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From February 8-14, 2010

– Shawinigan Cataractes forward Michaël Bournival and Victoriaville Tigres goaltender Kevin Poulin Monday were named the TELUS offensive and defensive players of the week for the period extending from February 1 to 7.

- The Saint John Sea Dogs 2010 Irving Oil Skills Competition is set to be staged on Monday, February 8 beginning at 6:30pm at Harbour Station.

From February 1- 7, 2010

- Forward Mikhail Stefanovich of the Quebec Remparts is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending January 31. Stefanovich scored six goals with five assists for 11 points in three games. Stefanovich, a 20-year-old from Minsk, Belarus, is playing in his third QMJHL season with the Remparts. Selected in the fourth round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

- Overall attendance in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is down slightly from last season (-3.3%) after 465 games. Nonetheless, the League has once again surpassed the 1.5 million fans mark during the month of January.

- The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Thursday suspended Val-d’Or Foreurs defenceman Marco Scandella indefinitely for a hit to the head. The incident occurred during Wednesday’s game versus the Rimouski Océanic.

From January 25 - 31, 2010

- Niagara Regional Police said Friday they charged former Halifax Mooseheads goaltender Mark Yetman, with sexual assault, two counts of choking and one count of threatening. Those charges were in addition to two counts of sexual assault police laid against 21 year-old Yetman earlier in the week.Police said they began an investigation into an alleged sexual assault of a St. Catharines woman Tuesday, which led to the first charge against Yetman. Further investigation led to a second charge for an alleged sexual assault in December against a female in Thorold. The Thorold incident involved two females, leading to the additional charges. He was suspended from Brock University’s hockey team Wednesday when the university learned of the charges.

From January 18-24, 2010

- The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League will hold the 20,000th game of its history (regular season and playoffs) this Friday, January 22, as the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles travel to Baie-Comeau to battle the Drakkar at the Henry-Léonard Center.

- Goaltender Peter Delmas of the Halifax Mooseheads and scoring leader Sean Couturier of the Drummondville Voltigeurs will be guests Wednesday night on  Inside The Q at 6:30pm at http://www.lhjmq.qc.ca/lang_en/index.php?page=1 

- The Home Depot and the PEI Rocket are teaming up to offer outdoor rink makers the chance to face off against members of the PEI ROCKET in what will undoubtedly be the biggest game on the block this season - and it all takes place right in your own backyard! If you or a family member has built, or is planning on building a backyard rink you can sign up at the Rocket’s next home game.

- As of January 18, there are 27 players in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with 50 scoring points or more and five of them are Atlantic Canadians headed up by Sean Couturier and including Michael Kirkpatrick, Luke Adam, Brandon Hynes and Randy Cameron.  

- The Saint John Sea Dogs has announced that the team’s January 30 home game versus the Val-d”or Foreurs has been designated Salute to the Navy Night in honour of the Canadian Navy Centennial. A special ceremony paying tribute to the Canadian Navy’s 100th anniversary will be held at Harbour Station prior to the Saturday night match.

- The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has announced that the game which was postponed last November 1st between Montreal and Moncton as a precaution for the spread of the H1N1 virus will be played in Moncton on Monday, March 8 at 7 pm.

- Victoriaville Tigres defenseman Keven Dupont has been suspended for two games for on illegal bodycheck which occurred during last Friday’s game versus the Cataractes.

- Rouyn-Noranda Huskies forward Patrice Cormier has been suspended indefinitely for his hit on Quebec Remparts’ defenseman Mikael Tam which occurred during Sunday’s game.

- Tommy Tremblay of the Shawinigan Cataractes has been suspended for four games (automatic two-game suspension and an additional two games) for being the aggressor during an altercation in last Friday’s game versus the Tigres.

- Year to date the Moncton Wildcats 50/50 prize pot has totaled $139.722.00 while attendance to date is 100, 727.

- Moncton Wildcats fans contributed $1388.66 to the Haitian Relief Fund at the weekend games. Coupled with a matching Government of Canada amount, a total of $2,777.32 will go to help the victims of last Tuesday’s devastating earthquake.

- The Oromocto Peewee Eagles, winners of the Old Dutch Food national contest will have their big day on January 31st. when they get to practice with the Moncton Wildcats.

From January 11- 17, 2010 

– The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League announced that Tommy Tremblay of the Shawinigan Cataractes has been suspended for four games (automatic two-game suspension and an additional two games) for being the aggressor during an altercation in last Friday’s game versus the Victoriaville Tigres. The Shawinigan organization has been fined $500.

- Forward Philip-Michaël Devos and defenceman Joël Chouinard, both members of the Victoriaville Tigres, Monday were named the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League TELUS offensive and defensive players of the week for the period extending from January 4 to 10.

- The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League announced that Rouyn-Noranda Huskies left-winger Alexandre Beauregard has been suspended for one game for charging. The incident occurred during last Saturday’s game against the Val-d’Or Foreurs.

From January 4-10, 2010

- Sean Couturier of Bathurst, NB, who plays with Drummondville Voltigeurs has at least a point in his last 11 games including Thursday’s game in Rouyn-Noranda.

- Former Moncton Wildcat Pierre-Marc Lessard, who was traded to PEI Rocket earlier in the week has decided to end his junior career so the fourth round pick will be returned to the Rocket by the Wildcats.

- With three 20-year-old players on the PEI Rocket roster, and with the acquisition of some new defenceman, Christopher Guay has been released from the team and will return to Quebec.

- Winger Nicolas Deschamps of the Moncton Wildcats registered his first four-goal game in the QMJHL Tuesday night against Val d’Or Foreurs. It was also his first hat trick.

- Forward Tye McGinn of the Gatineau Olympiques is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending January 5. McGinn played six games recording 13 points including six goals and seven assists.

- The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League announced Tuesday that Moncton Wildcats defenceman Mark Barberio has been suspended for one game for spearing an opponent during last Sunday’s game against the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.

- Acadie-Bathurst Titan has assigned forward Marshall Worden of Sussex, NB to the Woodstock Slammers of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League. At his request, Worden has been offered for trade to other QMJHL teams.

- The Shawinigan Cataractes traded 18 year-old defenceman Étienne St-Germain to the Quebec Remparts for a third round pick in 2010.

From December 28, 2009 - January 3, 2010

- The Drummondville Voltigeurs acquired 19 year-old forward Toni Ritter from the Shawinigan Cataractes for an eigth round pick in 2010.

- Olivier Roy of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles had his streak of 155 minutes and 18 seconds, the 5th longest in the QMJHL history, ended when the Halifax Mooseheads scored their first goal of the game, on Wednesday December 30.

- The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has suspended Halifax Mooseheads Charles Bety for a total of two games after he received a penalty for checking from behind on a play during last Wednesday’s game between the Mooseheads and the Screaming Eagles.

From December 21-27

- Drummondville Voltigeurs forward Gabriel Dumont and Val-d’Or Foreurs goaltender Raffaele D’Orso were named the TELUS offensive and defensive players of the week for the period extending from December 14 to 20. Dumont accounted for five goals and three helpers while posting an excellent +7 rating in three games.

