GDT: Sea Dogs vs Rocket - January 18, 2008

[dogcatcher]

SEA DOGS HOST ROCKET TONIGHT AT HARBOUR STATION - 7:30PM!!

Tonight at 7:30pm, the Sea Dogs will take to the ice at Harbour Station to face their divisional rivals the PEI Rocket.

The Sea Dogs are currently 3-0 versus the Rocket this season, with all three of their wins coming in convincing fashion by scores of 6-3, 6-2, and 10-3 respectively. Robert Mayer has been in net for Saint John in all three games, posting a G.A.A. of 2.67 and a SV% of .899 to go along with trio of victories.

The dynamic duo of Chris DiDomenico and Ryan Sparling has combined for 22 points (9G-13A) against PEI this year, while the star defensive tandem of Alex Grant and Yann Sauvé is +16 versus the Rocket on the season.

Tonight's game has been designated ‘Support the Troops Night’ as presented by Acklands Grainger, and fans are encouraged to wear red in support of the Canadian military. Fans attending Support the Troops Night will be able to purchase limited edition red Sea Dogs-Canadian Forces t-shirts.

The ceremonial puck drop at tonight's game will be performed by Army representative Base Commander of CFB Gagetown Colonel Ken Chadder, Air Force representative and PEI native Commanding Officer 722 Communication Squadron Saint John, NB Major David Pizio, and Navy representative Commanding Officer HMCS Brunswicker Saint John, NB Lieutenant Commander Shane Robinson.

Prominent Atlantic Canadian recording artist Terry Kelly will be singing the Canadian National Anthem prior to tonight's contest, and will also perform his successful single ‘A Pittance of Time’, a song dedicated to Canadian veterans and peacekeepers.

Military vehicles, including an 8X8 wheeled armoured LAV III and Mercedes-Benz G-Class Wagon, will be on display for fans to observe, while special information kiosks will be set up on the main concourse. Additionally, fans will have the opportunity to have their faces painted in camouflage, and the Sea Dogs will be using and then handing out special Canadian Forces hockey pucks during the pre-game warm-up.

Upper bowl tickets to Friday’s match are available to the general public for the special price of $8, while anyone possessing a valid Canadian Forces I.D. may purchase a seat in the upper bowl for $5.

Fans can catch the action live by logging onto News 88.9 FM at www.news889.com/, the official QMJHL webcast at qmjhl.mytelus.com/, or by watching the game on Rogers Television Cable 10 in New Brunswick. Tickets are available by calling the Harbour Station Box Office at [phone].

[dogcatcher]

Game Day

Published Friday January 18th, 2008
Appeared on page B10

Saint John Sea Dogs
Record

28-12-1-2

Streak

2W

NHL Draft Picks

D Alex Grant (Pittsburgh Penguins), F Chris Di Domenico (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Players to Watch

F Scott Howes, F Alexandre Picard, F Keven Charland

N.B. Players

G Travis Fullerton (Riverview), F Mike Thomas (New Maryland)

Did You Know?

Sea Dogs forward Di Domenico needs eight more points to tie his own franchise record for most points in a season with 75.

Prince Edward Island Rocket

Record

21-19-2-1

Streak

2L

NHL Draft Picks

G Antoine Lafleur (New York Rangers), F Martin Latal (Phoenix Coyotes)

Players to Watch

F Geoff Walker, F Chris Doyle, F Bradley Gallant

N.B. Players

F Lucas McKinley (Fredericton)

Did You Know?

Montreal Canadiens forward Maxim Lapierre spent four seasons as a member of the Rocket - two when the club was in Montreal and two more in Charlottetown.

[dogcatcher]

Refueled Rocket
QMJHL Sea Dogs take on new-look P.E.I. team tonight

Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Friday January 18th, 2008
Appeared on page B10

SAINT JOHN - The last time the Saint John Sea Dogs played the Prince Edward Island Rocket it was a special game for forward Brett Gallant.

He and his brother Bradley, a forward with the Rocket, brought their cousin onto the ice before the game, had plenty of family and friends in the stands and Saint John came away with a lopsided 10-3 win.

The two teams will meet tonight for the fourth time this season, but Gallant and his teammates won't be taking P.E.I. lightly despite having outscored them 22-8 in three games.

"The division is so close this year and they've changed their team a lot," Gallant said. "We can't look back to what we've done against them, we've got to come out and focus on this game."

The changes he's referring to are both behind the bench and on the ice. Earlier this season, the Rocket fired head coach Yanick Jean and replaced him with Guy Chouinard. The team also completed four trades over the holiday period, including sending leading scorer Brett Morrison to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies and captain Pierre-Luc Lessard to the Baie-Comeau Drakkar.

