Sea Dogs News and Other Stuff

The Sea Dogs have a couple of days to prepare for two back to back games against the Halifax Mooseheads. The following couple of articles in todays local newspaper reflect on the Sea Dogs looking beyond their incredible winning streak that ended against the Moncton Wildcats on Sunday afternoon.

Dogs look past streak
Kevin Barrett Telegraph-Journal
Tuesday December 15th, 2009

Good depth and great health were two of the main factors in the Saint John Sea Dogs electric winning streak, says head coach Gerard Gallant.

Photo  by Noel Chenier/Telegraph-Journal

Saint John Sea Dogs coach Gerard Gallant has two days to prepare his Quebec Major Junior Hockey League leading team for back-to-back games against Atlantic Division rivals the Halifax Mooseheads.

The teams play Thursday in Saint John and Friday in the Nova Scotia capital. Sunday, the Dogs' team-record run ended at 22 games with a 7-3 loss to the Moncton Wildcats, their first setback since a 4-0 decision Oct. 13 in Charlottetown against the Rocket.

And while the Dogs will soon focus on Halifax and a two-game series later this week, an off day Monday gave time for a quick dose of perspective.

"The biggest thing is that, knock on wood, we stayed real healthy for two months," Gallant said. "We have had very few injuries this year and we did not have any sickness like some of the other teams like Moncton and P.E.I. did."

In the run, Saint John outscored the opposition 107-44 and was able to win in various fashions.

In half of those victories, the Dogs scored five goals or more and in 16 of the contests, Saint John limited the opponent to two goals or fewer.

They took two games in a shootout, including a 3-2 victory over Baie-Comeau Oct. 30 when the Dogs tied the contest in the final seconds of regulation before pulling out the triumph.

"The depth of our hockey team was another big thing," Gallant said. "A lot of different guys chipped in on different nights. We have our top players like any other hockey team but I think the depth of our hockey team, night in and night out, was the reason why we kept on winning."

The streak started Oct. 17 with a 3-2 overtime victory over Moncton at Harbour Station and ended at the Coliseum Sunday, three games short of tying the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League record of 25 set in 1973-74 by the Sorel Eperviers.

"It would have been great to get the record but it is not a major issue. It is nothing that we set our goals on at the start of the season," Gallant said. "Obviously, 22 games, two months without losing a hockey game, is an unbelievable feat."

As a result, the Dogs (30-5-1 for 61 points) have pulled away in the standings, 18 points clear of Moncton, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton - who are tied with 43 points in a log jam for second place in the Atlantic Division.

Also, Saint John is 11 points ahead of defending league champion Drummondville in the race for top spot overall.

Saint John is back in action Thursday, when it hosts the Halifax Mooseheads in the front half of a home-and-home series. The second game goes Friday in the Nova Scotia capital.

After that, the team will break for the holiday before returning for a Dec, 27 contest in Bathurst against the Titan.

"We are looking forward to getting our team ready for the next step," Gallant said. "We are trying to hang onto first place and first overall would be great, it is one step at a time. There are two and a half months left before playoff hockey starts. Hopefully we have good fortune, we stay healthy and get ready for a long playoff run."

Moncton does Saint John a favour

Tuesday December 15th, 2009

Peter McGuire

The Saint John Sea Dogs received an early Christmas present on Sunday in the form of a genuine butt-kicking.

As everyone knows by now, the Moncton Wildcats handed the red-hot Sea Dogs their first loss in two months and snapped a 22-game Quebec Major Junior Hockey League winning streak, registering a 7-3 victory in front of almost 5,300 fans at the Coliseum.

Why should this be considered a gift?

It not only showed the Sea Dogs that they aren't invincible, it showed them that they're going to have their hands full come playoff time if they don't pull the trigger on a couple of deals during the trade window, which opens Saturday and runs until Jan. 7.

The Atlantic Division is widely considered the strongest in the league with the Prince Edward Island Rocket and Cape Breton Screaming Eagles rounding out the top four teams. The Acadia-Bathurst Titan are also a good bet to make the playoffs. None are pushovers.

Moncton was hitting on all cylinders Sunday and seemed to outshine Saint John between the pipes and on the blue-line with new goaltender Shane Owen outduelling Marc-Antoine Gelinas and defenceman Mark Barberio putting on an impressive display at the back end for Moncton. His play made some fans on hand wonder why he wasn't invited to the national junior final selection camp.

Yes, it is true that the Sea Dogs were playing their third game in less than three days but it should also be pointed out that the Wildcats were without defenceman Brandon Gormley, who was attending the national selection camp, and injured Russian import Kirill Kabanov.

Now that the Wildcats know they can stack up to the league's top dogs, you can expect owner Robert Irving to be a buyer during the trade period.

No one was more pleased or more involved in Sunday's victory from a Moncton standpoint than Irving. Enthusiastically offering encouragement from over top of the glass behind the Wildcats' bench and pacing the mezzanine like a caged tiger, this man would like nothing better than to knock off its chief rival.

Which brings us to the Brunswick News Rivalry Cup, a season-long competition between Moncton and Saint John that involves on-ice and off-ice success.

The Wildcats picked up two points for the victory and another full point for achieving at least 80 per cent capacity.

Saint John now leads the competition 5.5 points to 5.

The next meeting between the two teams is New Year's Eve in Moncton.

AROUND THE "Q"

NEW BOSS:

The new coach of the Lewiston Maineiacs - Jean-Francois Houle - has a New Brunswick connection. He played 69 regular-season games for the Fredericton Canadiens from 1997-99, recording 30 points for the American Hockey League club.

He is the son of former NHL player and general manager Rejean Houle. J.F. Houle will join the Maineiacs after the Christmas break.

He replaces Don MacAdam, a former coach at the University of New Brunswick, who was fired as head coach and president last week. The Maineiacs are mired in a 15-game losing streak.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:

Moncton Wildcat goaltender Shane Owen was named the defensive player of the week after recording a 3-0 record, including Sunday's win over the Sea Dogs. He posted a 1.67 goals-against average and a .944 save percentage. Jonathan Audy-Marchessault of Quebec (three goals, six assists, plus five rating) was the offensive player of the week.

WILDCATS SIGN TOWERING FREE AGENT

The Moncton Wildcats have added size and toughness. Tyler Howe, 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, will make his Wildcats debut when they face the Halifax Mooseheads in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action tonight at 7 p.m. at the Moncton Coliseum.

The 18-year-old native of Falmouth, Mass. had four assists and 118 penalty minutes in 30 games this season as a rookie defenceman for the Melville Millionaires of the Saskatchewan Junior A Hockey League. He ranked third in the league in penalty minutes.

"He's a big, strong kid who has pretty good skill level and a pretty good understanding of the game,'' said Moncton head coach and director of hockey operations Danny Flynn after signing Howe as a free agent yesterday.

"He's a classic late bloomer. He played midget AAA in the Boston area last season. I think the long-term goal down the road is to use him as a defenceman. He can make opponents pay the price. For now, the plan is to play him both as a defenceman and forward and bring him along slowly.

THE MAGIC ENDS BUT THE DREAM GOES ON

The magic ended in Moncton for the Saint John Sea Dogs on Sunday. Disappointed? Yes.  Discouraged? No way.  In the five years of the Saint John Sea Dogs franchise, this is our dream team. Winning 22 consecutive games was an incredible run and we fans are proud our Sea Dogs squad.

There are no excuses for the loss yesterday. The fact is that the Sea Dogs were beaten by a Wildcats team that deserved the win but one loss does not a losing team make.  As Sea Dogs fans we can look forward to an exciting remaining season of hockey in Saint John as our Sea Dogs team look to make a playoff run and when the playoffs begin anything is possible.

Despite Sunday’s loss, Saint John remains ahead in the 2009-10 Brunswick News Rivalry Cup standings by a mark of 5.5 – 5. 

Stanislav Galiev was the "Top Dog" for the Sea Dogs scoring two of the three Saint John goals.

The following article regarding Sunday's game in Moncton appeared in our local paper this morning.

  STREAK ENDS AT 22
  Monday December 14th, 2009
by Scott Briggs, Telegraph Journal
Road-weary Sea Dogs' run of consecutive victories halted by Moncton

Photo by VIKTOR PIVOVAROV/CANADAEAST NEWS SERVICE

Moncton Wildcats forward Daniel Pettersson goes airborne after having the puck knocked off his stick by Saint John Sea Dogs defenceman Simon Despres during the first period of Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action Sunday at the Moncton Coliseum Sunday. Moncton ended the Sea Dogs 22-game winning streak with a 7-3 victory.

Winners of 22 straight entering the contest, the Sea Dogs led 2-1 early in the second period before surrendering six unanswered goals, including four in the middle frame. The result was a 7-3 loss before 5,298 fans at the Moncton Coliseum, marking Saint John's first setback since Oct. 13. The Port City squad's memorable winning streak started with a 3-2 overtime home win over Moncton on Oct. 17. Sunday's affair was the third meeting between the provincial rivals and the latest installment of the Rivalry Cup. Saint John has won twice.

Randy Cameron tallied two goals and three assists for Moncton, while Marek Hrivik potted a pair to go with one helper. Scott Brannon added a pair for the Wildcats (20-10-1-2), winners of six straight, and Mark Barberio had one. Stanislav Galiev scored twice for Saint John (30-5-1-0) and Tomas Jurco added a solo marker, finishing a nice play set up by Jonathan Huberdeau. Nick Petersen picked up two assists on the afternoon.

Saint John netminder Marc-Antoine Gelinas made 33 saves, while Moncton goalie Shane Owen delivered 27. The Sea Dogs were playing their third game in three days.

"I think fatigue was a huge factor," Saint John head coach Gerard Gallant said. "That wasn't our team out there today. But we're not going to make any excuses. Moncton played a competitive game and we talked to our guys before the game that it would be a playoff atmosphere. We had a lot of breakdowns and breakdowns happen when you're tired.

"There were a lot of bad mistakes today, but that happens. We had no energy and they took the momentum away from us. It (losing) has to happen at some point, but we won't forget."

Moncton grabbed a 1-0 lead on the game's second shift when Hrivik scored from the slot after a defensive breakdown. Saint John evened the affair when Petersen threaded a perfect pass through the middle to Galiev, who beat Owen with a breakaway goal at 13:59 of the opening stanza. The score remained 1-1 through 20 minutes, but the Wildcats hit two posts and held a 13-10 shots edge.