From December 14-20

- The QMJHL holiday trade period opens Saturday and closes January 7 at 1 p.m. Atlantic time.

- The Halifax Mooseheads have lost 18-year-old fourth-line forward Jordan Costello to a broken thumb. Costello, who hails from Summerside, PEI, has a goal and an assist in 17 games. He dressed in Friday’s 7-1 loss to the Saint John Sea Dogs but did not play. He requires surgery and won’t be back until well after the holiday break ends.

- The Halifax Mooseheads defenceman Garrett Clarke is also not expected back after the holiday break. He has a recurring groin injury and won’t skate during the break, meaning he’ll need to be eased back onto the ice after Christmas.

- French cable network RDS reported this week that Jordan Caron and Patrice Cormier from the Rimouski Oceanic are on their way to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, once they return from the world junior championship. Acadie-Bathurst Titan goaltender Nicholas Champion is also rumoured to be headed to the Huskies.

- Fans in Cape Breton are calling on the Screaming Eagles to sell some assets like Luke Adam and Michael Ward and start building for the future.

- Jean-François Houle, the son of former Montreal Canadiens’ GM Réjean Houle, will be taking over the head coaching duties in Lewiston. Houle, will be stepping down from his current role as assistant coach for the Clarkson University men’s hockey team. During his time at Clarkson, Houle has helped lead his team to two back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances. Houle will take command of the team on December 27 in Victoriaville. His first game at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee will be on December 28 versus Victoriaville.

- The Canadian Hockey League Tuesday announced that forward Jonathan Audy-Marchessault of the Quebec Remparts is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending December 13

- Like a scene from the United Nations students from 23 countries displayed their flags at the opening ceremonies of Tuesday night’s Moncton Wildcats game. International Students night, hosted by District 2 Community Schools, was for many of the students from around the world, their first hockey game.

From December 7 -13

- Lewiston MAINEiacs scout Tim Schurman, who will be the team’s assistant coach at least on an interim basis until the new head coach is named, is son of Moncton GM Bill Schurman.

- A recent analysis of Canadian University rosters in Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces shows that 115 former players are currently pursuing their education and their hockey careers at the University level. Nineteen additional players are benefiting from QMJHL study grants while pursuing their education at Canadian Universities outside the League’s territory.

- All three goaltenders on the Moncton Wildcats roster now have at least one shutout this season. Newcomer Shane Owen, who joined the team a couple of weeks ago from Ontario, was the latest to get his Tuesday in Charlottetown against the Rocket.

- Some NHL scouts will be adding games of the Baie-Comeau Drakaar to their travel itinerary with Nathan Dunnett of Whitney, NB getting QMJHL defensive player of the week honours twice recently and CHL Goaltender of the Week for last week. The 19 year-old hasn’t really got the recognition he deserves until late.

- Eric Faille of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan has earned at least a point in 13 consecutive games including Tuesday night’s 5-4 win over Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

- On Friday night during the PEI Rocket game with Saint John Sea Dogs, the Rocket will be hosting the annual Children’s Wish Toonie Toss. All proceeds from the Toonie Toss will support the fantastic projects associated with the Children’s Wish Foundation.

- On Sunday afternoon, the Rocket will host the Acadie-Bathurst Titan at the Charlottetown Civic Centre. The Rocket will be teaming up once again with the RCMP and The Charlottetown City Police for the Annual Teddy Bear Toss and a special visit from Santa Claus himself who will also be singing the national anthem. All fans are encouraged to bring a stuffed animal to throw on the ice after the Rocket score their first goal. This is a great event, with all Teddy Bears collected being used by the City Police and the RCMP in their work with children. The Teddy Bears will also be given to sick children and children in need this holiday season.

- Over 2000 teddy bears will be distributed to needy children and hospitals in Northern New Brunswick thanks to the Teddy Toss organized by the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. A total of 2086 teddy bears were picked up when Éric Faille scored the first goal in Saturday’s game between the Titan and the P.E.I. Rocket. Faille set off the teddy bear shower early when he scored only 10 seconds into the game.

From November 30 - December 6

- Moncton will be the site of the only Sportsnet/RDS broadcast of a QMJHL Atlantic Division regular season game this season Sunday March 14. It will feature a game with Saint John Sea Dogs at Moncton Wildcats. The only other Atlantic team to be shown on a national broadcast will be PEI Rocket when they visit Drummondville Voltigeurs Sunday, January 10.

- Last Friday night, Moncton Wildcats centre Ted Stephens was named the Yukon’s National Male Athlete of the Year. Stephens has been nominated for the award for the second consecutive year. His parents, Sue and Jim attended the ceremony in Whitehorse and accepted the award on his behalf. In his third year with the Wildcats, Stephens has 8 goals and 6 assists in 19 games this season.

- Philippe Cornet of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending November 29. Cornet had eight points in two games scoring two goals and collecting six assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-4.

- Rouyn-Noranda Huskies forward Philippe Cornet and Shawinigan Cataractes defenceman Charles-Olivier Roussel Monday were named the TELUS offensive and defensive players of the week in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for the period extending from November 23 to 29.

From November 23-29

- The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League announced Saturday that players Ashton Bernard (Cape Breton) and Marshall Worden (Acadie-Bathurst) has been both suspended 10 games. It’s an automatic suspension following their fight during the warm-up, before Friday’s game between the Screaming Eagles and the Titan, played at Centre 200 in Sydney. Other suspensions and/or fines could be announced by the disciplinary prefect, after reviewing the videotape of the incident and after consulting all concerned parties.

The Halifax Mooseheads learned Wednesday that defencemen Garrett Clarke and Konrad Abeltshauser don’t have ligament damage with their knee injuries. Clarke will resume skating on Wednesday and could be back as soon as next week. Abeltshauser will start skating next week and could return the following week.

- The Moncton Wildcats has announced that 19 year old goaltender Shane Owen has been added to the team’s 50 man protected list. Owen had spent the last three seasons playing with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League.

- The Saint John Sea Dogs and United Way of Greater Saint John have announced that the two organizations will be joining forces to help enhance the holiday season for underprivileged children throughout southwestern New Brunswick. Beginning Tuesday, special Christmas Trees will be set up at Harbour Station, the United Way office, and Lancaster Mall. Each tree will have hundreds of categorized gift tags containing the age and gender of a local child adorning its branches. Individuals and companies electing to participate in this campaign are invited to select a tag from one of the trees and purchase a gift appropriate to the tag. Gifts may then be brought back to any of the three locations (Lancaster Mall deadline: Dec. 11; Harbour Station and United Way deadline: Dec. 17) where they will be collected and distributed by affiliate agencies of the United Way of Greater Saint John.

- The Montreal Juniors has announced that there has been a time change regarding the team’s game against the Rimouski Oceanic on Sunday, November 29th. The game will be played at the Colisee de Rimouski at 3:00pm EST instead of 4:00pm

- Montreal Juniors Head Coach and General Manager Pascal Vincent will be out of town between November 26th and December 1st for professional purposes. He will miss two Juniors games, November 27th against the Gatineau Olympiques in Montreal and November 29th in Rimouski facing the Oceanic. While he will be gone, the assistant coaches Dominic Ducharme and Joël Bouchard will take the lead. Pascal Vincent will be back for the December 4th game against Rimouski once more but this time in Verdun.