The changes have been positive for P.E.I., which has played some of its best hockey in the second half of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League season, posting a 5-3-1-1 record over the last 10 contests. Rocket general manager Serge Savard Jr. said the two biggest reason for the improvement in P.E.I. are Chouinard and goaltending.

"Obviously bringing in Guy Chouinard and all his experience was big," Savard said. "He just needed some time to get his system in place and the players have really bought into it."

As for the netminders, he's happy with the improvement shown by both Antoine Lafleur and Marc-Antoine Gelinas throughout the season.

"Both struggled early on, but they've gotten much better," he said. "Gelinas has come up big for us a few times."

As for the trades, Savard said the team got younger, but thinks the moves will help the club this season and into the future. One key acquisition was 16-year-old forward and ninth overall selection in the 2007 QMJHL draft Bejamin Casavant.

"Our scouts were really high on him," Savard said. "He needs to improve his skating a little, but we think he can score a lot of goals in this league."

Sea Dogs head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu said despite the changes to the P.E.I., his team will use a similar game plan to what's worked so far.

"We've got to get on their (defence) early, get pucks to the net and pick up rebounds," Beaulieu said.

As for Gallant, he's looking forward to getting back on the ice after a seven-day layoff and said even though he'll be facing his brother, this game is no different than any other.

"It's all business out there. We both want to win."

TOP 10: For the second time this season, the Saint John Sea Dogs are ranked as one of the best teams in the Canadian Hockey League. The Sea Dogs sit in the 10th spot of the CHL rankings with a record of 28-12-1-2 heading into tonight's home game against the Rocket. Two other QMJHL teams made the list with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in fifth spot and the Baie-Comeau Drakkar in ninth. The top ranked CHL team is the Ontario Hockey League's Kithchener Rangers.

SCRATCHES: Beaulieu said he hasn't made a decision as to who will sit out tonight's game with the Rocket. The Sea Dogs have a full lineup and scratched second-year forward Matthew Stoddard last time out. Beaulieu said the decision is not an easy one.

"We go right to the end of the week and see who's practised well, doing well both on and off the ice," he said. "That's how we evaluate it and it will be a game-time decision."

IN MEMORY: A moment of silence will be held before tonight's game in honour of the seven students from Bathurst High and one Bathurst area teacher who died in a car accident on Saturday. The Sea Dogs will be wearing a special stickers on their helmets as a tribute as well as a yellow ribbon sticker recognizing Armed Forces night at Harbour Station.

[dogcatcher]

Another massacre tonight. 6-1 Dogs. I say that Mayer starts tonight & Sunday. Fully on Saturday.

[Judas In My Mind]

I'm going 5-3 Sea Dogs. Think Mayer starts tonight or Fullerton?

Also curious with snow starting what our attendance will be.

[canucklehead]

If I'm guessing maybe Fullerton - Mayer - Fullerton this weekend just a guess on my part

Either way I'll say Dogs win today 5-2

[Judas In My Mind]

canucklehead said:

If I'm guessing maybe Fullerton - Mayer - Fullerton this weekend just a guess on my part

Either way I'll say Dogs win today 5-2

I'll go opposite then, kinda. I think Mayer starts tonight. If he plays well, he also starts tomorrow against Val D'Or. If he plays bad, Fullerton starts against Val D'Or. Sunday it is Fullerton against Halifax no matter what.

Just to make it interesting and disagree with you. ;D

[elementz]

Hard to say...I was thinking Fullerton-Mayer-Fullerton. Mayer is 3-0 against the Rocket this season though.

Leask: We can't use the snow as an excuse, it's supposed to start raining in the afternoon and it will be pretty mild.

[Judas In My Mind]

That hardly seems to matter though Elementz, altthough I do agree with you. There are always people that say the weather was too bad, or they were afraid the rain would turn to more snow at night, or ice, so they stayed home. For some, it certainly doesn't take much to keep them away.

[canucklehead]

jrsuperstar said:

canucklehead said:

If I'm guessing maybe Fullerton - Mayer - Fullerton this weekend just a guess on my part

Either way I'll say Dogs win today 5-2

I'll go opposite then, kinda. I think Mayer starts tonight. If he plays well, he also starts tomorrow against Val D'Or. If he plays bad, Fullerton starts against Val D'Or. Sunday it is Fullerton against Halifax no matter what.

Just to make it interesting and disagree with you. ;D

Wouldn't have it any other way ;D

[Superdog]

5-2 dogs.Mayer starts tonight and sunday.

[canucklehead]

When's the snow supposed to stop got some pretty big flakes out there?

[killer]

Raining now down my way

[canucklehead]

Yeah here to now - Good stuff!!! ;D

[mrlittlewolf]

Freezing rain here!!!!! Anyhow Mayer Fully Mayer for the sweep!!!!!







Getcha brooms ready!!!!