Galiev struck again just 25 seconds into the second period, giving Saint John a 2-1 lead. But the hosts tied the tilt when Hrivik set up Cameron on the power play at 9:42 of the middle session.

Moncton's Pierre-Marc Lessard was called for hooking at 10:55, but Barberio made a rush that ended with a short-handed goal at 11:57, a wrister that beat Gelinas on the far side. On the next shift, Brannon scored after being awarded a penalty shot, beating Gelinas high on the glove side.

The Wildcats went up 5-2 when Cameron set up Hrivik down low at 15:54.

Brannon scored again during a 4-on-3 for a 6-2 lead just 29 seconds into the third period. Cameron added another at 12:49 for a five-goal lead.

"We needed a full team effort," Moncton head coach Danny Flynn said. "That's a really talented Saint John team and we were fortunate that we caught them in three games in three nights. We know how tough that is, but having said that, I thought our goaltending was solid and we were missing (defenceman) Brandon Gormley (who's at Canada's national junior camp) and I thought our young defencemen logged some key minutes and they really responded."

Moncton's power play, fourth-best entering Sunday's game, went 3-for-6 Sunday. Saint John went scoreless in four man-advantage opportunities.

"Our special teams were good," Flynn said. "They're a really dangerous offensive team and you can't let up for a second. It's been a while since we've played them and I think we've grown as a team."

Brannon admitted the win was an emotional lift.

"We knew the importance of the game," the Moncton captain said. "They were on a big streak and we wanted to keep our streak alive as well. Once you get that taste of winning, you want to keep it going."

The Sea Dogs started their three-game road trip with Friday's 4-1 triumph over the Prince Edward Island Rocket. Saint John followed with a 6-4 victory over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan Saturday night at the K.C. Irving Regional Centre, where Michael Kirkpatrick's hat trick paced the Sea Dogs. Mike Thomas, Petersen and Gabriel Bourret added singles for Saint John, while Kevin Gagne and Mike Hoffman each had two assists. Saint John goaltender Karel St. Laurent made 28 saves and improved to 10-2. Jeremie Blain, Danick Malouin, Taylor Lambke and Patrick Jones replied for the Titan.

HISTORIC RUN:

The Sea Dogs' 22 straight wins ranks third all-time in QMHL history. The 1973-74 Sorel Eperviers (Black Hawks) hold the QMJHL record with 25 wins in a row, while the 1995-96 Hull Olympiques are second with 24. Saint John's 22 consecutive wins tied them with the 1967-68 Estevan Bruins for the fourth-best run in Canadian Hockey League history.

TITAN POUNDED:

The Acadie-Bathurst Titan suffered their third consecutive loss Sunday night, falling 7-2 to the Prince Edward Island Rocket (19-12-1-2) in Charlottetown, P.E.I. Benjamin Casavant paced the winners with three goals and Eric Bouchard added a pair while Samson Mahbod and Jarrad Struthers had singles. Jonathan Lessard and Eric Faille replied for the Titan (14-16-2-2).

Streak Ends For Sea Dogs

The Saint John Sea Dogs winning streak ended  at 22 games as the Moncton Wildcats whipped the Sea Dogs 7-3   in the Hub City this afternoon. You had a feeling that it wasn't going to be a positive outcome for the Saint John squad, when the first shot of the game results in a 1-0 lead for Moncton and when the Wildcats score a shorthanded goal and  a penalty shot while the Sea Dogs have a power play. Rookies Stanislav Galiev scored two goals and Tomas Jurco netted one in the third period. for the Dogs.

Give the Wildcats their due, they played a strong smart hockey game, taking advantage of mistakes and capitalizing on them.  The truth is the Wildcats were the better team on the ice today.

No doubt the Sea Dogs are feeling down about losing but  let's not forget they accomplished a tremendous feat in going 22 games without a loss.  Sea Dogs fans can be proud of their team's achievement, as they should be too.  Even with today's loss, the Sea Dogs are still number one in the Atlantic Division and in the Q standings.  It may be of little consolation for the Sea Dogs but the Windsor Spitfires lost their game this afternoon to the Kitchener Rangers.  Windsor is the #1 ranked team in the CHL, one spot ahead of our own Saint John Sea Dogs.     So, it's onward and upward, Sea Dogs. There's Moose on the horizon.

Game Summary

1st period

1. MON - Marek Hrivik (9) (Daniel Pettersson, Randy Cameron) 01:05
2. SNB - Stanislav Galiev (9) (Nicholas Petersen) 13:59
Penalties: MON - Randy Cameron (08:33), SNB - Jonathan Huberdeau (17:50)

2nd period
3. SNB - Stanislav Galiev (10) (Nicholas Petersen, Mike Hoffman) 00:25
4. MON - Randy Cameron (10) (Marek Hrivik, Simon Jodoin) (pp) 09:42
5. MON - Mark Barberio (3) (no assist) (sh) 11:57
6. MON - Scott Brannon (20) (ps) 12:46
7. MON - Marek Hrivik (10) (Simon Jodoin, Randy Cameron) 15:54
Penalties: SNB - Simon Després (05:42), SNB - Pierre Durepos (08:29), MON - Pierre-Marc Lessard (10:55), SNB - Kevin Gagné (12:46)(p.s.), MON - Olivier Daoust (16:58), SNB - Nicholas Pard (19:11), MON - Matthew Bissonnette (19:11), SNB - Benjamin Lecomte (19:24)

3rd period
8. MON - Scott Brannon (21) (Randy Cameron, David Savard) (pp) 00:29
9. MON - Randy Cameron (11) (David Savard) (pp) 12:49
10. SNB - Tomas Jurco (8) (Jonathan Huberdeau, Zack Phillips) 16:20
Penalties: MON - Ted Stephens (06:17), SNB - Tomas Jurco (08:50), SNB - Mike Thomas (10:55)

Goaltenders
SNB Gélinas, Marc-Antoine (L-20-4-0)
MON Owen, Shane (W-7-1-0)

Shots per period
SNB 10 + 7 + 13 = 30
MON 13 + 14 + 12 = 39

Powerplays
SNB 0 / 4
MON 3 / 6

Spectators: 5298

Match stars:
MON - Brannon, Scott
MON - Cameron, Randy
MON - Hrivik, Marek

Penalty shot:
Scott Brannon (MON) scores a goal against the goaltender Marc-Antoine Gélinas (SNB) at 12:46 in 2nd period.

SEA DOGS WIN BATTLE IN BATHURST

The Moncton Wildcats are looked on by many fans as the Saint John Sea Dogs fiercest rivals, partially due to the close proximity of these two teams and the natural competitive spirit between the two cities. However, when it comes to fierce competition no one takes a back seat to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. It only takes a few shifts on the ice before it's evident that the Sea Dogs and Titan don't like each other. So when theae teams match up you can be assured of a game full of action and excitement as was the case in Bathurst last night when the Sea Dogs battled against their provincial rivals to earn a 6-4 win.

The win means that Saint John has now won 22 straight games, tying them with the 1967-68 Estevan Bruins for the fourth-best run in Canadian Hockey League history.

Michael Kirkpatrick with a hat trick,Nick Petersen, Mike Thomas, and Gabriel Bourret all scored for the Sea Dogs in the hard-fought road victory, with Taylor Lambke, Jérémie Blain, Danick Malouin, and Patrick Jones responding for the Titan.

Karel St-Laurent improved to 10-2 after turning aside 28 of the 32 shots sent his way by Acadie-Bathurst skaters. At the other end of the ice, Nicholas Champion and Guillaume Nadeau combined to make 39 saves in a losing effort for the Titan.

Saint John got off to an incredible start on Saturday, scoring three times in the opening two minutes of play. Nick Petersen netted his 20th goal of the season at the 0:42 mark of the match, with Michael Kirkpatrick doubling the visitors’ lead just 17 seconds later.
The furious offensive barrage continued on the very next shift, as Sea Dogs Captain Mike Thomas deflected a Kevin Gagné point shot to the back of Acadie-Bathurst’s net. Guillaume Nadeau took over goaltending duties for the Titan following Thomas’ even-strength marker, as Nicholas Champion departed the game having surrendered three goals on five shots faced.

The Titan would storm back and cut into their opponents’ lead at the 6:09 mark of the first period when Danick Malouin wired a wrist shot past St-Laurent from the right face-off circle. The hosts pulled to within one of Saint John 2:42 later, as Patrick Jones beat St-Laurent from a sharp angle to improve his 2009-10 goals total to three.

Sea Dogs special teams killed off three penalties in the latter half of the opening frame to take a one-goal lead into the first intermission .

Saint John  would restore their two-goal advantage early in the second period when rookie defenseman Gabriel Bourret ripped a wrist shot past Nadeau to register his second career goal.
Michael Kirkpatrick then struck on the power play to put Saint John up 5-2. The North Sydney, NS native hammered home a booming slap shot to record his second of the night. Kirkpatrick put the finishing touches on his third career hat trick 5:20 into the third period, burying a cross-ice pass from Jonathan Huberdeau past a reinstated Nicholas Champion to put his team up by four.

Never giving up, the Titan brought the game within two with back-to-back power play goals from Taylor Lambke and Jérémie Blain, but that would be as close as the hosts would get as the Sea Dogs ultimately took the decision by a 6-4 final.

The game ended as it was played with fierce competitiveness and plenty of pushing,shoving and squaring off.

It gets no easier for the Sea Dogs looking for win number 23, as they go into another enemy camp on Sunday afternoon to face the Moncton Wildcats .

