Notebook: Hurtubise impressive in debut

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Nikolas Hurtubise did something on Friday night that hadn't been done by a Saint John Sea Dogs goaltender in over two years: record a shutout.

That long length of time is a little misleading given how few games the Sea Dogs have played over the past two years compared to normal times. But still - that's a long time.

The last Sea Dogs shutout was recorded by Zachary Bouthillier, who made 32 saves in a 3-0 home win over the Baie-Comeau Drakkar on Jan. 12, 2020. Bouthillier had two shutouts during the 2019-20 season that ended abruptly due to COVID.

Hurtubise wasn't tested a ton on Friday, facing only 17 shots. But he was sharp when he had to be and made a few very nice saves.

Friday's contest began a stretch of five games in eight days for the Sea Dogs. We'll likely see Thomas Couture in action soon with Noah Patenaude still out with an injury suffered in December.

FAMILIAR FACES

It looks like Christopher Inniss could make his Chicoutimi Sagueneens debut on Wednesday against the Sea Dogs.

The overage defenseman was placed on waivers by Saint John at the trade deadline and was picked up by the Sags. Inniss was handed a two-game suspension for high sticking in Saint John's last regular season game on Dec. 18, a suspension that will presumably be served this weekend when the Sags host the Halifax Mooseheads and Charlottetown Islanders.

After this weekend's pair of games, Chicoutimi's next contest is on Wednesday against the Sea Dogs.

Inniss is just one of a few former Sea Dogs that Saint John will see in their first five games of the restart. They'll also be seeing Evgeny Sapelnikov (Baie-Comeau) and Alex Drover (Rimouski).

LONG TIME NO SEE

Folks, these are crazy times we live in.

• Last time the Armada visited Saint John (before Friday): Dec. 1, 2019
• Last time the Oceanic visited Saint John: Oct. 31, 2019
• Last time the Sea Dogs visited Baie-Comeau: Feb. 1, 2020
• Last time the Sea Dogs visited Chicoutimi: Jan. 31, 2020
• Last time the Sea Dogs visited Rimouski: Jan. 28, 2020

POWER RANKINGS

Stephane Leroux of RDS has moved the Sea Dogs all the way up to No. 2 in his latest QMJHL power rankings. Only the Charlottetown Islanders were ranked higher.

Rounding out the top five are Sherbrooke, Shawinigan and Quebec.

Recap: Sea Dogs win 4-0

FINAL: Blainville-Boisbriand 0, Saint John 4

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - The new look Saint John Sea Dogs made a strong first impression on Friday night at TD Station.

Playing in their first game since Dec. 18, the Sea Dogs had a fairly easy time with a rebuilding Blainville-Boisbriand Armada team, picking up a 4-0 win. Shots in the game ended 40-17 in favour of Saint John.

After loading up at the trade deadline, the Sea Dogs dressed seven new players who have had just a couple weeks of practice time. Saint John got off to a bit of a slow start - perhaps some signs of rust - but seemed to get better as the game went along.

William Dufour scored his team leading 23rd goal of the season in the first period. Marshall Lessard and Brady Burns each scored power play goals in the second period. Philippe Daoust was given credit for a goal early in the third period to make it 4-0 final.

Despite not being tested a whole lot, newcomer Nikolas Hurtubise looked very comfortable in net, making 17 stops in the shutout win. He came up with a few big saves - including one on a penalty shot in the second period.

Game Day 31: vs Armada

SAINT JOHN - A revamped Saint John Sea Dogs team takes to the ice tonight at TD Station.

There won't be many fans in the building due to weather and COVID restrictions, but there will be plenty of new faces in the lineup when the Sea Dogs take on their expansion cousin St. John's Fog Devils Montreal Junior Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. Players acquired during the holiday trading period include:

#1 - G Thomas Couture

#19 - F Philippe Daoust

#21 - F Nicholas Blagden

#27 - F Connor Trenholm

#46 - D Vincent Sevigny

#55 - F Raivis Ansons

#63 - F Marshall Lessard

#70 - G Nikolas Hurtubise

The hope is, obviously, that this new Sea Dogs team comes flying out of the gate. But these are a lot of new players who have had only a couple weeks of practice time. No player has appeared in a game since Dec. 18. Things will take time to come together.

Including tonight's contest, Saint John has 38 games left on its schedule (fingers crossed they all happen). Every game is not a must-win, but the team would be wise to quickly start climbing up the standings to get into a more favourable playoff position.

Game time tonight is 7 p.m.