- Wildcats fans waited until Ted Stephens scored at the 3:29 mark of the second period Friday night for their opportunity to flood the ice with Teddy Bears and stuffed toys. Dozens of volunteers collected the 1389 toys which will now be distributed to various local charities. Students from Beaverbrook school took donations from fans for bears and collected $630.77 for their school library.

- The students at Shediac Cape Elementary school were very excited as the Saulnier twins of Cape Pele, Alex and Allain visited their school Monday morning. In their rookie year with the Cats, the brothers talked about their excitement in making the team and the thrill of playing in front of many of their home town fans. They encouraged the students to study and work hard in order to reach their dreams.

Monday afternoon a number of Wildcats players, including Brandon Gormley, Kirill Kabanov, David Savard and Mark Barberio visited Magnetic Hill School to see the artwork being prepared by the students for the “Art on Ice Program”. The students are working together to create unique pieces of art for auction which will be on display at the Coliseum and at downtown businesses starting December 1st.

From November 16-22

- The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Sunday announced that this Monday’s game (November 23) between the Gatineau Olympiques and the Val-d’Or Foreurs has been postponed in order to give an opportunity to appropriately evaluate the situation while giving the Foreurs’ players afflicted with the flu virus more time to get better.

- The youngest player in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Raphael Bussieres has left the Moncton Wildcats. He just turned 16 last month. The rookie left winger, a native of Longueuil, Que., will not suit up again for the Wildcats this season. He went home yesterday and will play in the Quebec midget AAA ranks for the remainder of this season. Bussieres was selected in the first round, fifth overall, in the 2009 QMJHL draft. He had one goal and three points in 20 games. Team officials were shocked by the decision.

- Kirill Kabanov, the 17 year old Russian left winger on the Moncton Wildcats will undergo corrective surgery Thursday to repair a wrist injury from late last season. Recently Kabanov aggravated the injury and was scratched from the Wildcats lineup last Friday in Halifax. Team doctors have evaluated the severity of the injury and have agreed that the best course of action for a full recovery is surgery. While he is expected o leave hospital Saturday, recovery period for this type of injury is expected to be 10-12 weeks.

- Moncton Wildcats left winger Kirill Kabanov missed last Friday night’s game against Halifax after aggravating an old wrist injury. He was fitted with a working cast late Monday morning and is awaiting further medical evaluation. His playing status is listed day to day. Kirill spent part of Monday morning visiting a number of Downtown Moncton businesses urging them to support Friday’s Charity Bear night, when the Cats play their next home game against the PEI Rocket.

- Former Moncton Wildcats goaltender Nicola Riopel got his first win as a pro recently. He was playing with the American Hockey League Adirondack Phantoms. Riopel finished the game with 25 saves on 27 shots through 65 minutes of play and then stopped 6-of-7 shootout attempts for his first pro and AHL victory, helping Adirondack improve to 7-6-1-0 on the year. Riopel as been working with Pro Tek owner and Moncton Wildcats Goaltending Coach, Frantz Jean since 2005. He is also an instructor during Pro Tek’s summer camps.

From November 9-15

- Two Moncton Wildcats, a Saint John Sea Dog and a PEI Rocket player were among 18 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League players named Friday to the the official roster of Team Quebec which will compete in the World Under-17 Championship in Timmins, Ontario from December 29 to January 4. Named were defenceman Dillon Donnelly and forward Raphael Bussieres of the Wildcats, forward Jonathan Huberdeau of the Sea Dogs and defenceman Jimmy Oligny of the Rocket.

- The PEI Rocket through the team’s new Rocket Scientists Performer Program will provide some complimentary tickets to every elementary school on Prince Edward Island to use as rewards for their students. These could be provided for: excellence in academics; excellent work ethic; leadership qualities; or for whatever is deemed appropriate by the administration of the particular school.

- Former Moncton Wildcats defenceman Oskars Bartulis has been called up by the Philadelphia Flyers. Bartulis spent two years with the Wildcats, and was a member of the 2006 Presidents Cup winning team. He was drafted in the first round of the 2004 CHL import draft. Philadelphia picked him in the third round of the 2005 NHL draft. He spent two years in the AHL before getting the call to the show.

- Three players and one builder will be honoured with admission into the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Hall of Fame at the end of March at a ceremony in Montreal. Gilbert Delorme, Richard Leduc, Yanic Perreault and Maurice Tanguay will make their way into the hall.

- The Canadian Hockey League has announced that forward Trevor Parkes of the Montreal Juniors, an 18-year-old from Fort Erie, ON, is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending November 8.

- Shawinigan Cataractes is the latest team to be hit with the flu. Six players from the team are suspected of having H1N1. The team’s scheduled game in Halifax Tuesday has been postponed and the game in Charlottetown against the PEI Rocket put off until Saturday.

- The Acadie-Bathurst Titan will render honour to Canadian war veterans before the game against the Baie-Comeau Drakkar on Tuesday November 10th. The ceremony will be held prior to the game at 7:30pm.“We are proud to honor all Canadians who served their country with their devotion and sacrifice in the name of freedom”, said Luc Foulem, a team spokesman.

-  Former Titan Maxime Renaud will make his first return to Bathurst Tuesday night. Renaud played for the Titan for three seasons before being traded to the Baie-Comeau Drakkar two weeks ago.

- Sean Couturier of Bathurst scored a pair of goals for the Drummondville in their victory Tuesday night over another New Brunswicker Jake Allen and his Montreal Juniors

From November 2 - 8

- Not only were Moncton Wildcats players and staff hit with H1N1 virus so was the mother of rookie Scott Trask. She was reportedly hospitalized and on life support for two days but apparently is now recovering and feeling much better.

- Five teams have registered hikes in their attendance figures this season. The highest jumps in attendance occurred in Shawinigan (+ 864) Victoriaville (+ 277), Drummondville (+ 127) and Moncton (+ 101). Of note, overall attendance is down slightly from last season (-3.9%)

- Halifax (5257), Moncton (4311) and Saint John (3489) are second, third and fourth in average game attendance. There are six teams averaging less than 2000 per game. Two of them, P.E.I. and Acadie-Bathurst, are from the Atlantic Division.

- The Riverview Royals football team led the charge in partnership with Sobey’s in Riverview, TAS Trucking, Riverview Storage and the Moncton Wildcats and collected over 8000 pounds of non-perishable food items during the past week which was delivered to the Moncton Food Depot Monday. The food drive is one of the elements in the Rivalry Cup competition with the Saint John Sea Dogs. 

- During Veterans Week, November 5-11, the Moncton Wildcats are supporting the annual Poppy campaign. Fans can pick up a poppy at the 50/50 table on the Mezzanine during the games on Thursday and Friday. The annual “Salute to Veterans” ceremony will take place prior to Friday’s game.

– Victoriaville Tigres forward Tomas Kubalik and Quebec Remparts goaltender Peter Delmas, from Bedford, NS, Monday were named the TELUS offensive and defensive players of the week for the period extending from October 26 to November 1.