Game Summary

1st period

1. SNB - Nicholas Petersen (20) (Mike Hoffman, Stanislav Galiev) 00:42
2. SNB - Michael Kirkpatrick (10) (Yann Sauvé) 01:04
3. SNB - Mike Thomas (3) (Kevin Gagné) 01:59
4. BAT - Danick Malouin (2) (Cameron Critchlow, Jérémie Malouin) 06:09
5. BAT - Patrick Jones (3) (Jérémie Malouin, Cameron Critchlow) 08:51
Penalties:
SNB - Mike Thomas (10:28), SNB - Jonathan Huberdeau (11:27), BAT - Vincent Arseneau (13:29), SNB - Nicholas Petersen (15:03), SNB - Simon Després (15:03), BAT - Cameron Critchlow (15:03), BAT - Taylor Lambke (17:03)


2nd period
6. SNB - Gabriel Bourret (2) (Kevin Gagné) 02:12
7. SNB - Michael Kirkpatrick (11) (Mike Hoffman) (pp) 12:46
Penalties:
SNB - Zack Phillips (03:41), SNB - Zack Phillips (03:41), BAT - Vincent Couture (08:10), BAT - Jérémie Malouin (12:12)


3rd period
8. SNB - Michael Kirkpatrick (12) (Nicholas Pard, Jonathan Huberdeau) 05:20
9. BAT - Taylor Lambke (11) (Jonathan Lessard, Jérémie Blain) (pp) 06:30
10. BAT - Jérémie Blain (2) (Éric Faille, Rémi Blanchard) (pp) 10:08
Penalties:
SNB - Tomas Jurco (06:14), BAT - Cameron Critchlow (07:15), SNB - Michael Kirkpatrick (08:16), BAT - Vincent Arseneau (15:38), SNB - Danick Gauthier (18:18), SNB - Mike Thomas (18:18)(maj.), SNB - Mike Thomas (18:18)(g.misc.), BAT - Danick Malouin (18:18)(maj.), BAT - Danick Malouin (18:18)(g.misc.), BAT - Olivier Dame-Malka (18:18), SNB - Nicholas Pard (20:00)(maj.), SNB - Nicholas Pard (20:00)(misc.), SNB - Nicholas Pard (20:00)(g.misc.), BAT - Jonathan Lessard (20:00)(maj.), BAT - Jonathan Lessard (20:00)(misc.), BAT - Jonathan Lessard (20:00)(g.misc.), BAT - Éric Faille (20:00)


Goaltenders
SNB St-Laurent, Karel (W-10-2-0)
BAT Champion, Nicholas
Nadeau, Guillaume (at 01:59 per 1) (L-4-8-0)
Champion, Nicholas (at 00:00 per 3)

Shots per period
SNB 13 + 16 + 16 = 45
BAT 15 + 5 + 12 = 32


Powerplays
SNB 1 / 6
BAT 2 / 7


Spectators: 1420


Match stars:
1.SNB - Kirkpatrick, Michael
2.BAT - Blain, Jérémie
3.SNB - Hoffman, Mike

THE ROAD TRIP CONTINUES

The Saint John Sea Dogs (29-4-1-0) put their 21-game winning streak on the line tonight at 7pm when they travel north to face the Acadie-Bathurst Titan at the K.C. Irving Regional Centre.

Saint John is a perfect 4-0 versus Acadie-Bathurst thus far on the 09-10 campaign, with rookie Stanislav Galiev having recorded a team-high seven points (2G-5A) over the course of the four contests. Galiev’s line-mate, Mike Hoffman, has netted five goals in three games against the Titan this season, two of which have been of the game-winning variety.

Hoffman currently leads the Q in game-winning goals with eight, while his 21 total markers place him fourth overall in the league. The Ottawa Senators prospect is currently on pace to finish his overage season with 57GP-52G-32A-84P.

Following tonight's game the Sea Dogs will travel to the Hub City for a Sunday afternoon (4pm) match versus the Moncton WIldcats.

This contest will be the third of eight Rivalry Cup games to be played this season. Saint John currently leads the multi-faceted competition 5.5 - 2. Both teams' mascots had been scheduled to stage their second race of the year on Sunday, but the Wildcats' Wild Willie is unable to compete due to a 'lower body injury'.

Speaking of the Rivalry Cup, Neil Hodge of the Times & Transcript wrote the following article in today's paper. No pressure here, Sea Dogs fans!

Wildcats ready to roar in Rivalry Cup


The Wildcats are taking safety measures for Round 3 of the Rivalry Cup. They will face the Saint John Sea Dogs in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action tomorrow at 4 p.m. at the Moncton Coliseum. Saint John is first overall in the league and ranked No. 2 in the country.

"The Sea Dogs are on fire so we're bringing in the Moncton firefighters team that recently won the World Combat Challenge for this game,'' said Wildcats general manager Bill Schurman.
"We know there's going to be lots of emotion in this game and fans will be on the edge of their seat. There will be lots of Sea Dogs fans with high blood pressure. There will be nurses with tables set up on the mezzanine to check people's blood pressure.''
Saint John has 5.5 points and Moncton has two points in the Rivalry Cup competition between these clubs. The Sea Dogs hosted their only two meetings so far this season, winning 4-3 in a shootout and 3-2 in overtime.

The Mortgage Makers Inc. through the Military Resource Centre is providing tickets to tomorrow's game for upwards of 5,000 members of the military and their families.
Maritime singer Naomi Striemer will provide intermission entertainment and one fan will shoot for a $50,000 prize.
Season ticket holders and Kitty Kat Club members are invited to skate with the Wildcats after the game and Tim Hortons will serve hot chocolate.

Here's how the Rivalry Cup works:

* Head-to-head on ice: Two points for a win in the eight games where they face each other. One point for an overtime or shootout loss.

* Box office: Attendance for all eight games between these clubs will be calculated.

Teams are awarded a half point for 70 per cent building capacity, one point for 80 per cent, two points for 90 per cent and three points for 100 per cent.

* Holiday food drive: Five points are awarded to the club that collects the most non-perishable items during a food drive that will take place during home games against each other on New Year's Eve and Jan. 2.

* Mascot challenge: Each club will host two intermission events involving the mascots.

One point is awarded for each victory.

* Road trip challenge: Two points are awarded to the team that has the most fans show up at the opposition's arena wearing Wildcats or Sea Dogs apparel.

Fans will parade onto the ice to be counted for one designated game in each city.

"If we score four goals on Sunday, that will put the Sea Dogs on the run and we'll reduce hot dogs to $1 for the remainder of the game,'' said Schurman.
"Not to be out-dogged, if we score five goals the Roar Store will have a 50 per cent discount on Wildtown t-shirts.
"We've got a lot of things to add to the flavour of the game. If you're a true fan, you're going to want to attend this game. Even if you're not a big hockey fan, there will be lots of other entertainment around this game. Saint John is No. 2 in the national rankings and we're looking forward to hosting them for the first time this season.''

21st STRAIGHT WIN, 4-1 OVER ROCKET

Despite problems with getting to Charlottetown due to high winds and closure of the Confederation Bridge to buses and high sided vehicles. plus a 45 minute game delay, the Saint John Sea Dogs once again showed their indomitable spirit and come away with their 21st straight win.
Goaltender Marc-Antoine Gélinas came through with  a 27-save performance as the league-leading Saint John Sea Dogs defeated the P.E.I. Rocket by a score of 4-1 at the Charlottetown Civic Centre on Friday night. Saint John has now won 21 games in a row, four shy of both the QMJHL and CHL record.

After a slow start in the opening twenty minutes of play the Sea Dogs turned in a dominant performance in the second period, outshooting their opponents 20-6 while scoring twice to pull ahead 2-1 on the scoreboard. Saint John further added to their lead in the third period, ultimately taking the decision by three goals.

Nick Petersen, Mike Hoffman, Stephen MacAulay, and Nicholas Pard all scored for the Sea Dogs in Friday’s  road victory, while Adam Polasek netted the only goal for the Rocket on the evening. Anaheim Ducks prospect Marco Cousineau made 45 saves for the Rocket taking  the loss in net for the home team.

Saint John tied things up  as a net-charging Nicholas Pard buried a cross-ice feed from Stanislav Galiev at the 7:53 mark of the second period. Pard has now scored four goals in his last three games, improving his 2009-10 total to nine in the process.

Superstar winger Mike Hoffman gave the Sea Dogs their first lead of the game late in the second period, banging home a rebound produced by a Yann Sauvé point shot to register the 21st goal of his overage season.

Marc-Antoine Gélinas came up with some big saves early in the third period, backstopping his team to a pivotal early-frame penalty kill which kept Saint John’s one-goal lead in tact.

It was Nick Petersen who gave the Sea Dogs an insurance marker 13:22 into the third period, knocking a loose puck past Cousineau at the end of a lengthy scramble in the Rockets zone to record his 19th goal.

An empty-netter by sophomore centre Stephen MacAulay sealed the deal for Saint John, who take a 3-2 lead in their season series with P.E.I. by virtue of Friday’s 4-1 victory.

The Sea Dogs were leaving the Island following the game to heading toward Bathurst where they will match up with the Titan on Saturday nightat the K.C. Irving Regional Centre. Game time is 7pm as Saint John looks to improve to 5-0 versus Acadie-Bathurst this season and tie the 1967-68 Estevan Bruins (WHL) for fourth place on the Canadian Hockey League’s all-time consecutive wins list at 22.

The Sea Dogs now own an incredible record of 29-4-1-0 midway through their fifth anniversary season.

Game Summary

1st period

1. PEI - Adam Polasek (5) (Chris Doyle, Samson Mahbod) (pp) 02:43
Penalties:
SNB - Danick Gauthier (02:23), SNB - Mike Thomas (05:41)(maj.), PEI - Brendan Wright (05:41)(maj.), PEI - Benjamin Casavant (09:16)


2nd period
2. SNB - Nicholas Pard (9) (Stanislav Galiev) (pp) 07:53
3. SNB - Mike Hoffman (21) (Nicholas Petersen, Yann Sauvé) 19:40
Penalties:
PEI - Jarrad Struthers (07:17), SNB - Nicholas Pard (14:36)


3rd period
4. SNB - Nicholas Petersen (19) (Kevin Gagné, Stephen MacAulay) 13:22
5. SNB - Stephen MacAulay (3) (Nathan Beaulieu, Stanislav Galiev) (en) 17:39
Penalties:
 SNB - Yann Sauvé (00:17), PEI - Chris Doyle (02:15), SNB - Kevin Gagné (08:42), PEI - Banc (11:16), PEI - Jordon Southorn (11:16), SNB - Jonathan Huberdeau (15:15), PEI - Jarrad Struthers (15:15), PEI - Adam Polasek (16:40)(p.s.)


Goaltenders
SNB Gélinas, Marc-Antoine (W-20-3-0)
PEI Cousineau, Marco (L-9-12-0)
Cousineau, Marco (at 17:39 per 3)


Shots per period
SNB 9 + 20 + 20 = 49
PEI 10 + 6 + 12 = 28


Powerplays
SNB 1 / 5
PEI 1 / 4


Spectators: 2052

Match stars: chosen by The Local Fans
1.PEI - Cousineau, Marco
2.SNB - Hoffman, Mike
3.SNB - Petersen, Nicholas


Penalty shot:
Nicholas Pard (SNB) shot outbounds on the goaltender Marco Cousineau (PEI) at 16:40 in 3rd period.