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

Capacity/Proof of Vaccination/Masks: 50%/Required/Required

Records: The Sea Dogs are 15-12-0-3 for 33 points (fifth Maritimes/seventh Eastern/11th QMJHL) while the Armada are 15-12-2-1 for 33 points (second West/fourth Western/10th QMJHL).

Last games: The Sea Dogs last played on Dec. 18 where they fell 4-3 to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan at TD Station. William Dufour, Nathan Drapeau and Josh Lawrence all scored for Saint John. Jonathan Lemieux made 37 stops in the loss. The Armada are coming off a 4-3 overtime loss in Val-d'Or on Dec. 18. Mikael Denis scored a pair of goals while Alexis Gendron added a single. Charles-Edward Gravel made 23 stops in the loss.

Numbers from the first half

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - Will William Dufour make Saint John Sea Dogs history in the second half?

Dufour sits in a tie for second overall in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League scoring with 47 points in 28 games. With the league planning to play its full 68-game schedule, the Sea Dogs have 38 games remaining (fingers crossed) which gives the New York Islanders prospect plenty of time to rack up more points.

The Sea Dogs franchise record for points in a season is 105, which was set by Jonathan Huberdeau in 2010-11. Huberdeau is the only player in team history to record 100 points or more in a single season - but Dufour certainly has a shot at joining him.

Dufour also registered an impressive 22 goals in his first 28 games. The franchise record belongs to Danick Gauthier, who scored 47 in 2011-12.

Here's hoping COVID doesn't impact Dufour's record chase.

Jeremie Poirier, meanwhile, is nearing some franchise history as well.

Concessions to reopen; pedway closed

SAINT JOHN - Concessions will be open for this weekend's Saint John Sea Dogs home games at TD Station.

Saint John's final home game of the first half back in December did not allow food or beverages. That rule has been changed as the Sea Dogs finally open their updated second half schedule with a Friday home match against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and a Sunday contest against the Rimouski Oceanic.

Like that Dec. 18 game, social distancing will be enforced and seating will be on a first come, first serve basis.

The City will also be keeping its pedway closure in place. The pedway between the Aquatic Centre and TD Station will be closed 90 minutes before game time and remain closed until 90 minutes after.

Here's a full rundown of the COVID protocols that will be in place:

• According to the TD Station website, "the main lobby will be limited by the 6' social distancing mandate. This may mean a longer wait time outside the building before entry."
• According to the Sea Dogs, "everyone with a ticket will be allowed to enter TD Station for the game, this includes season tickets and single-game tickets. For those of you with flex tickets who would like to attend a game, flex ticket redemptions will be limited to 200 on game-days."
• All tickets will become general admission and fans will choose their seats on a first come, first serve basis. Fans are encouraged to sit with friends and family who are in their bubbles.
• Social distancing will be enforced, which means "one row in front, one behind, and three seats in between each group." As the seating chart above shows, every second row will be closed off.
• The existing two-dose vaccination requirements and masking rules will remain in place. Those aged 11 and younger do not need to be fully vaccinated to enter the building but must be accompanied by a fully vaccinated adult. 

The other two New Brunswick QMJHL clubs will also be in action this weekend and will have similar protocols in place. The Acadie-Bathurst Titan's protocols can be found here and the Moncton Wildcats' here.

Sea Dogs' final Quebec road trip a go

The Saint John Sea Dogs' final Quebec road trip of the regular season will go ahead as planned.

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League unveiled the league's schedule for Feb. 7-13 on Tuesday afternoon. The Sea Dogs will play three games during that stretch - all three of which were included in the team's original 2021-22 season schedule.

The Sea Dogs will visit the Baie-Comeau Drakkar on Tuesday, Feb. 8 for an 8 p.m. contest before travelling to Chicoutimi to face the Sagueneens on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 8:30 p.m. They'll close out the road trip with a Friday, Feb. 11 matchup against the Oceanic in Rimouski.

This will be Saint John's final voyage into Quebec until the playoffs. They made three trips to the province in the first half.

The Sea Dogs will play their first game since Dec. 18 this Friday at TD Station. Here is what Saint John's first five games of the restart look like:

Friday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. vs Armada

Sunday, Feb. 6 at 3 p.m. vs Oceanic

Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 8 p.m. at Drakkar

Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 8:30 p.m. at Sagueneens

Friday, Feb. 11 at 8:30 p.m. at Oceanic

The three games in Quebec next week will have a capacity limit of 500 fans.

According to the league, "the schedule for games to be played between Feb. 14 and April 3 will be released no later than Feb. 11. As for the balance of the 2021-2022 regular season calendar, it will be published at the end of the current month."