- Look for growth under the nose of the Moncton Wildcats players and male staff as they start sprouting stachs this month in support of Prostate Cancer research. It’s the second year for the Movember campaign.

– The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Monday announced that Shawinigan Cataractes defenceman Étienne St-Germain has been suspended for a total of five games for clipping an opponent during last Friday’s game between the Gatineau Olympiques and the Cataractes.

- The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Monday announced that Montreal Juniors defenceman David Stich has been suspended for a total of two games after he received a penalty for being the aggressor on a play during last Saturday’s game between the Rocket and the Juniors.

From October 26 - November 1

- Montreal Juniors Hockey Club left for Halifax on Wednesday without forward Louis-Marc Aubry and goalie Jake Allen of Fredericton. The team took all the proper precautions in regards to the undetermined health status of both players who stayed in Montreal. The team will face the Halifax Mooseheads on Thursday October 29th before they face off against the PEI Rocket on Saturday the 31st and Moncton on Sunday, November 1st. Goaltender Étienne Marcoux will back up Jean-François Bérubé for the three games.

- Goaltender Louis Domingue is now in the Wildcats record books for the goalie getting the most points in a season. Last Wednesday night in the game against the Montreal Junior in Verdun, Louis assisted on Devon MacAusland’s goal at 3:42 of the first period, giving him three helpers for the season, the highest ever by a goalkeeper in the 14 year history of the Moncton franchise. Not only that, Domingue came within inches of scoring into the empty net in the game’s final minute of play.

– The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Monday announced that Acadie-Bathurst defenceman Olivier Dame-Malka has been suspended for four games for cross-checking an opponent on the head. The incident occurred during Sunday’s game against the Saint John Sea Dogs.

- – The formal complaint which was brought to the attention of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League by the Quebec Remparts organization over the weekend regarding comments made by Chicoutimi Saguenéens head coach Richard Martel towards forward Danick Paquette has been rejected. Can you believe Patrick Roy complaining because an opposing coach commented on a player?

From October 12- 18

- The Shawinigan Cataractes acquired 19 year-old winger Toni Ritter from the Montreal Juniors for a seventh round pick in 2010.Ritter has four points in nine games so far this season.

- The Quebec Remparts sent 18 year-old 6’2" Russian right winger Alexander Avtsin, a fourth round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in last June’s draft, and a second round pick in the 2010 CHL Import Draft to the Montreal Juniors for a first round selection in the 2010 CHL Import Draft.

– The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has suspended forward Pierre-Marc Lessard of the Moncton Wildcats for three games for hitting an opponent from behind. The incident occurred during Thursday’s game against the Rocket.

- Sean Couturier of Bathurst, who plays with Drummomdville Voltigeurs scored a goal on a penalty shot against the goaltender Gabriel Girard of Shawinigan Cataractes at 09:07 in second period in Thursday night’s game between the two teams.. 

- The Windsor Spitfires will host the 2010 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game on Wednesday January 20, 2010. The announcement was made at a press conference at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, ON Wednesday.

- The Canadian Hockey League Wednesday announced that Christopher Gibson of the Chicoutimi Saguenéens is the CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending October 11. Gibson won both of his starts posting a 2-0-0-0 record including one shutout victory with a goals-against-average of 1.00 with a save percentage of .972.

- Three Quebec Major Junior Hockey League teams managed to crack the most recent CHL BMO MasterCard Top 10 rankings for the 2009-10 season: The Drummondville Voltigeurs (2nd) the Gatineau Olympiques (4th) and the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (10th).

From October 5-11

– Montreal Juniors forward Guillaume Asselin and Quebec Remparts defenceman Samuel Groulx Monday were named the TELUS offensive and defensive players of the week for the period extending from September 28 to October 4

- The age old adage that the waters don’t always run smooth came true for the Wildcats when Monday’s trip across the St. Lawrence River was stalled by high waves. The team arrived at the ferry terminal in Matane, QC, to be greeted by the news the planned 5pm crossing to Baie-Comeau was cancelled. So it was back on the bus, a quickly arranged supper stop in Rimouski and then on to a hotel 40 minutes north of Quebec City. The weary group of travelers finally called it a day over 13 hours after they left the Coliseum.

- Two years have passed since the Moncton Wildcats have had a goal scoring outburst like the one they displayed in Baie-Comeau on Tuesday night. Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Danny Flynn called it a night of firsts. It was the first two goal game for Devon MacAusland since he joined the Wildcats two years ago. Slovakian native Marek Hrivik had his first two goal game and the first four-point game by a Wildcat this season, Newfoundland native Scott Trask scored his first goal as a Wildcat and his first in the QMJHL. Matt Brown scored his first of the season and Cornwall, PEI sniper Randy Cameron got his first of the young season. 

- Former Moncton Wildcat Kevin Glode is returning to Moncton as a member of the RCMP. The popular two-way forward spent four seasons with the Cat on his chest. Kevin played 245 regular season games and 38 playoffs games with the Wildcats. Joining the RCMP was the fulfillment of a dream.

From September 28 - October 4

- The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League announced Saturday that defenceman Éric Gélinas of the Lewiston MAINEiacs has been suspended for a total of two contests for attempting to injure an opponent. The incident occurred in last Thursday’s game between the MAINEiacs and the Voltigeurs.

- As September came to an end, there are only three undefeated teams remaining in the CHL, including the QMJHL’s Drummondville Voltigeurs, the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, and the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen. The Greyhounds, who are 5-0-0-0 were last overall in the OHL standings last season.

- The Canadian Hockey League Tuesday announced that forward Jonathan Hazen of the Val-d’Or Foreurs is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending September 27 for recording eight points including two goals and six assists with a plus-minus rating of plus 4 in four games.

- Forward Logan MacMillan of Winsloe, PEI was assigned to Bakersfield of the ECHL on Wednesday by the Anaheim Ducks. MacMillan, 20, was the Ducks’ first pick (19th overall) in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He split last season between Halifax and Rimouski of the QMJHL.

- Four Quebec Major Junior Hockey League teams managed to crack the most recent Canadian Hockey League BMO MasterCard Top 10 rankings for the 2009-10 season. The Drummondville Voltigeurs is second, the Gatineau Olympiques fifth, the Victoriaville Tigres eighth and the Saint John Sea Dogs tenth.

- Shawinigan Cataractes’ bench boss Éric Veilleux received a contract extension which will keep him with the organization until the conclusion of the 2011-12 season

- First round draft pick Dmitry Kulikov has impressed the Florida Panthers with his play on the blueline throughout training camp and preseason, that he and the NHL team have agreed Tuesday to an entry-level contract pending league approval. The 18-year-old was selected by the Panthers 14th overall in the Entry Draft.The Panthers now have nine regular-season games to decide whether to keep Kulikov on their NHL squad or send him back to Drummondville of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The 6-1, 185-pound Kulikov has made it clear since being drafted his dream is to play in the NHL this season.

-Following their game Thursday against the Rimouski Oceanic at home, the win-less Halifax Mooseheads embark on a difficult stretch that sees them play eight of nine games on the road.