Strong winds can't blow Dogs off course
Saturday December 12th, 2009
by Scott Briggs Telegraph Journal

Saint John nets 21st straight win despite delay getting to P.E.I. due to bridge closure. The Saint John Sea Dogs continue to use the third period to distance themselves from their Quebec Major Junior Hockey League opponents.

Photo Heather Taweel,Charlottetown Guardian

Saint John Sea Dogs forward Stephen MacAulay pursues P.E.I. Rocket forward Joel Champagne during Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action Friday night at the Charlottetown Civic Centre. Saint John erased an early 1-0 first-period deficit and downed the Rocket 4-1.

Two goals in the final frame lifted the Sea Dogs to a 4-1 win over the Prince Edward Island Rocket Friday night before 2,052 fans at the Charlottetown Civic Centre. The victory was Saint John's 21st straight, third-best in league history. The QMJHL record is owned by the 1973-74 Sorel Eperviers (Black Hawks), who won 25 straight, while the 1995-96 Hull Olympiques are second with 24 consecutive wins.

Nicholas Pard, Mike Hoffman, Nick Petersen and Stephen MacAulay scored for Saint John (29-4-1-0). Adam Polasek replied for the Rocket (18-12-1-2).

"We definitely turned it up in the second half of the game and I thought we played really well,'' Sea Dogs head coach Gerard Gallant said. "We got the cobwebs out after the first period and we were only down 1-0, and we sort of took over the game from there.''

With 8:44 left in the contest, Rocket rearguard Jordon Southorn was called for hooking, followed by a P.E.I. bench minor for unsportsmanlike conduct. The ensuing two-man advantage yielded several scoring chances, but P.E.I. netminder Marco Cousineau responded by making several great saves among the 48 he posted.

But just seconds after the Rocket were back at even strength, Petersen scored on a rebound to give Saint John a 3-1 lead. With 3:20 left in regulation, Pard was awarded a penalty shot, but the 19-year-old wired one over the net. MacAulay, however, added an empty-netter with 2:21 remaining to seal the deal. Sea Dogs goalie Marc-Antoine Gelinas made 27 saves.

"Cousineau is a good goalie and we had to get some traffic,'' Gallant said. "In the first period, we didn't have any traffic and he saw everything. Once we got some traffic and some rebounds, it was a completely different game and our confidence just started to grow.''

Danick Gauthier was called for checking from behind at 2:23 of the first period, setting the stage for Polasek's power-play goal just 20 seconds later. At 5:41 of the opening frame, Saint John captain Mike Thomas and Rocket forward Brendan Wright dropped the gloves and fought to a draw.

Shortly after the bout, Rocket forward Jordan Escott missed an open net, firing one off the crossbar from close range. P.E.I.'s Benjamin Casavant took two for tripping at 9:16, but the Sea Dogs couldn't capitalize on the ensuing power play. The hosts held their 1-0 lead through 20 minutes.

The Rocket caught a break on the first shift of the second period when Petersen missed an open cage. Cousineau came up big a few minutes later, stoning Jonathan Huberdeau in close.

P.E.I.'s Jarrad Struthers was whistled for tripping at 7:17 of the middle session, paving the way for Pard's power-play tally, a one-timer set up by a slick pass from Stanislav Galiev. Pard was called for goaltender interference at 14:36, but the Sea Dogs came through with a quality penalty kill that prevented the Rocket from getting a good scoring chance.

Hoffman made it 2-1 with 20.1 seconds left in the second stanza, burying the rebound from Yann Sauve's point shot. That was one of 20 shots the Sea Dogs had in the second period, while the Rocket failed to muster much offence, tallying just six shots.

The first shift of the third period started on a negative note for Saint John when Sauve was slapped with a holding penalty at the 17-second mark. Gelinas made several great saves on the ensuing P.E.I. power play before Rocket forward Chris Doyle took two for hooking at 2:15.

DELAYED:

The Sea Dogs' team bus couldn't cross Confederation Bridge due to strong winds as the structure was closed to high-sided vehicles. Players were picked up by shuttle vans and their equipment was transported via truck. Originally scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., the contest was postponed for 30 minutes only to be postponed again, ultimately resulting in a 7:50 p.m. start.

Weekend Games & Other Stuff

It's Game Day for the Sea Dogs who will be trying for their 21st consecutive win, as they face off against the PEI Rocket in Charlottetown tonight at 7pm.  The Rocket are the last team in the Q to defeat the Sea Dogs back on October 13th. so the stakes are high tonight for the team from Saint John who will not take this Island team lightly.  Saint John will then travel to Bathurst for a Saturday night showdown with the Titan at the K.C. Irving Regional Centre (also a 7pm start). The trip will end on Sunday afternoon (4pm) with a tough test against the Wildcats at the Moncton Coliseum.
Sunday’s match is Game Three of the 2009-10 Brunswick News Rivalry Cup Challenge, with Wild Willie and Fleaburn set to duel it out once again during an intermission contest. Fleaburn won the first battle between the two mascots back on October 17 at Harbour Station. Saint John currently leads the season-long competition 5.5 – 2 overall.
Currently in possession of an 11-point lead on Victoriaville for the top spot in the Q, Saint John is 13-2-1-0 on the road this season, the best mark in the league. The Sea Dogs are a perfect 6-0 versus their fellow New Brunswick-based teams this year. Saint John won their last meeting with P.E.I., having earned a 4-1 victory at the Charlottetown Civic Centre back on December 2.

Anatomy of a streak

Saint John Sea Dogs numbers during its 20-game winning streak:
- Goals For - 97
- Goals Against - 39
- Power Play - 26-of-91, 29 per cent.
- Penalty Kill - 80-of-104, 77 per cent.
- Overtime Wins - One.
- Shootout Wins - Two.
- Shutouts - Two.
- Home Wins - 12.
- Road Wins - Eight.

Not one of the most prolific of scorers but a player who indeed makes an huge impact on the Sea Dogs team is Mike Thomas, captain of the squad. The following article about Thomas and fellow Fredericton native Zack Phillips appeared in the Fredericton newspaper yesterday. There is also an article in the Telegraph Journal today regarding the Sea Dogs winning streak as compared to the Rimouski Oceanic's run in the days of Sidney Crosby as told by team mate Eric Neilson.

Thomas all about dogged persistence

Published Thursday December 10th, 2009
by Bill Hunt, Daily Gleaner

Mike Thomas is a Saint John Sea Dog, with a capital C.

 photo courtesy of the Saint John Sea Dogs

The decision to name Fredericton's Mike Thomas team captain of the Saint John Sea Dogs at the outset has paid big dividends for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team. With the fourth-year Thomas providing grit and on-ice leadership, the Sea Dogs are riding the wave of a 20-game winning streak, just five wins short of the all-time league mark set by the Sorel, Que. Eperviers in 1973-74.
The 19 year-old New Maryland native was named captain of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League club early in the season, the first native New Brunswicker to hold the post in the five-year history of the Saint John franchise.
Obviously, it's proven to be a wise choice.
The Sea Dogs are on a 20-game winning streak, the third longest in league history and within five of the all-time league mark of 25 straight wins set by the Sorel Eperviers (Black Hawks) in 1973-74.
While Thomas' statistical contribution hasn't been substantial - two goals, two assists and a team high 45 PIM in 23 games - he's set a solid example for a Sea Dogs squad which is ranked the second best major junior entry in the country in the latest poll.
"He's an important player for us," said head coach Gerard Gallant. "He's not a big point guy, but he's a guy who comes and competes for us every night. He's a great leader for our hockey club. We've got some really good leaders on the team and some great veteran leadership. That goes a long way."
Thomas has taken it a long way. He was the Sea Dogs' fourth round pick, 56th overall in the 2006 midget entry draft. But he's up over the 200-game mark in his major junior career now. Hard work and physical play is his forte.
"We've just been taking it game by game, and it's led us to this," said Thomas. "We just want to keep it going as long as we can."
Thomas has played the game plan to a T.
"The coaches are just trying to keep things simple and make sure that our work ethic is there," said Thomas. "Our skill will take over the offence, but defensively, we want to take care of our own end first. Everyone is just pulling in the right direction right now."
Thomas has a role in making sure it stays that way.
"I'm just trying to keep things positive," he said. "In practices, I just try to work as hard as I can. We're a really hard working team. Battling and working hard in practices carries over into the game. So I'm just trying to show up every day and do what I need to do and play my role in helping the team win. Everybody seems to be doing that."
Hence the Sea Dogs' 20 game winning streak, an advantage they'll try to stretch through the weekend when they play three road games in as many days, in Charlottetown, Bathurst and Moncton.
Thomas sat out a six game suspension for being the aggressor in a fight in a Sept. 23 game against the Rocket in Charlottetown. The Sea Dogs lost that game and two others in Thomas' absence. They've lost just one game since.
"I've kind of calmed down my game," he said. "I'm just trying to play for the team to win."
Mostly, that means blue collar work along the boards. It's not glamorous, but it's necessary.
"I'm just contributing any way I need to," said Thomas. "I think it's hard work that got us where we are. Things are going really well for us."
Phillips, the other Frederictonian on the Sea Dogs' roster, is adjusting nicely to the QMJHL, said Thomas.
"Zack is a really skilled forward and he's going to develop into a great player in the league, that's easy to see," said Thomas. "He's helped the team on the scoreboard and with his work ethic."
"From the bottom of the lineup right to the top, it's been very steady," said Gallant. "They're all contributing to this team. It's been very good."
Gallant says the Sea Dogs are "very happy" with Phillips, who has six goals and nine assists in 30 games as a rookie.
"I try to play four lines as much as I can," he said. "Our so-called fourth line, they're all three young kids and they're all exceptional players, and Zack's been A-1. We think he's developing very well."

Teams cultivate winning feeling

Friday December 11th, 2009

By Scott Briggs, Telegraph Journal

Hockey: Squads on streak come to rink expecting success

 Photo For the Telegraph-Journal

Fredericton native was part of a Rimouski Oceanic team that won 19 straight games en route to a President’s Cup championship and a berth in the Memorial Cup final. After persevering through an 11-58-3 season in 2002-03, the Fredericton native helped Rimouski to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League semifinals the following year.

