Notebook: MacIntosh back in MHL

SAINT JOHN - Aiden MacIntosh has found a new home.

MacIntosh, who had a goal and two assists in 13 games with the Sea Dogs this season, is back in the Maritime Hockey League where he dressed for the Fredericton Red Wings on Saturday night. It was MacIntosh's first game in the MHL since the 2017-18 season.

The 18-year-old had been used sparingly by the Sea Dogs this season, and it makes sense for him to be playing somewhere he'll get ice time. It didn't take long for MacIntosh to find the scoresheet, recording a goal and an assist for the Red Wings in his debut.

In a radio interview during the first intermission of Sunday's Sea Dogs game, Sea Dogs president and general manager Trevor Georgie said MacIntosh hopes to return to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League at some point.

Meanwhile, Sea Dogs forwards Alexis Belisle and Jeremie Jacob have been healthy scratches for a couple weeks now - much like MacIntosh had been.

Reports: Cowan to stay interim head coach for remainder of season

SAINT JOHN - It wouldn't come as a surprise to see Jeff Cowan remain interim head coach of the Saint John Sea Dogs for the remainder of the 2019-20 season - and reports indicate that may just happen.

TVA Sports' Mikael Lalancette reports that Cowan will finish the season as the club's bench boss.

On m’indique que Jeff Cowan va terminer la saison comme entraîneur-chef chez les Sea Dogs. On verra ce que l’équipe fait ensuite. #tvasports

— Mikaël Lalancette (@MLalancetteTVA) December 2, 2019

RDS' Stephane Leroux reports something similar.

En discussion avec Trevor Georgie le DG des #SeaDogs lors de notre baladodiffusion"Sur la Glace" il mentionne qu'il y a de tres bonnes chances qu'aucun entraîneur ne soit engagé d'ici la fin de la saison-On a confiance en Jeff Cowan qui a été adjoint avec 4 ent.differents #LHJMQ

— Stephane Leroux (@StephRDSJunior) December 2, 2019

Cowan was named Sea Dogs interim head coach following Josh Dixon's firing this morning. Cowan has been a part of the team's coaching staff since the Mike Kelly era in 2013-14.

“Jeff has been behind the bench with us for seven seasons as an assistant coach or associate coach," said Sea Dogs president and general manager Trevor Georgie in a news release. "He has worked under four different head coaches, we won a President Cup together in 2017, and now want to give him the opportunity to lead behind the bench and in the room. He has lots of playing experience and life experience that he can share with our young group. He has lived the highs and lows of a pro hockey player and knows what it takes.”

Cowan will be behind the Sea Dogs bench on Wednesday when the club visits the Gatineau Olympiques. Game time is 8:30 p.m.

Dixon move had to be made

SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs' decision to fire head coach Josh Dixon comes as no surprise - but at the same time, the announcement was surprising.

It appeared that the Sea Dogs were going to ride with Dixon this season no matter how south things turned. There have been numerous loses and stretches of poor play that were textbook "coach killer" moments - but nothing happened. On top of that, the team has been playing noticeably better (although still consistently underperforming, many would argue) which makes the timing of Dixon's firing an interesting one.

According to a team press release, president and general manager Trevor Georgie said that timing was due to a 30-game check point.

Dixon leaves the Sea Dogs with a woeful record of 39-108-12-6 in 165 regular season games - but the ugly numbers can only be blamed on him so much. His first season was basically year zero of Saint John's rebuild and last year the real, slow climb upward began. Even great, experienced coaches could only do so much with what those rosters consisted of.

This season was supposed to be different though. Not a championship caliber team, but a team that showed signs of growth and potential. That hasn't exactly happened so far, with the team just not looking right. When the Sea Dogs get off to good starts, they fall apart late. When they have bad starts, they turn it on too late to make a comeback. Consistency has been an issue. There have been too many games lost against teams they are capable of beating. Sure, these issues are all signs of a young, rebuilding team - but this same team needs to show that they are learning from these problems and making fixes. That hasn't been seen - and now they'll try to do so with Jeff Cowan running the show.

BREAKING: Dixon done

SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs have fired head coach Josh Dixon.

The team made the announcement this morning via press release. While it is not shocking to see Dixon relieved of his duties, the timing is interesting. There were a number of times over the past few months that seemed like a more logical time to make this move. Perhaps Saturday's collapse against the Shawinigan Cataractes was the final straw.

Jeff Cowan has been named the team's interim head coach.

More to come...

RECAP: Sea Dogs win 2-1 (OT)

FINAL: Blainville-Boisbriand 1, Saint John 2 (OT)

SAINT JOHN - Maxim Cajkovic was the overtime hero on Sunday at TD Station.

Cajkovic converted on a two-on-one with Nicolas Guay 53 seconds into the extra frame to give the Saint John Sea Dogs a 2-1 win over the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.

Cajkovic, who had been held pointless over the past two games, recorded a goal and an assist in the game. Brady Burns also scored while goaltender Noah Patenaude had his best performance as a Sea Dog, making 38 stops to earn his second straight win.

It was a fairly evenly played contest on Sunday. The Sea Dogs held control for much of the second half with the Armada feeling the fatigue of playing their third game in three days. The Armada had a few chances late in the third to pull ahead, but Patenaude was terrific and made the the stops he had to make.

The win erased some of the memories of Saturday's ugly collapse against the Shawinigan Cataractes. The Dogs now head out onto the road for three straight.

Simon Pinard scored the Armada's lone goal. Backup Olivier Adam made 40 saves in the loss.

The Sea Dogs website has a full game recap.

Game Day 29: vs Armada

SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs will look to start a new winning streak today.

The Sea Dogs had their three-game winning streak come to a rough ending last night, blowing a 3-0 lead in a 4-3 loss to the Shawinigan Cataractes. Today they'll be taking on a St. John's Fog Devils Monteal Junior Blainville-Boisbriand Armada team that will be playing its third game in three days.

Game time this afternoon is 3 p.m.

TV/Radio/Webcast: None/Sea Dogs Radio Live/QMJHL Live

Records: The Sea Dogs are 11-16-1-0 for 23 points (fifth Maritimes, ninth Eastern, 15th QMJHL) while the Armada are 13-12-1-1 for 28 points (third West, sixth Western, 13th QMJHL).

Last games: The Sea Dogs are coming off a 4-3 loss to the Shawinigan Cataractes last night at TD Station. James White, Brady Burns and William Villeneuve scored for Saint John. Zachary Bouthillier made 32 saves in the loss. The Armada are coming off a 3-0 loss in Halifax last night. Emile Samson made 43 saves in the loss.

2019-20 head-to-head: The Sea Dogs are 1-0-0-0 against the Armada this season while Blainville-Boisbriand is 0-1-0-0 against Saint John.

Last meeting: Nov. 9 in Boisbriand where the Sea Dogs defeated the Armada 6-2. Nicholas Deakin-Poot had a hat trick in that game while singles came from Dawson Stairs, Ben Badalamenti and Matt Gould. Blake Richardson and Luke Henman scored for the Armada. Zachary Bouthillier made 40 saves in the win. Olivier Adam made 31 saves in the loss.