- In only two Moncton Wildcats home games this season, fans have taken home $11,333.00 in 50/50 money that includes a special bonus draw at the first home game.

- Moncton Wildcats defenceman David Savard came away with five points, a goal and four assists in two weekend games. He was named first star in Sydney and second star in Saint John but overlooked for league defensive player of the week.

- The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Monday announced that forward Jason Rajotte of the Quebec Remparts has been suspended for a total of five games for being the aggressor in a fight which occurred during last Saturday’s game between Chicoutimi and Quebec.

- Val-d’Or Foreurs forward Jonathan Hazen and Drummondville Voltigeurs goaltender Antoine Tardif today were named the TELUS offensive and defensive players of the week for the period extending from September 21 to 27.

- Several players who were thrilled to make QMJHL teams for the first time this month are finding that being a rookie can mean you get to watch a lot of games from the stands or the press box. Can’t help but think of the major midget AAA or junior A teams that could really utilize their talent and abilities.

From September 21-27 

– The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Thursday announced that forward Mike Thomas of the Sea Dogs has been suspended for a total of six games for being the agressor in a fight during Wednesday’s game between Saint John and P.E.I. The decision was reportedly rendered after reviewing the videotape of the incident and after consulting all concerned parties.

- While some may wonder if the Saint John Sea Dogs really need more  help they received the word Wednesday that Simon Despres was being sent back to the QMJHL team by his NHL team.

-  Last year’s captain of the Moncton Wildcats, Matt Eagles left over the weekend to attend the training camp of the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League. Eagles led the Wildcats in points last season scoring 29 goals and 36 assists. If he doesn’t make the pro league, Matt is slated play university hockey with the St. Thomas Tommies, coached by his father Mike.

- Chicoutimi Saguenéens forward Jacob Lagacé and Gatineau Olympiques goaltender Maxime Clermont today were named the TELUS offensive and defensive players of the week for the period extending from September 14 to 20.

From September 14 -20 

– Former Cape Breton Screaming Eagle Robert Slaney from Upper Island Cove, NL has reportedly been sent to the Toronto Marlies of the AHL by the Toronto Maple Leafs. He apparently had some sort of surgery on his heart last week as well, but he is doing well now. For the past couple of years he has had an accelerated heart beat, but the Leafs wanted him to get it taken care of now while he was young, so he had it done last week.

- “The Cats are ready to roll, with (Mark) Barberio, (David) Savard and (Scott) Brannon back from NHL camps,” that’s the word from Danny Flynn, the Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations of the Moncton Wildcats as his team prepares to host PEI Rocket Friday at 7:00pm and Cape Breton Screaming Eagles Sunday at 4:00pm.

- The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has suspended Val-d’Or Foreurs defenceman Olivier Dallaire two games and Shawinigan Cataractes forward Tommy Tremblay three games. The suspensions were handed down following "reprehensible" incidents which took place during last Saturday’s game between the two clubs at the Bionest Centre.

- Former Moncton Wildcat Chris Morehouse, who calls Amherst, NS, home, scored in an intersquad scrimmage game Monday as the St. Louis Blues continue their main NHL training camp. Morehouse, 22, was invited to the main camp after participating with the Blues at a rookies tournament in Traverse City, Mich., last week He played last season with the AUS men’s hockey champion St. Mary’s University Huskies. .

- Truro, NS native Zack Sill was a spark plug with the Wildcats last season and now he’s earned his way to the Pittsburgh Penguins main training camp. Sill went to the Pens American League team following the Wildcats playoff elimination last spring. He impressed the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton brass and was offered a contract. At the rookie camp in Kitchener last week, the gritty forward pushed his way to a shot at the main camp. 

- Halifax Mooseheads’ Head Coach and General Manager Cam Russell announced Wednesday that 19-year-old winger Chuckie Schembri of Riverview, NB had been sent home for disciplinary reasons. Schembri was picked up on waivers from the Moncton Wildcats. He played with Dieppe Commandos of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League last season.

- Making a team play to serve the frontlines of hunger in southeastern New Brunswick, the Moncton Wildcats and members of the Humphrey-Lewisville- SunnyBrae Lions Club are continuing their partnership started last season. Funds raised as a result of the Lions efforts go to support of the Greater Moncton Food Depot Alimentaire, which last season totaled $8,000.00. Lions Club members, wearing their bright yellow vests can be seen and heard, selling 50/50 tickets at all Wildcats home games starting this Friday.

- Gatineau Olympiques forward Tye McGinn and Drummondville Voltigeurs defenceeman Andrew Randazzo Monday were named the TELUS offensive and defensive players of the week for the period extending from September 10 to 13. Drummondville forward Sean Couturier of Bathurst and PEI Rockey forward Brandon Street of Bonavista, NL were runnersup fior the offensive award and Moncton Wildcats goaltender Wendell Vye of Moncton and Saint John Sea Dogs defenceman Kevin Gagne were runnersup for the defensive award. 

- A big blow to the start of the season for the Moncton Wildcats, the team will be without first string goaltender Louis Domingue for about four weeks. The netminder has a broken finger, which according to the Wildcats coaching staff, will take about a month to heal. Rookie Wendell Vye is now the starting goalie with Luke Gallant brought in as backup. Winger Andrew Roski is also on the disabled list with a upper body injury but he could be back in the line up for the Cats home opener this Friday against the PEI Rocket.

From September 7 - 13 

- Sean Couturier from Bathurst, NB scored what was described as "a remarkable goal" in Thursday night’s 2009-10 QMJHL season opener between his Drummondville Voltigeurs and the Val d’Or Foreurs, pushing the puck between Colton’s pads on a backhander shot with one knee on the ice to make the score 4-1 in an 8-1 Volts romp. 

- Rookie Allain Saulnier of the Moncton Wildcats led all QMJHL players in points and goals scored in the pre-season. He scored eight goals and supplied four assists in six games. He was actually titd with Alexandre Lavoie of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens in points. Lavoie accumulated six goals and six assists in six games. Allain’s twin brother Alex, also a Wildcats rookie, was third with three goals and seven assists in six games

- Veteran broadcaster Les Stoodley will be doing the play by play this year of Moncton Wildcats games on the official voice of the Wildcats, News 91.9 on the fm dial which may also be accessed on the internet at News.91.9.com. You can also access the internet broadcast through the Wildcats website www.moncton-wildcats.com . 

- Telus will be providing webcasting of all QMJHL games this season at a cost of $6.95 per live game or $3.95 for the archive version, total package for the season and the playoffs is $199.95. To log in, go to www.lhjmq.qc.ca and hit the webcast button in the top right corner. The season opening weekend games will be available at no charge.

.- The Wildcats is planning a weekend of activity September 18-20 to coincide with the team’s two home openers. 