Eric Neilson didn't take his success for granted when he played for the Rimouski Oceanic.

Things got even better the next season as Rimouski won 19 straight games en route to a President's Cup championship and Memorial Cup final.

"It was fun every day,'' Neilson said of the streak. "You go to the rink and you're playing for something.''

The Saint John Sea Dogs (28-4-1-0) are playing to keep their own streak alive. The Port City squad has won 20 straight entering tonight's tilt against the Prince Edward Island Rocket (18-11-1-2) at 7 p.m. at the Charlottetown Civic Centre. Saint John's streak is third best in QMJHL history. The 1973-74 Sorel Eperviers (Black Hawks) hold the record with 25 straight wins, while the 1995-96 Hull Olympiques are second with 24.

Rimouski's run at the record ended with a 5-5 tie in Baie-Comeau on March 4, 2005. Overtime solved nothing and shootouts weren't used to determine outcomes back then. After the tie against the Drakkar, the Oceanic didn't lose a game until dropping a second-round playoff contest to Chicoutimi .

"In the dressing room, the confidence was there and the presence was there,'' said Neilson, who's currently playing for the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League. "We would go out and set the tone and leave it all on the ice in the first five or 10 minutes. Everything just kind of rolled. We knew winning was fun and we wanted that feeling every night.''

A key factor in Rimouski 's success was a potent power play that featured Sidney Crosby, Marc-Antoine Pouliot and Dany Roussin up front along with Mario Scalzo and Patrick Coulombe manning the points.

"They were unstoppable,'' Neilson said. "Teams were scared every time they came on the ice.''

Rimouski's remarkable campaign created lasting memories and friendships that continue to this day. Neilson stays in touch with Crosby, Erick Tremblay, Mark Tobin and Danny Stewart.

"That was my best season,'' Neilson said. "Every time we get together, we talk about the ('04-05) season and the streak. At the time, I wish we would have appreciated it more.

"You're playing hockey, going to the gym and time goes so fast. It would be nice to go back and relive it.''

Neilson is especially happy for Sea Dogs captain and fellow Frederictonian Mike Thomas. The two box together as part of their off-season conditioning.

"He's one of the hardest working guys I've ever trained with,'' Neilson said of the Saint John forward. "He's 19 this year, so this is a big year for him. He has the potential to play pro if he keeps developing.''

Neilson was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings after the 2003-04 season, which saw him play on a line with Crosby. Thomas got a taste of the pro ranks at training camp with the Philadelphia Flyers in September.

The two often swap war stories between sparring sessions at the gym.

"His intensity and his outlook on the game and life in general is really something you can look up to,'' Thomas said of Neilson. "He's someone you try to be like.

"I could see him in the dressing room being a guy who keeps things light but still makes sure everyone is on task. Rimouski had a lot of great players, but I think in the future, you'll see a lot of great players coming from our team.''

Thomas said the streak is the result of the Sea Dogs' overall improvement.

"When I first came back, everyone was kind of scrambling and trying to play their own game,'' he said. "Now we're just like family. I think that's a big part of (our success). The chemistry is tremendous.''

Nackawic's Gordie Dwyer played part of the season for the Hull squad that won 24 straight in '95-96.

"If you have a habit of starting (games) strong, then a lot of times you have the game won in the first period,'' the former NHLer said. "We had strong goaltending (Jose Theodore) and a mentality of coming out of the gate hard.

"Your record sometimes intimidates teams coming into the game. It works on their psyche. You seem to be able to take their hope away early.''

Dwyer later played for Beauport that season and the Harfangs eliminated the Olympiques in the semifinals. Hull, however, would win the Memorial Cup the following year.

"There's always going to be some kind of success when you have those kinds of streaks,'' Dwyer said. "You learn how to win and hate to lose.

"The majority of the group stayed together and they won the Memorial Cup. It was a good group of character guys and a lot of future pros (including Colin White and Peter Worrell). Some of those guys made it on character and heart alone.''

Dwyer, now the head coach of the Summerside Western Capitals of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League, watched the Sea Dogs' 4-1 win over the Rocket on Dec. 2 in Charlottetown.

"Saint John has a great hockey team,'' he said. "They have lots of scoring and lots of depth they can roll out at you.''

Meanwhile, Sea Dogs head coach Gerard Gallant isn't consumed with the streak. He's just pleased that winning has become a habit.

"We're just focusing on getting ready for P.E.I.,'' the bench boss said. "If we win, it's 21 (straight) and if we lose, we start over.

"It's fun to have (the streak) but we just want to play. We're just trying to finish the first half strong.''

AROUND THE "Q"

COACHING CASUALTY:

The Lewiston Maineiacs Thursday announced the dismissal of president and head coach Don MacAdam. Assistant coach Jamie Dumont was also relieved of his duties. Lewiston has lost 14 straight games.

DRAFT DODGERS & NO TAMPERING:

QMJHL commissioner Gilles Courteau Thursday announced new measures to eliminate unlawful draft practices.

"A team that drafts a player has the right to expect that it is acquiring his services without any interference from other clubs," the commissioner said in a release on the league's website. "The recruitment of new players must be done through an annual entry draft system which is based upon the principle that every team can select the best player available with the expectation that the player will report to and play for the organization in question."

Courteau said some players often refuse to attend the QMJHL Central Scouting Challenge, the Top Prospects event and the annual entry draft to create confusion about their intentions, which often prevents certain teams from drafting them.

In an effort to avoid that scenario, the league's governors and hockey operations staff created a form that must be signed by a team's owner, governor and other key members of the franchise. The form states that the club will avoid using any action intended to jeopardize the selection process, including encouraging a player to lie about his intentions or trying to persuade him from talking with other teams.

Infringement on these guidelines could result in a fine of up to $100,000 and the loss of draft picks for the two seasons following the date the infraction is brought to the attention of the commissioner.

TOP DOG FOR NOVEMBER

"Top Dog" goes to the Saint John Sea Dog who records the most points during the 3 Star Selection in regular season games home and away.  The Three stars are chosen by local media.

1st star = 5 points             

2nd star =3 points                    

3rd star = 1 point

Receiving 19 points for the month  the Top Dog  For November is Mike Hoffman.

Saint John Sea Dogs  receiving Star points in November are:

Mike Hoffman        19 pts.
Nick Petersen         13pts.
Stanislav Galiev        6 pts.
Yann Sauve              5pts.
Benjamin Lecomte    5 pts.
Mike Thomas           5 pts.
Danick Gauthier        3 pts.
Pierre Huberdeau      3pts.
Michael Kirkpatrick  3 pts.
Nathan Beaulieu        1 pt.
Pierre Durepos          1 pt.
Olivier Ouellet           1 pt.

Sea Dogs In The News

Former Sea Dog Shines
In Gatineau's routing of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar last night 7-1, former Sea Dog Alexandre Leduc tallied two goals in the first period and earned first star of the game.  Way to go, Alexandre.

With still another day to go before the Saint John Sea Dogs hit the ice against the Rocket in PEI, a couple of articles that recently published may be  of interest for Sea Dogs fans.  One is about about defenceman Kevin Gagne appearing today in our local newspaper and the other about our Streaking Sea Dogs appearing in the CHL Prospects Insider.  Both articles follow.

Rearguard on mend after slapshot to knee

Published Thursday December 10th, 2009
by Scott Briggs Telegraph Journal

Sea Dogs blue-liner Kevin Gagne thinks he'll be ready to go against Rocket.
Saint John Sea Dogs defenceman Kevin Gagne is rarely idle on the ice.

Photo by Peter Walsh/Telegraph-Journal

Defenceman Kevin Gagne thinks he’ll be ready to play when the Saint John Sea Dogs take on the Prince Edward Island Rocket in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League play in Charlottetown Friday. The second-year blue-liner left Sunday’s home game against Lewiston after taking a slapshot off his right knee.

Whether he's pivoting to chase a loose puck or bolting out of his own end to lead the rush, the 17-year-old Edmundston native always has his feet moving.

But that changed when his right knee absorbed a booming slapshot off the stick of Lewiston Maineiacs defenceman Eric Gelinas during Saint John's 8-3 win on Sunday at Harbour Station.

Gelinas, the first blue-liner drafted by the New Jersey Devils in 2009, is listed at 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds on the NHL club's website. And it appeared the 18-year-old got all of that and then some behind the blast that took down Gagne.

"That was the first time I ever stayed down on the ice,'' Saint John's second-year rearguard said. "I couldn't bend my knee and when we got to the trainer's room, I couldn't move it (with full range of motion), so that's why I didn't go back out. I couldn't have skated at 100 per cent.''

Immediately after dropping to the ice, Gagne tried to get up on one leg. But he kept stumbling and losing his balance, eventually going down for good. Play continued and Lewiston eventually scored a power-play goal to pull within one just before the 13-minute mark of the second period.

But Sea Dogs winger Nick Petersen scored late in the middle stanza and the hosts added three more in the final frame en route to their 20th straight win, third most in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League history. Gagne, however, wasn't on the ice when his teammates raised their sticks to salute the fans after the final buzzer.

X-rays revealed a bruise, so Gagne spent most of Monday applying ice to his knee. He practised Tuesday and felt optimistic about suiting up for the Sea Dogs (28-4-1-0) when they visit the Prince Edward Island Rocket (18-11-1-2) Friday at 7 p.m. at the Charlottetown Civic Centre.

Saint John was victorious in that venue last week, posting a 4-1 win and 18th straight victory. The Civic Centre is also where the Sea Dogs last lost, a 4-0 setback back on Oct. 13.

"I think we have to dictate the pace and work hard,'' said Gagne, whose plus-24 rating leads Saint John's defence corps. "They forecheck pretty hard, so we have to move the puck quickly and make sure we make the right play.''

The Rocket's most recent outing was Tuesday's 3-0 loss at home to the Moncton Wildcats (18-10-1-2). Those two clubs, along with the Cape Breton Screaming (17-11-2-3) Eagles (17-11-2-3), trail the Sea Dogs by 18 points in the Atlantic Division, which is rounded out by the Acadie-Bathurst Titan (14-15-2-1) and Halifax Mooseheads (7-23-0-2). Saint John leads the Victoriaville Tigres by 11 points for the overall league lead.

