Saint John Sea Dogs

Hockey team |CAN_eng=1
team = Saint John Sea Dogs

city = Saint John, New Brunswick
league = Q.M.J.H.L.
division = Eastern
founded = 2005–06
arena = Harbour Station
colours = Royal Blue, Black, White & Silver
coach = Jacques Beaulieu
GM = Jacques BeaulieuThe Saint John Sea Dogs are a major junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, entering the league as an expansion team in 2005. The Sea Dogs play at Harbour Station, New Brunswick, with a capacity of 6,701.

History

The Sea Dogs filled the void left in Saint John by the departure of the AHL's Saint John Flames when the city was granted a team for the 2005-2006 QMJHL season, paying a $3.0 million expansion fee. The Sea Dogs expansion twins were the St. John's Fog Devils.

The Sea Dogs' very first head coach was Christian La Rue under general manager Bob "Tipper" LeBlanc, and the captaincy was split between Charles Bergeron and Vincent Lambert. The Sea Dogs were also given the 1st overall pick at the 2005 QMJHL Draft, selecting defenceman Alex Grant. The Sea Dogs had a weak first season and missed the playoffs.

During the offseason, Christian La Rue was fired and quickly replaced with former London Knights assistant coach Jacques Beaulieu. Beaulieu served as the head coach for the entire second season, along with a new coaching staff which includes Jim Midgley.

The Sea Dogs' poor success in their first season granted them another 1st overall pick at the upcoming 2006 QMJHL Draft, where they selected another defenceman, Yann Sauve. The team had a little more success this season, but still finished with poor results and missed the playoffs again.

After the conclusion of the second season, Tipper Leblanc stepped down from the General Manager position, and head coach Bealieu stepped into the duel role of coach-GM. He maintains both jobs to this day.

The 2007 QMJHL Draft saw the Sea Dogs land yet again the 1st round pick, with which they selected defenceman Simon Despres. In the same draft round they selected Steven Anthony 10th overall from a pick from the Quebec Remparts. The team also selected goaltender Robert Mayer 3rd overall at the 2007 CHL Import Draft, where top picks are difficult to come by.

An interesting story line for the 2008-2009 season is the addition of GM-Head Coach Jacques Bealieau's son Nathan to the roster. Nathan can be classified as on offensive defencemen and is expected to make an impact. Also, the Sea Dogs did not make a first round selection in the 2008 QMJHL Entry Draft. In the second round, the Sea Dogs used their first pick to select defenceman Kevin Gagne. Gagne played the 2007-2008 season with Rothesay Netherwood School in Rothesay New Brunswick. He is classified as an offensive defencemen with good speed.

The Sea Dogs have built their roster to peak during the 08-09 season. They were ranked the second best team overall by the Hockey News in the Q League, and 5th overall in the entire CHL.

Canadian Flag incident

In December 2006, the Sea Dogs cut 20 year-old player Dave Bouchard after he did not sign a flag the team was sending to Canadian Forces troops stationed in Afghanistan. Sea Dogs coach Jacques Beaulieu stated that there were ongoing problems with this player, but that any player who refused to sign would have been cut from the team: "It wouldn't matter who it would have been. It could have been one of our best players, our first round pick." Bouchard explained that he thought one of the other players had already added his name. cite news
url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2006/12/18/nb-hockeyflag.html
publisher=CBC News Online
title=Hockey player fired for not signing flag for troops, Some support coach of Saint John Sea Dogs; others defend young Quebecer's freedom of expression.
date=December 18, 2006 5:05 pm
accessdate=2006-12-19]

ea Dogs TV

In April 2008, the Sea Dogs created Sea Dogs TV an official youtube channel which houses various team highlights, interviews, features, and basicially anything related to the sea dogs. Sea Dogs TV - Official You Tube Channel
http://www.youtube.com/user/seadogstv]

2008 ADT Canada Russia Challenge Co-Host

On November 19, 2008, the Sea Dogs will co-host game 2 of the Canada Russia Challenge, Cape Breaton Screaming Eagles will give host to the first game. cite news
url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3703822
publisher=OurSports Central
title=Saint John To Host Game Two Of 2008 Canada-Russia Challenge.
date=Auguest 18, 2008 3:05 pm
accessdate=2008-08-18]

eason-by-season results

Regular season

"Legend": OL = Overtime loss, SL = Shoot Out Loss

Playoffs

*2005–06 – Out of playoffs.
*2006–07 – Out of playoffs.
*2007–08 – Defeated PEI Rocket 4 games to 0 in division quarterfinals.
Defeated Acadie-Bathurst Titan 4 games to 2 in division semifinals.
Lost to Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 4 games to 0 in semifinals.

Team records

References

ee also

*List of ice hockey teams in New Brunswick

External links

* [http://www.saintjohnseadogs.com/ Saint John Sea Dogs site]