- Looks like former Halifax Mooseheads defenceman Richard Greer will remain with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. He played in four pre-season games and is listed on the team’s regular season roster. He went to Sydney on a tryout after failing to crack the Montreal Juniors’ lineup on a tryout

- Cape Breton Screaming Eagles overagers Brad Tesink and J.C. Gauthier will stick with the Eagles as long as Michael Ward and Nick MacNeil are away at their pro camps. Once both players return, Tesink and Gauthier are expected to be released or traded

From August 31 - September 6 

- Cape Breton Screaming Eagles head coach and general manager Mario Durocher said there’s no further roster moves planned before the season starts with seven of his players off to pro camps. He noted that defenceman Richard Greer will stay with the team to start the season. Two affiliate players, defenceman Wes Herrett and goaltender Melvin Day, were called up for the Eagles final pre-season contest.

- Eighteen year-old Fredericton born forward Simon Bissonette has been caught up in the numbers game with the Lewison MAINEiacs. Maineiacs General Manager Roger Shannon said Bissonnette was impressive in camp and team officials noted immense improvement in his game, but with 13 new bodies on the Mainiacs, room was needed to be made and only so many spots were available, adding that he was optimistic that Bissonette might catch on with another team in the league. Bissonette was relurned to the Amherst Junior "A" Ramblers this week and will likely be granted his QMJHL release so he can try and hitch on with another Q team. 

- Saint John Sea Dogs’ forward Mike Thomas has been using the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League pre-season as preparation for a Philadelphia Flyers rookie camp he’ll leave for on Sepember 6. He’s happy part of that process included a stop in his hometown of Fredericton Wednesday. The 19-year-old was in the lineup when Saint John faced the Lewiston Maineiacs at Willie O’Ree Place. "It’s a treat to play in Fredericton before I go,’’ Thomas said. "It’s going to be really special to me.’’

- The Halifax Mooseheads claimed 19-year-old forward Chuckie Schembri off waivers from the Moncton Wildcats on Wednesday. He appeared in five games for the Wildcats last year but spent the majority of the past two seasons in the MJAHL. The five-foot-nine agitator played in 108 games with the Moncton Gagnon Beavers and Dieppe Commandos, accumulating 38 points and 315 penalty minutes. He made an auspicious debutin his first pre-season game with the Moose knocking out import defenceman Konrad Abeltshauser for potentially a significant period of time. It was purely accidental that his helmet connected with the big German’s face, but you can bet there were a few wisecracks around the rink regarding whether Schembri thought he was still a member of the Wildcats. He hit anything that moved when he visited Halifax with the Wildcats the previous week.

- Forward Marco Desveaux of Cheticamp, who was released by the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles this week, was picked up on waivers by the Lewiston Maineiacs

- Luke Adam is one of seven Eagles players who will depart for their respective pro camps this weekend. The list includes Nick MacNeil in St. Louis, Michael Ward in Vancouver, Taylor MacDougall in Boston, Ashton Bernard in New Jersey, Mathieu Brodeur in Phoenix and Olivier Roy in Edmonton.Adam is off to the Buffalo Sabres camp.

- Kirill Kabanov, the Wildcats 7th overall pick in this year’s European draft, arrived in Moncton Wednesday night. The 6 foot 3 inch, 178 pound native of Moscow, Russia is in Moncton to visit the area as part of the process of possibly joining the team. His status with regard to playing with the Wildcats this season has not been confirmed since he has not obtained a transfer card from the Russian IHF. The IIHF may have to rule on the situation after written submissions are presented. According to Danny Flynn, the Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations for the Wildcats, this process could take at least two weeks. Kabanov played for Moscow Spartak last season and was a member of the Russian under-18 national team.

- Six temporary rinks will change the look of Moncton’s Main Street between Lutz and Church Street on Saturday, September 19th for the annual Cats Cup. From 9am to noon, 72 aspiring NHLers between the ages of 5 to 10 in three different age groups will battle in the Downtown Road Hockey Challenge as part the Wildcats Home Opening Weekend. Special guests will be on hand for the official puck-drop will kick off the championship game. Registration forms are now available on the Wildcats website at www.moncton-wildcats.com .

- Brandon Gormley made his first appearance at the Wildcats training camp on Monday. The first round draft pick of the Wildcats in 2008 had time off after helping Canada’s Under-18 team capture the gold medal at the Ivan Hlinka tournament last month. Gormley was an assistant captain with the team and was twice named player of the game. The PEI native is expected to be a high round NHL draft pick next year. 

- Moncton Wildcats rookie prospect Allain Saulnier leads all scorers in the QMJHL in goals scored with six and points with nine in pre-season play. Alexandre Lavoie of Chicoutimi Sagueneens is actually tied with him in points. He has five goals and four assists. Chris Doyle (5-2-7) of PEI Rocket is tied for fourth in points with Raphael Bussieres (2-5-7) of the Wildcats.

- There are currently seventeen former QMJHL officials employed by the NHL.

- Four Quebec Major Junior Hockey League officials have been selected to work in National Hockey League Rookie Tournaments, which will be held in Michigan and Ontario from September 6 to 10. Referee Jean Hébert of Dieppe, NB will travel to Traverse City, Michigan, where eight NHL teams are scheduled to face-off while referee Frédéric Leblanc and linesmen Mathieu Chénier and Matt MacPherson will be headed to Kitchener, Ontario.

From August 24-30 

- Nicola Riopel is coming back to Moncton on Friday to visit his former team. Riopel will be at the Wildcats pre-season game Friday night at 7:00pm at the 4-Ice Centre. Riopel, was the Wildcats outstanding goaltender last season and winner of the QMJHL Most Valuable Player Award. He backstopped the Cats to a new league record for fewest goals against won the Jacques Plante Trophy, and was named to the Q’s first All Star team,. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the fifth round of the NHL draft in June. 

- Forward Jean-Christophe Gauthier, who scored a goal in Tuesday’s pre-season game with Moncton Wildcats and defenceman Brad Tesink of Saint John, NB,, who’s currently sidelined with a shoulder injury, appear to be the two 20-year-olds out as the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles continue to trim the team’s roster for the 2009-10 season. Head Coach Mario Durocher told the Cape Breton Post that three players, defenceman Jean-Sebastien Fournier and forwards Lapostolle and Félix Bergeron were officially on the roster since the Sunday deadline to send players back to Quebec for the CEGEP program has passed. The team currently has 28 players on the roster, including 17 forwards, eight defence and three goaltenders. He’s looking at keeping either 23 or 24 players in the end. Of the last cuts, he’ll release one goaltender, one defenceman and either one or two forwards, depending on the final number Durocher wants to keep.

- Halifax Mooseheads Head Coach and General Manager Cam Russell has a message for the team’s young players, who are on the bubble, "we feel that if a 16-year-old or even a 17-year-old isn’t ready to step in and play regularly on our hockey team, then the best thing for that player would be to go where he’s going to get the opportunity to play. In some cases that’s going to be midget and in others it will be tier 2." 

- Francis Charron, a veteran of six seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, has officially signed his first National Hockey League contract. He will begin the 2009-10 season in the American Hockey League. Charro is, a 25-year-old native of Gatineau,QC

- Richard Greer, a highly touted prospect when he was drafted by the Halifax Mooseheads in the second round (25th overall) in 2007 now appears to be headed back to the United States to play junior hockey. The Qincey, MA native was cut on the weeken by the Montreal Junior. The Mooseheads had given permission for him to tryout with Montreal in hopes of getting a draft pick out of the deal but it now looks like the Mooseheads will be left without compensation unless another QMJHL steps forward. 