After Friday's game against P.E.I., the Sea Dogs' road trip continues Saturday night in Bathurst and Sunday in Moncton against the Wildcats, winners of four straight.

Aside from being third in QMJHL history, Saint John's 20-game winning streak ranks fourth in the Canadian Hockey League record book. With 25 straight wins, the 1973-74 Sorel Eperviers (Black Hawks) own the QMJHL record and are tied for the CHL lead with the 1983-84 Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League. The 1995-96 Hull Olympiques' 24 consecutive victories ranks second in both Q history and the CHL, while the Estevan Bruins, formerly of the Western Hockey League, are third in CHL history with 22 straight triumphs in 1967-68.

"I'd rather not talk about it,'' Gagne said of the streak. "I just want to keep it going, but not focus on it.''

The Sea Dogs' other streak is holding the No. 2 spot for the fourth straight week in the Canadian Hockey League's Top Ten rankings: Following is this week's complete list of rankings and records: 1. Windsor Spitfires, OHL (25-3-0-4); 2. Saint John Sea Dogs, QMJHL (28-4-1-0); 3. Barrie Colts, OHL (25-4-0-1); 4. Calgary Hitmen, WHL (23-8-1-0); 5. Saskatoon Blades, WHL (21-6-0-3); 6. Mississauga St. Michael's Majors, OHL (21-6-2-0); 7. Victoriaville Tigres, QMJHL (22-8-1-1); 8. Tri-City Americans, WHL (21-8-0-0); 9. Drummondville Voltigeurs, QMJHL (21-9-0-2); 10. Quebec Remparts, QMJHL (20-7-2-3).

The Saint John Sea Dogs are getting more than just attention in the "Q". The CHL Hockey Prospects Insider includes the following recent article.


These Dogs are Barking

By Aaron Bell
The Saint John Sea Dogs are quickly becoming the talk of the Canadian Hockey League.

And with good reason. The Sea Dogs are riding an impressive 20-game winning streak that has vaulted them to second place in the CHL's weekly rankings.

The Sea Dogs haven't lost since a 4-0 defeat to the PEI Rocket on October 13. They surpassed the Sidney Crosby-led Rimouski Oceanic's streak of 19 games in 2004-05 for the third longest winning streak in QMJHL history. They are five wins away from equalling the league mark of 25 games set by the Sorel Eperviers in 1973-74. The Hull Olympiques won 24 in a row in 1995-96.

The Kitchener Rangers tied the Sorel Eperviers for the longest streak in CHL history when they won 25 straight games in the 1983-84 season.

"We don't know the feeling of losing and we don't want to know,'' Sea Dogs' netminder Marc-Antoine Gelinas told the Telegraph-Journal before the Sea Dogs won both of their games last weekend. "We're tied with the (league) champions from last year (when Drummondville won 18 straight) and we're one game behind Crosby's team. That means we're a pretty good team.''

The Sea Dogs have thrived under new head coach Gerard Gallant, who took over the Sea Dog's bench this season after spending four seasons coaching in the National Hockey League. He spent three seasons as the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets and was an assistant coach with the New York Islanders during the 2007-08 season.

"We've been fortunate with no sickness and not many injuries,'' Gallant said. "That's a key part of (the streak) and the schedule has been good for us. We've had some good days off and we've been rested. We play four lines quite a bit and guys get a chance to play, so we're definitely not tired.''

The Sea Dogs brushed aside the Lewiston Maineiacs 8-3 on Sunday for their 20th straight victory. It was Lewiston's 13th straight loss.

"The Sea Dogs are an excellent hockey team,'' Lewiston head coach Don MacAdam said. "Good teams and great teams know that when the game is on the line, they have to crank it up. I saw that last year when Hoffman was in Drummondville and they have a number of guys here who do the very same thing.

"I really like Gerard's defence. They're really, really composed and they handle the puck with a lot of patience and they're very calm with it. They hold the line well, they get the puck out of their zone well and if you turn the puck over, you're going to pay a price for it.''

Even though the Sea Dogs have built up an impressive 11 point cushion on the Victoriaville Tigres for first place in the QMJHL before the Christmas break, many of their wins during the streak came late in the game. Nine of the 20 contests were decided in the third period, overtime or shootout.

"You like to be a good third-period hockey team and we've done that in the past,'' Gallant said. "I think the streak has had a lot to do with it. The guys want to keep winning."

© Canadian Hockey League 2009

SEA DOGS REMAIN #2 ON CHL's TOP TEN LIST

The Canadian Hockey League unveiled its 2009-10 Week Thirteen BMO MasterCard Top Ten rankings today, with the Saint John Sea Dogs coming in at #2 on the prestigious list for the fourth straight week.
The full BMO CHL MasterCard Top Ten Rankings are:

1 – Windsor Spitfires, OHL (25-3-0-4)

2 – Saint John Sea Dogs, QMJHL (28-4-1-0)

3 – Barrie Colts, OHL (25-4-0-1)

4 – Calgary Hitmen, WHL (23-8-1-0)

5 – Saskatoon Blades, WHL (21-6-0-3)

6 – Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors, OHL (21-6-2-0)

7 – Victoriaville Tigres, QMJHL (22-8-1-1)

8 – Tri-City Americans, WHL (21-8-0-0)

9 – Drummondville Voltigeurs, QMJHL (21-9-0-2)

10 – Quebec Remparts, QMJHL (20-7-2-3)

Chasing the 1974-75 Sorel Eperviers

As we prepare for another winter storm in southern New Brunswick, it's a quiet day Sea Dogs wise.  As the Dogs prepare for their weekend games against division rivals  fans are hoping for the Sea Dogs Winning Streak to continue as the record number 25 looms on the horizon.  That's the number to beat and it belongs to the 1974-75 Sorel Eperviers and not a familiar name for most hockey fans who follow teams in the QMJHL.  Sea Dogs assistant coach Yvon Vautour has long memories of them as explained in the following article from the Telegraph Journal.

Streak kings were a scoring machine
Published Wednesday December 9th, 2009
by Scott Briggs, Telegraph Journal

Yvon Vautour still has nightmares about the 1973-74 Sorel Eperviers.

 Photo by Matthew Sherwood/Telegraph-Journal

Sea Dogs assistant coach Yvon Vautour played against the 1973-74 Sorel Eperviers, the team Saint John is chasing for the most consecutive wins in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League history. The Eperviers recorded 25 wins in a row. The Sea Dogs have won 20 straight heading into three games on the road this weekend.

"They came in waves and they came hard,'' the Saint John Sea Dogs assistant coach said. "It wasn't just that they would fill the net on you, they also had some toughness.''

Vautour was a rookie with the Laval Nationals when Sorel was the class of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Boasting a lineup loaded with future pro players, the Sorel squad won a league-record 25 straight games.

The closest any team has come to the mark is the 1995-96 Hull Olympiques, who won 24 consecutive contests. The Sea Dogs (28-4-1-0) are third in QMJHL history with 20 straight wins entering Friday night's game in Charlottetown against the Prince Edward Island Rocket.

Sorel soared through the '73-74 campaign, leading the league with 58 wins thanks in large part to scoring 8.86 goals per game. Future NHLer Pierre Larouche led the way offensively, notching 94 goals and 157 assists for a league-leading 251 points.

Six of those points came in an 18-6 win over Laval on Dec. 27, 1973. Vautour assisted on his team's first goal and scored the fourth himself as the Nationals built a 4-0 lead. Laval led 5-4 after the first period before Sorel fired 14 unanswered goals en route to the lopsided win.

Larouche had a hat trick and three helpers, while Pierre Mondou and Lucien DeBlois each had four goals.

"It was like they just woke up and then turned it up,'' Vautour said. "The team we had was no competition for a team like that.''

While Sorel's lineup in that game included nine future NHLers, the Quebec Remparts would defeat the Eperviers in a six-game President's Cup final. But Sorel's spot in the record book will be hard to match for the Sea Dogs, who have three games in as many days this weekend. After Friday night's game against P.E.I., the Port City squad visits the Acadie-Bathurst Titan Saturday night and the Moncton Wildcats on Sunday.

"You always want to have the mindset that you're going to win the game, but in reality, (Sorel) had seven or eight Mike Hoffmans and Nick Petersens,'' Vautour said, referring to Saint John's two standout 20-year-old forwards. "That's the type of players they had. We had the mindset that we were going to do the best we could to win (against Sorel), but in reality, we kind of knew what the outcome would be.''

With a lineup that featured Mike Bossy and goaltender Bob Sauve, Laval reached the semifinals that season and went to the final the following year. Vautour was drafted by the New York Islanders after his third QMJHL season and reached the big club in 1979-80. His 204-game NHL career also included stops in Colorado, New Jersey and Quebec.

As for the '73-74 season, most teams were no match for Sorel. But Laval eventually narrowed the gap, losing 7-4 to the Eperviers in the teams' last meeting.

"Playing against teams like that, you're certainly going to learn and go back and work a little harder,'' Vautour said.

HOCKEY SCHOOL:

Former Sea Dogs playing university hockey this season include: Jonathan Laberge, Acadia; Maxime Joyal, Concordia; Francois Gauthier, Dalhousie; Alexandre Picard-Hooper, McGill; Sebastien Rioux, McGill; Charles Bergeron, Université de Moncton; Francis Marchand, Université de Moncton; Travis Fullerton, University of New Brunswick; Ryan Sparling, St. Francis Xavier; Alexandre Labonte, St. Thomas University; Steve Bellefleur, Université de Quebec Trois-Rivieres; Aaron Barton, University of Ottawa, and Riley Whitlock, University of Ottawa.

WEEKLY AWARDS:

P.E.I. Rocket forward Samson Mahbod is the QMJHL's Offensive Player of the Week. In three games, Mahbod tallied two goals and nine points. Baie-Comeau Drakkar goaltender Nathan Dunnett of Whitney is the league's Defensive Player of the Week. In two wins, Dunnett posted a goals-against average of 1.00 and a save percentage of .971. Dunnett's efforts also led to his being named Canadian Hockey League Goaltender of the Week.

Some Things Old, Some Things New

Sea Dogs 20 Wins
The last time the Saint John Sea Dogs lost a game was on Oct.13th against the PEI Rocket who shut the Dogs out 4-0. After that loss they would begin their incredible winning streak of 20 consecutive games with the first three games in that streak against three divisional rivals and the three teams the Sea Dogs will face this weekend as they set their sights for wins, 21, 22, and 23.

