition game and accumulated 30 points (8-22) in 26 regular season contests.

The Saint John Sea Dogs won yesterday’s draft lottery and will pick first overall. Unless they can get Krys to commit to Saint John before the draft, it’s probably unlikely they use the top pick on him. Krys will likely be taken somewhere in the draft but, at this point, it’s hard to say if he’ll ever play in the league.

The 2014 QMJHL Entry Draft is on Saturday, May 31 in Sherbrooke.

Remparts Named Memorial Cup Host

If you haven’t heard, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League awarded Quebec City the 2015 Memorial Cup tournament today.

The Remparts and Chicoutimi Sagueneens were the only teams to bid on the tournament. The selection committee chose Quebec “based on the fact that their bid had all the elements from top to bottom to convince us that they would present an excellent 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup: great hockey team, good organizing committee and superior installations.”

Today’s decision could potentially be huge for the Saint John Sea Dogs. This certainly makes the Remparts an even more attractive destination for players next season. They’ve been able to attract plenty of top talent in the past and you have to wonder if they may try and land Jack Eichel, the American forward who is one of the top prospects for the 2015 NHL Draft.

The Sea Dogs currently hold Eichel’s rights, and although it would be awesome to see him playing in a Saint John jersey, the assets the team would get in return for trading him would be greatly beneficial in the team’s quest to peak in 2017. No matter where Eichel ends up playing next season he is likely in the NHL come the 2015-16 campaign.

But, y'know, maybe Eichel will fulfill his commitment to Boston University and spend the entire season there and none of this speculation will even matter. We shall see.

In related news, the Sagueneens said they are uncertain on whether or not they will bid on the 2017 Memorial Cup. The 2015 tournament will be the third straight time the QMJHL has awarded the tournament to a Quebec city so there will probably be some added pressure on the league to give it to a Maritime city come 2017. 

Sea Dogs Will Pick First Overall

The Saint John Sea Dogs didn’t win a lot of games this past season but they got a huge victory today.

The Sea Dogs won today’s draft lottery over the Sherbrooke Phoenix, winning the right to pick first overall in the 2014 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Entry Draft this May.

"As an organization, we are excited to have the first pick overall," said Sea Dogs General Manager Darrell Young in a release. "This gives us greater flexibility, and there are a few high-end offensive players to choose from."

This will be the fourth time the team has held the first overall pick, having previously pick first in 2005 (Alex Grant), 2006 (Yann Sauve), and 2007 (Simon Despres).

The 2014 QMJHL Entry Draft will also be the second straight year that the Sea Dogs have picked in the top three having taken Nathan Noel third overall last year.

The Dogs may have been able to get the player they wanted with the second overall pick but, as Young notes, this creates some flexibility for the team and they could possibly trade down if they feel its appropriate. Exciting times are ahead.

The 2014 QMJHL Entry Draft is on May 31 in Sherbrooke.

Gallant Inducted Into Hall

Last night at the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Golden Puck Awards, former Sea Dogs head coach Gerard Gallant was inducted into the league’s Hall of Fame.

As a league press release notes, Gallant “is the only member in QMJHL history to win the President Cup four times in his combined roles of player (2) and head coach (2). As a hockey player with Sherbrooke in 1982 and then in 1983 with Verdun, Gallant would taste the joy of the championship series.”

Also from the league release:

In 2009-10, he made a comeback in the QMJHL, this time as head coach of the Saint John Sea Dogs (New Brunswick). The team won three consecutive regular season titles. In addition, Gallant’s team won the grand final of the playoffs in 2011 and 2012. In 2011, the Sea Dogs won the Memorial Cup as Gallant could count on a talented brigade including Jonathan Huberdeau, Stanislav Galiev, Jacob DeSerres, Nathan Beaulieu and Simon Després. 

Therefore Gerard Gallant has maintained in the regular season, the best career winning percentage for a coach in the QMJHL (.791). Unsurprisingly, he twice won the Ron-Lapointe Trophy, awarded to the coach of the year, at the end of the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons.

Gallant, of course, is currently an assistant coach with the Montreal Canadiens. The QMJHL website has an article on him here.

Jean-Luc Phaneuf, Norman Caisse, and Patrice Brisebois were also inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Today, the host city for the 2015 Memorial Cup will be announced. That is between Quebec City and Chicoutimi. Also, the team that will select first overall in the QMJHL Entry Draft will be determined. That is between Saint John and Sherbrooke and will take place around 12:45 PM AST.

The Coin Flip Is Coming

Thurs at noon in Montreal we will draw against @PhoenixSherbroo for the 1st overall pick in this June draft! Let's keep our fingers crossed
— Wayne Long (@WayneLongSJ) April 1, 2014

According to Sea Dogs President Wayne Long, the coin flip/draw thing between the Saint John Sea Dogs and Sherbrooke Phoenix which will determine who selects first overall in the upcoming QMJHL Entry Draft will take place tomorrow.

The Sea Dogs have had good luck in the coin flip in the past, picking first overall in 2005, 2006, and 2007. This will be the second straight season that the team picks in the top three.

The QMJHL Entry Draft takes place on May 31^st in Sherbrooke.