- The Montreal Juniors and Lewiston MAINEiacs completed a trade Monday. The MAINEiacs acquired right-winger 19 year-old Samuel Grenache from the Juniors for a third round pick in the 2011 entry draft. A native of Windsor he had a +4 rating last season

- The Quebec Remparts traded a fifth round pick in 2010 to the Lewiston MAINEiacs for 18 year-old defenceman Dany Coulombe from Trois-Rivieres.

- The Victoriaville Tigres sent 18 year-old 6’4" left winger Vincent Tessier and a seventh round pick in 2011 to the Val d’Or Foreurs for 18 year-old goaltender Jean-Sébastien Boucher.

- The Chicoutimi Saguenéens traded the QMJHL rights to 18 year-old goaltender Sean Coulton to the Val-d’Or Foreurs for a fourth round pick in 2010. 

- The Shawinigan Cataractes landed 16 year-old centre William Kane by trading 19 year-old winger Mathieu Milse to the Drummondville Voltigeurs. The Cataractes also traded a fifth round pick in 2011 to the Baie-Comeau Drakkar for 17 year-old François Lacerte and 18 year-old winger Ryan Lagacé.

- After spending the last several hockey seasons playing at prep schools in the United States Fredericton’s Zack Phillips finally got a chance to play close to home twice this past weekend at Harbour Station. He was in the lineup for both the Saint John Sea Dogs’ intersquad game Friday and pre-season game against Acadie-Bathurst Titan Saturday and hopes he will have the opportunity to play there many more times this season, 

From August 17-23

- Cape Breton Screaming Eagles scored two goals two goals Friday night, one against each of Moncton Wildcats goaltenders. Both came on 5-on-3’s with Moncton leading by scores of 2-0 and 7-1. When are referees going to learn managing the score or the result is not part of managing a game. 

- Many fans and others at the 4-Ice Centre in Moncton Friday night felt that referees Guy Pellerin and Marco Maillet called two many penalties for a pre-season game. A brief pushing and shoving session while a fight was underway even resulted in two misconducts which is apparently a new rule. Tell me it isn’t true. It was a case of overreaction in our books.

- Returning Halifax Mooseheads teammates Ben MacAskill, Eric Louis-Seize, Linden Bahm and Yuri Cheremetiev are battling newcomer Alexandre Brunet for the three overage positions and none are willing to go down without a fight, sometimes literally. MacAskill and Louis-Seize, teammates and good friends for three years already, dropped the gloves in the first fight of training camp and MacAskill took on Bahm the next night. MacAskill, not known as a fighter during his four years in Halifax, is clearly prepared to do anything it takes to stick around for a fifth season and Louis-Seize is doing the same.

- The Mayor of Saint-Leonard, Michel Bissonnet, accompanied by former QMJHL All-Star and current Vancouver Canucks backstop Robert Luongo Saturday officially inaugurated the Roberto-Luongo Arena in the community.

Fans of the the Moncton Wildcats will have an opportunity to meet both rookies and veterans from the team’s 14th annual training camp Saturday. The players will be making a special appearance at the Trinity Drive Superstore from 10am until 12 noon, in support of the New Brunswick Heart and Stroke Foundation.
The Wildcats will be chatting with the fans, posing for pictures and signing autographs. The community event will showcase some of the outstanding rookies attending this year’s camp and also talk with some of last season’s Atlantic Division championship team members. The veteran players have started arriving in Moncton to prepare for the expanded training camp which starts at 9 on Monday morning

- There’s a cut — a very large cut — coming on Saturday morning at the Halifax Mooseheads training camp. Mooseheads general manager Cam Russell told Matthew Weust of Metro Halifax Thursday night he could trim as many as 25 players from his rather bulky 59-man training camp roster before the team opens the QMJHL pre-season on Saturday on Prince Edward Island. “We could be down to 35 or so,” Russell said.

- The PEI Rocket camp has six goaltenders, 12 defencemen and 24 forwards vying for positions. If the team decides to carry eight defencemen there appears to be one spot available, barring injuries, with Matthew Hobbs, a seventh-round pick in 2008, and Kevin Boyer, a fourth- round pick this year, being the inside favourites.
Forward has a few changes, too, at least in depth. The first two forward lines appear set. 
with returnees Jordan Escott, Brandon MacLean, Brandon Street and Brendan Wright having the inside lanes on the third and fourth lines leaving four to five spots open for the likes of 2009 picks Felipe Corbo (third round), Josh Currie from the Capitals (fifth round), Cody Linteau and Danny Potvin (both sixth round) to claim stalls in the locker room.
Toss in invitees Jordan Burke, who played with the Rocket last season, and Mount Stewart’s Nathan McQuaid, who skated with the MJAHL’s Miramichi Timberwolves last season, and there could be some new faces. Evan Mosher appears to have inside track on the backuo position in net again but on his heels are Charlottetown native Luke Gallant, cut by Rouyn-Noranda, MJAHLers Jon Waye and Travis Hall and Cameron Poirier, a ninth-round pick in June.

- Matt Myers, an invitee at the Halifax Mooseheads camp from the Cornwall Major Midget Thunder apparently showcased a scoring touch with a pair of goals and then flashed a feisty side by going toe-to-toe with Trey Lewis, who played with Moncton Flyers in the same NB-PEI Major Midget Hockey League last season, at the end of his second game of the day. Myers was rated as among the best tryouts on the ice. 

- Defensive prospect Steve Gillard of St. John’s, NL has an offer from University of Maine in his hip pocket as he impresses at the Halifax Mooseheads camp. His 48 hours will be up sometime Thursday and he will have a chat with Mooseheads General Manager Cam Russell before that. He will likely leave camp Thursday but may return as early as Friday or head to a junior A camp.

- Halifax Mooseheads General Manager Cam Russell got quite a scare Wednesday when veteran Yuri Cheremetiev decked rookie prospect Brent Andrews from behind into the boards. Andrews laid on the ice for quite a while but was back skating before the scrimmage finished saying he was sore but alright. The Herd have a lot invested in Andrews and he is considered to be a sure shot to make the team.

- Cape Breton Screaming Eagles Head Coach Mario Durocher plans on making the first cuts of the camp Saturday morning, following the team’s first exhibition game Friday night in Moncton against the Wildcats. He hopes to have the team finalized, Sunday. Goaltender Alex Newman missed the team’s rookie practice Wednesday with a sore shoulder, but Durocher believes he should be back Thursday. Forward Steve Brazil’s groin will be assessed Thursday by doctors.

- Kody Orr, a 17-year-old from Lower Sackville, NS, who was a passenger in a car that went off the road in mid July and suffered minor injuries is at the Halifax Mooseheads camp and considered good to go. Orr was taken in the 12th round of the 2009 QMJHL draft after a solid season with the MJAHL’s Amherst Ramblers. He has NCAA options so he has agreed to come to camp but will assess where he stands after 48 hours.

- Moncton Wildcats Taite Paul, of Eskasoni, NS, apparently has decided his best shot at making the team is in a tough guy role. He had two fights in the team’s first rookie camp scrimmage Wednesday morning.