Sea Dogs poised to supplant Spitfires

Published Tuesday December 8th, 2009
by Peter McGuire

Watch for the Saint John Sea Dogs to be rewarded for their outstanding play over the past two months when the Canadian Hockey League's weekly rankings are released on Wednesday.
The Sea Dogs are riding a 20-game winning streak and sit first overall in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with a record of 28 wins, four regulation losses and one overtime loss for 57 points in 33 games.
The Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League are the reigning No. 1-ranked team ahead of No. 2 Saint John but experienced a hiccup on Sunday when they lost a 5-4 in a shootout to the Oshawa Generals. The Spits now sport a record of 25-3-0-4 for 54 points in 32 games. But it's a margin of .004 that might elevate the Sea Dogs to the position of top-ranked team in all of major junior hockey for the first time in the franchise's five-year history.
Saint John has a winning percentage of .848 compared to Windsor's .844. Will it be enough? It should be but stay tuned

NO SURPRISE:
When we learned recently that no Sea Dogs would be invited to the Canadian junior hockey team final selection camp for the world championship, there was no doubt some disappointment pulsating from 99 Station Street. And understandably so.
But from an objective point of view, it wasn't much of a shock. And from a selfish standpoint, if you're a Saint John fan, it was a blessing in disguise.
Defencemen Yann Sauve and Simon Despres and forward Michael Kirkpatrick had been identified as contenders but were left on the outside looking in last week when the roster for the camp was released.
One reason? No 'Wow Factor'. It's a term that has crept into the sporting vernacular that is suitable in this situation.
All three Sea Dogs are outstanding players but none have made us go 'Wow!' on a consistent basis this season.
In fact, the only player who has done that night in and night out is Mike Hoffman, with honorable mention going to Nick Petersen.
Unfortunately, Hoffman and Petersen are both 20-year-olds and not eligible for the world junior tournament.
Kirkpatrick has quietly turned around a slow start and is truly a leader. He sits first on the team in points with 36 in 32 games with nine goals and 27 assists.
Despres, picked in the first round of the 2009 NHL draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins, has shown signs of taking his game to another level this season and added some zip to his point shot. In 28 games, he has five goals and 12 assists.
Sauve could some day develop into a solid stay-at-home defenceman with the Vancouver Canucks - he was selected in the second round of the 2008 NHL draft - but his relatively unspectacular play so far probably cost him an invitation. He has four goals and 14 assists in 28 games.
The other thing that probably cost Despres and Sauve is their propensity for taking too many chances. The national program puts a premium on defensive responsibility and these two have played the role of a riverboat gambler on more than a few occasions.
Having said that, the Dogs are riding the third-best streak in league history and are within six wins of breaking the record of 25. That's where the blessing in disguise comes in. By keeping the team together, there won't be a disruption as far as team chemistry goes.

*********

Following is a nice piece in the Telegraph Journal on former Sea Dog Travis Fullerton who continues his winning ways at the University level.

All goalie does is win
Ex-Saint John Sea Dogs netminder may not garner respect but he does get victories

Tuesday December 8th, 2009
ANDREW MCGILLIGAN
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

 He's the goaltending equivalent of Rodney Dangerfield.

 Photo The Canadian Press

University of New Brunswick goaltender Travis Fullerton, seen backstopping the Varsity Reds to the 2008-09 national university championship against the University of Western Ontario Mustangs, may not get the accolades heaped on other netminders but he has gained a reputation as a big-game player.

It seems no matter where he goes in his hockey career, Travis Fullerton can't get respect. While the problem would be one to frustrate another netminder, the former Saint John Sea Dog and current University of New Brunswick Varsity Red, doesn't dwell on it.

In fact, he thrives on it; just ask the rest of the Canadian university hockey teams that finished second to Fullerton and the Varsity Reds last season.

Fullerton backstopped the team to the 2009 Canadian Interuniversity Sport men's hockey championship.

"A lot of people would have wrote him off several times in his career," said UNB head coach Gardiner MacDougall. "He's a guy that didn't seem to get a lot of respect in our league either because he didn't get many votes for top goalie or rookie of the year.

"But when it was all said and done, there were only two goalies in the national championship and Travis won."

The reasons for the perceived slight are many.

He's not flashy or unorthodox like a Dominik Hasek. He's steady and well positioned.

A competitive player on the ice, Fullerton has a laid back demeanor and is quick to deflect attention for a strong performance to teammates.

However, a deeper look into the Dangerfield complex reveals more bad luck overcome by persistence than anything else.

A 14th-round pick, 213th overall, in the 2004 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League entry draft by the Lewiston Maineiacs, Fullerton wasn't given much of a shot to make the squad by anyone, including himself.

"Going into my first training camp they had six goalies and I thought I was No. 6," the Dieppe native said. "I was talking with my parents and I said there's no way I was going to make it because all the guys were better than me."

Armed with a nothing-to-lose attitude, the guy picked in a round that no longer exists in the QMJHL, made the squad as a third goalie.

The next obstacle, finding playing time behind World Junior goal medalist Jonathan Bernier and current Montreal Canadiens backstop Jaroslav Halak. Fullerton appeared in two games for the Maineiacs that season, but won the backup spot the following year.

"Playing and practising everyday with Bernier, I felt I improved the most out of any year of hockey," he said. "It was a higher level and I was watching a better goalie (Bernier) night in and night out.

However, it was a night out that nearly derailed his major junior career. He was convicted on an impaired driving charge during training camp in August, 2007 in Lewiston, received a stiff fine, and was sent home.

Fullerton caught on with the Moncton Beavers of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League, but was unsure if a return to the QMJHL was possible. In need of a second chance, he got a call from the Sea Dogs.

Former Saint John bench boss Jacques Beaulieu said a couple factors were in play when a trade was made for Fullerton. Saint John gave up a fourth-round pick in 2007 and a sixth-round selection in 2008 for the then 19-year-old's services.

Saint John had sent goaltending coach Jim Fleming to look at Fullerton in Moncton and he came back with a positive recommendation.

"The price was right," Beaulieu said of the deal. "I really believe in giving kids a second chance."

The Dieppe native came to a struggling team at the Christmas trade deadline. A challenging situation, but one Fullerton was anxious to embrace.

"After a couple games I felt pretty comfortable" he said. "I got a lot of shots and I've always been a goaltender who played better with a lot of shots."

The Sea Dogs were a much improved team the following season, 2007-08. Yet again Fullerton was thrown a challenge. One of three 20-year-old players, it seemed he was destined to be the starter until Saint John brought in highly touted import netminder Robert Mayer.

"I really didn't know how to take that when I heard (about Mayer)," he said. "It turned out to be great; both of us pushed each other all year. At first I was hesitant, but it worked out in the end."

With no clear No. 1 during the regular season, when it came time for the team's inaugural playoff run, Beaulieu went with Fullerton.

"One thing about Travis is that he never gave up easy goals and I thought Mayer was vulnerable to that," Beaulieu said of his decision. "Travis is a competitor and a gamer."

A sound decision as Fullerton played some of the best hockey of his career, leading the team to the semifinals before losing to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

With his major junior career over, Fullerton had a couple of options for university. It came down to UNB and Acadia. A chance to make life easier on himself, he could have chosen Acadia where a starting spot was more likely. Instead, he went to UNB and had to prove himself against a Memorial Cup winning goalie in Derek Yeomans.

"Once I came here (UNB) saw the campus and the fans, it was an easy decision," he said.

Fullerton got off to a rocky start, appearing in just two of the team's first 12 games. He concedes his first performances for the Varsity Reds were nothing to get excited about.

Used to a pile of shots, Fullerton had to adjust to fewer chances against and long stretches without action.

"I remember having the conversation with Yeomans about being used to 35 shots a game and now I don't get a shot for 12 minutes," he said.

For a goalie who thrives on action, UNB was an adjustment, but Fullerton said changing his mindset helped make him better.

In typical fashion, the pair traded starts before Fullerton went on a hot streak.

"Both guys played well during the season, but Travis' game really picked up," MacDougall said. "He had an unofficial CIS scoreless streak of about 300 minutes."

The coach gave him the nod for the playoffs and stuck with him through the national championship.

MacDougall believed in Fullerton, in part, because of what he's gone through in his career.

"He was a late draft pick, but found a way to play in the (QMJHL)," MacDougall said. "I liked his background, his pedigree. He's an overachiever."

With a national title on his resumé, one could assume he would be given the starting nod this season. A reasonable thought, but one that didn't occur to Fullerton.

"I had no expectation of being No. 1 this year because he (Yeomans) is such a good goalie. He was excellent in the WHL, and won a title there and he's been excellent for us (UNB)," he said. "A good run last year doesn't make you the guy; you've got to show it every game and every practice."

True to form, both goalies have yet to suffer a loss this season, but could have more competition next season for the job. Former Cape Breton Screaming Eagle Martin Houle will join the fold.

Houle's numbers are impressive, having had successful runs in junior and the American Hockey League, as well as two minutes of work in the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Houle will join the line of goalies with more hype and better credentials than the goalie referred to as 'Fully'.

Another Dangerfield moment, the kind Fullerton relishes.

A Backward And Forward Look

(photo from Sea Dogs website)

With two back to back wins on the weekend, the Sea Dogs can take a breather and prepare for a wild weekend of tough  road games against division rivals.  Already the Sea Dogs season has surpassed their fans wildest dreams with 20 consecutive wins and the matches between PEI Rocket on Friday, Acadie Bathurst Titan on Saturday and ending with the Moncton Wildcats on Sunday afternoon will be anything but easy for our Port City squad.  These three teams have always provided all the Sea Dogs can handle  and now that the Sea Dogs are first in the league there will be a little added incentive to knock off the team from Saint John.

It should be an exciting weekend for the team as well as their fans as the Sea Dogs go for wins 21,22 and 23.

The following article in todays local newspaper takes a look back at the weekend match ups.

Streak now at 20
Pair of weekend wins gives Saint John Sea Dogs third-longest consecutive victory run in league history

by Scott Briggs, Telegraph Journal
Monday December 7th, 2009

The Saint John Sea Dogs are one game better than Sidney Crosby and the 2004-05 Rimouski Oceanic.

 Photo Cindy Wilson/Telegraph-Journal

(Saint John Sea Dogs forward Nick Petersen, centre, celebrates with teammates Steven Anthony, left, and Simon Despres after assisting on Mike Hoffman’s first-period power-play goal against the Lewiston Maineiacs Sunday.)

The Sea Dogs ran their winning streak to 20 games with an 8-3 win in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action at Harbour Station. Powered by three-point efforts from Michael Kirkpatrick, Nick Petersen and Mike Hoffman, the Sea Dogs posted an 8-3 win over the Lewiston Maineiacs before 3,316 fans Sunday at Harbour Station.

Saint John has won 20 straight games, the third-longest streak in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League history. The Sea Dogs defeated the Gatineau Olympiques 2-0 Saturday night, treating the home crowd of 4,732 to their 19th straight victory and tying them with the Crosby-led Rimouski squad of 2004-05.

The QMJHL record for most consecutive wins belongs to the 1973-74 Sorel Eperviers, who won 25 straight. The 1995-96 Hull Olympiques are second with 24.

The Sea Dogs got off to a strong start Sunday before stumbling in the second period. Tomas Jurco's rebound goal made it 1-0 at 4:43 of the first period. Lewiston's Etienne Brodeur tied the tilt just over a minute later before Saint John responded with three straight - Kirkpatrick's first at 7:09, his second at 11:37 on the power play and a man-advantage marker by Hoffman at 17:20.

The 4-1 lead looked nice after the first period, but the Maineiacs fought back with second-period goals by Jean-Francois Plante and Billy Lacasse, and trailed 5-3 through 40 minutes.

"We had a miserable second (period),'' Saint John head coach Gerard Gallant said. "It's one of those games where we're up 4-1 and you think it's going to be easy and then you stop playing.''

That changed in the third period. Nicholas Pard scored a power-play marker at 1:34, followed by goals from Danick Gauthier at 6:17 and Jonathan Huberdeau at 12:13. Saint John goalie Marc-Antoine Gelinas made 33 saves while Saint John combined for 50 shots against Jordan Kennedy (pulled after Kirkpatrick's first goal) and Adrien Lemay.

Kirkpatrick also had an assist for Saint John (28-4-1-0), while Petersen, Hoffman, Steven Anthony and Zack Phillips each had two helpers. Huberdeau, Pard and Jurco also added assists to the attack.

Saint John's penalty-killing unit was strong, holding Lewiston to one goal in seven power plays after blanking Gatineau in five man-advantage opportunities the night before.

"There's some progress there,'' Gallant said. "Hopefully it's going in the right direction.''

Sunday's game was the third in four days for Lewiston (10-20-0-1), losers of 13 straight and last in the Telus Central Division.

"The Sea Dogs are an excellent hockey team,'' Lewiston head coach Don MacAdam said. "Good teams and great teams know that when the game is on the line, they have to crank it up. I saw that last year when Hoffman was in Drummondville and they have a number of guys here who do the very same thing.

"I really like Gerard's defence. They're really, really composed and they handle the puck with a lot of patience and they're very calm with it. They hold the line well, they get the puck out of their zone well and if you turn the puck over, you're going to pay a price for it.''

MacAdam admitted he was impressed with a Saint John power play that went 3-for5.

"They've got shooters,'' the coach said. "The power play was exceptional with the way they move the puck around. Gerard and (associate coach and hockey operations director) Mike Kelly are doing a tremendous job with the team. There's disciplined, the team skates so well, they're in the right ice all the time and it's all built from a great defence. There are no holes.''

Kirkpatrick said getting the early lead allowed the Sea Dogs to survive their lackluster second period.

"We were definitely comfortable going into the second period,'' he said. "They caught us and they came out flying and we weren't expecting it. It hurt us, but we came back in the second intermission and we refocused and we were ready to go (for the third period).

"If the game is close, we want our third period to be our best. That's when a lot of games are won or lost.''

Saturday's game saw Sea Dogs goalie Karel St. Laurent make 24 saves en route to his first shutout of the season. Pard took care of the offence with a pair of power-play goals.

"I appreciated getting this game from Gerard,'' St. Laurent said. "I showed him tonight that no matter what, he can put me in any game and in any situation and I'll be ready.''

Pard's first power-play tally came with former Sea Dog Alexandre Leduc in the penalty box for checking from behind. Leduc was traded from the Sea Dogs earlier this season after the arrival of Hoffman, who reported to Saint John on Sept. 20 after training camp with the Ottawa Senators.

On Leduc's first shift Saturday, he hit Hoffman near the Gatineau bench and his penalty set the stage for Pard's goal, followed by a showering of stuffed animals in honour of Teddy Bear Toss Night.

"It was emotional for him to come back here,'' St. Laurent said about Leduc. "He had some great years here.''

GAGNE OUT:

Sea Dogs defenceman Kevin Gagne left Sunday's game after taking a shot off the knee while killing a second-period penalty.

SOMEBODY'S WATCHING:

Saint John's weekend games attracted NHL scouts representing Anaheim, Detroit, Chicago, Toronto, Washington, Vancouver, the New York Rangers and the New York Islanders.

Stew MacDonald, the former chief operating officer of the Saint John Flames, took in both weekend tilts. MacDonald is now the executive vice-president of commercial operations for the Edmonton Oilers.

20th Straight Win For Sea Dogs

The Sea Dogs won their 20th consecutive game this afternoon by defeating the Lewiston MAINEiacs 8-3 at Harbour Station,  and making it  the 3rd longest winning streak in the history of the QMJHL.

With a strong first and third period the Sea Dogs held of the Lewiston team that had already lost twelve games in a row. The MAINEiacs fought back in the second period making it a 4-3 game.  Momentum would shift again in the Sea Dogs favour when Nicholas Petersen scored with only 21 seconds left in the period.  The Sea Dogs would dominate in the third scoring three more goals and getting the 8-3 victory. It was a multi point game for many on the Sea Dogs roster with every line contributing.  Michael Kirkpatrick was chosen first Star of the game with 2 goals and an assist. Kirkpatrick also won 90% of his face-offs.

The Sea Dogs will not play again until the weekend when they will meet division rivals PEI-Friday, Bathurst on Saturday and Moncton  on Sunday afternoon. 

Video highlights of Game:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oi9qJ-80bSY

Game Summary
1st period

1. SNB - Tomas Jurco (7) (Jonathan Huberdeau, Zack Phillips) 04:43
2. LEW - Étienne Brodeur (8) (Samuel Carrier, Billy Lacasse) 05:48
3. SNB - Michael Kirkpatrick (8) (Nicholas Pard, Steven Anthony) 07:09
4. SNB - Michael Kirkpatrick (9) (Nicholas Petersen, Steven Anthony) (pp) 11:37
5. SNB - Mike Hoffman (20) (Michael Kirkpatrick, Nicholas Petersen) (pp) 17:20
Penalties:
SNB - Kevin Gagné (02:24), SNB - Benjamin Lecomte (08:00), LEW - Alexis Piette (11:04), SNB - Stanislav Galiev (12:42), LEW - Matt Boyle (16:36), LEW - Éric Gélinas (18:08)

2nd period
6. LEW - Jean-François Plante (3) (Francis Beauvillier) 07:31
7. LEW - Billy Lacasse (9) (Alexander Beaton, Éric Gélinas) (pp) 12:58
8. SNB - Nicholas Petersen (18) (Mike Hoffman) 19:39
Penalties:
LEW - Samuel Henley (10:54), SNB - Yann Sauvé (10:54), SNB - Stephen MacAulay (11:52), LEW - Zachary Shannon (14:06), SNB - Stanislav Galiev (16:24)

3rd period
9. SNB - Nicholas Pard (8) (Stanislav Galiev, Mike Hoffman) (pp) 01:34
10. SNB - Danick Gauthier (9) (Mike Thomas, Stephen MacAulay) 06:17
11. SNB - Jonathan Huberdeau (7) (Zack Phillips, Tomas Jurco) 12:13
Penalties: SNB -
Yann Sauvé (08:54), SNB - Michael Kirkpatrick (16:19)

Goaltenders
LEW Kennedy, Jordan Lemay, Adrien (at 07:09 per 1) (L-10-17-0)
SNB Gélinas, Marc-Antoine (W-19-3-0)

Shots per period
LEW 9 + 16 + 11 = 36
SNB 15 + 13 + 22 = 50

Powerplays
LEW 1 / 7
SNB 3 / 5

Spectators: 3316

Match stars: chosen by Local Media
1.SNB - Michael Kirkpatrick
2.SNB - Nicholas Petersen
3.SNB - Mike Hoffman

The MAINEiacs Are Coming

Winter enthusiasts are in seventh heaven today in the Saint John area, as it continues to snow. (Okay I confess it's my fault it's snowing. I put my Welcome Winter wreath on the door Friday.) Sea Dogs fans are  celebration mode today because our team has remarkably won it's 19th consecutive game and is looking to extend that streak today.

                                (Nov.22/09  Lewiston at Saint John)

The Sea Dogs (27-4-1-0) will matchup against the Lewiston MAINEiacs (10-19-0-1) this afternoon at Harbour Station for the second time this season. The game begins at 4 pm.

A victory over Lewiston this afternoon will give the Sea Dogs sole possession of the third-best winning streak in QMJHL history at twenty games, surpassing the mark of 19 held by Sidney Crosby’s 2004-05 Rimouski Oceanic.

Saint John defeated Lewiston by a score of 7-4 at the Androscoggin Bank Coliseum back on November 22, with star winger Nick Petersen netting a hat trick in the impressive road outing.

Petersen, Pittsburgh Penguins prospect  has had eight multi-point games thus far on the 09-10 campaign, his first with the Sea Dogs.  He is on pace to register 60GP-43G-38A-81P this season.

The seventh Family Fun Day of the season will be a part of today's contest against Lewiston. Fans are invited to stick around after the action to meet some of their favourite players at a post-game autograph session near the main entrance/exit. A Kids’ Fun Zone will also be set up on the main concourse during the game for young fans to enjoy.

You always hope the best for your favourite hockey team but really did any Sea Dogs enthusiast and fan expect this phenomal play and win streak from the team this year? We expected they were going to be a good team especially with the additions of Hoffman and Petersen but what we have with this Sea Dogs team is something very special as they continue to lead the Atlantic Division and QMJHL.

Keep it going Sea Dogs! Keep the Dream alive!