- Halifax Mooseheads forward Tomas Knotek and former Mooseheads forward Bryce Swan have been offered tryouts with the Minnesota Wild. Knotek went to the Wild’s rookie camp last year. Swan is a former Anaheim Ducks second-round pick but he turned down a contract offer a year ago. He had an unsuccessful tryout with the Detroit Red Wings last September before enrolling at St. F.X. university.

- The Victoriaville Tigres sent 19 year-old right-winger David Cliche to the Baie-Comeau Drakkar for 20 year-old left-winger Marc-André Laroche. Cliché played in 58 games last season, collecting 20 goals and 12 assists. As for Laroche, he registered 14 goals and 8 assists in 35 games. The current QMJHL trade period ends on August 23.

- Ned O’Brien has decided not to report to this week’s training camp with the Halifax Mooseheads. The 19-year-old forward from Summerside informed the team via e-mail on the weekend that he would be attending the University of New Brunswick full-time this year and is planning to try out for the defending national champion Varsity Reds. O’Brien cracked the roster last season after an outstanding training camp, but was considered on the bubble because his season play did not live up to the team’s expectations.

- Just days before Sunday’s Halifax Mooseheads Alumni Game against the Halifax Police Force, the Halifax Regional Police has traded Jules-Edy Laraque to the Halifax Mooseheads Alumni in exchange for the rights to Halifax Mooseheads majority owner Bobby Smith. Laraque, a Constable with the Halifax Regional Police Quick Response Unit, played 76 games for the Mooseheads over two seasons, recording 63 points. Smith, who has a Stanley Cup ring while playing with the Montreal Canadiens in 1986, played 15 years in the NHL with Minnesota and Montreal.

- Stephen Gillard of St. John’s has verbally committed to play for the NCAA Maine Black Bears in 2011, but is leaving the door open to play for the Halifax Mooseheads during the 2009-10 season. Gillard, a late-round pick of the Mooseheads in June’s draft, is attending training camp at Cole Harbour Place this week and will make his decision after 48 hours, he told the Bangor Daily News. “I want to pick the best route for me. I just want to play the highest level of hockey I can,” Gillard told the paper. “[After the tryouts], I’ll talk to the [Halifax] coaches and see what kind of offer I get." Gillard had two goals and 10 assists in 21 games at the major midget AAA level with the St. John’s Fog Devils last season. 

- Moncton Wildcats will be offering fans an unusual cup of coffee. Starting with the beginning of their 14th training camp Wednesday, each morning the Wildcats will provide a preview of the team’s news and a thought provoking motivational quote. “The Cats Coffee Cup is designed to give fans conversation material during the day,” said General Manager Bill Schurman. “We’ll provide headlines about team events, activities and up to date information to keep everyone talking,” he added. In addition, the Cats Coffee Cup will have a link to the team’s website where videos will highlight training camp news. “Our video team will have interviews and comments from both players and coaching staff as the Wildcats prepare for their 14th season, The information will be sent to our website, www.moncton-wildcats.com, each evening and available to fans the following morning”.

- The Saint John Sea Dogs have announced the winners of the team’s ‘Pick the Promotion’ contest, which invited fans to submit their best suggestions for a game night theme or intermission event to be used during the 2009-10 season. The winning entries are: First Place: Irish Night (Game Theme), submitted by John Calder, Second Place: Homemade Noisemaker Night (Game Theme), submitted by Jamie Munro and Third Place: Dash for Cash (Intermission Event), submitted by Erik Vogel

- Moncton Wildcats major junior team is looking for dedicated, committed game day staff to work in food and beverage, at the concessions, selling 50/50 tickets, as cashiers and a variety of other positions. Just drop off a resume at the Wildcats office at the Coliseum or send via e-mail to: info@moncton-wildcats.com and plan to spend a season of thrills directly involved as part of the team that brings hockey madness to Moncton.

From August 1-15 

- The Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2009-10 season ticket holders, having purchased their season passes prior to July 25th, may now pick up their season ticket booklet at the K.C. Irving Regional Centre ticket office during business hours. For those having purchased their season passes between July 25th and August 10th, the forecasted date for availability is Friday August 21st. Please consult the official Acadie-Bathurst Titan website for confirmation. For those purchasing their season passes between August 11th and August 24th, the forecasted date for availability is Tuesday September 8th. The personalized season ticket promotion ends on Monday August 24th.

- The Moncton Wildcats are still looking for local area families to provide a home away from home for young players attending the Wildcats rookie training camp which gets underway on August 18th. Families interested in becoming involved can fill out the Billet application form found on the Wildcats website – www.moncton-wildcats.com or by contacting Bernie Touesnarad, Billet Coodinator, Moncton Wildcats E-mail: darner@rogers.com Telephone 386-5277 (r) or 866-6850 (c)

- The Victoriaville Tigres sent 19 year-old left-winger Maxime Gravel to the Quebec Remparts for 19 year-old forward Mathieu Loisel and a sixth round pick in 2010. Gravel registered 9 goals and 14 helpers in 67 contests for the Tigres.

- The Victoriaville Tigres flipped Mathieu Loisel and a sixth round pick in 2011 to the Rimouski Océanic for a fourth round selection in 2011. Mathieu Loisel took part in 67 games with the Remparts last season, collecting 3 goals and 14 assists.

- For the first time in its 14 year history, the Moncton Wildcats has announced a six month payment plan for season ticket and flex pass holders allowing fans to pay as little as $35.99 per month. There’s a $50.00 deposit, then regular monthly payments ranging from $35.99 (plus tax) for children, to $62.39 for adults. Seniors rates will be $51.77 monthly, while students pay $41.30. In all cases there will be a monthly administration fee. 

- With the Moncton Wildcats about to begin the franchise’s 14th season, the team’s Booster Club is looking for new members. Application forms can be found on the Wildcats website at www.moncton-wildcats.com, click on the community icon to reach the Booster Club site, and then click the “About Us” section to obtain your application form. 

- Halifax Mooseheads Public Address announcer Pat Connolly has announced his retirement after 60 plus years of being involved in sport in Nova Scotia. Connolly has been the voice of the Nova Scotia Voyageurs, Nova Scotia Oilers, Halifax Citadels and Halifax Mooseheads over the past 35 plus years. The Mooseheads will honour him with a pre-game ceremony at their home opener on Friday, September 18th against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, which will be appropriately dubbed “Pat Connolly Night: A Tribute to a Legend”.

From July 1-31

- The Phoenix Coyotes have signed former Moncton Wildcats defenceman Keith Yandle to a two-year contract. The 22-year-old Yandle had four goals and 26 assists in 69 games with Phoenix last season. His 30 points were second most among Coyotes defenceman. Yandle was Phoenix’s fourth-round pick, the 105th choice overall, in the 2005 draft.

- Former Halifax Mooseheads goaltender coach Patrick Dallaire is joining the QMJHL champion Drummondville Voltigeurs. Dallaire, who spent nine years with the Mooseheads, will join the Voltigeurs as their goalie coach.

From May 25-31

- The Halifax Mooseheads has apparently promoted consultant Bob (Tipper) LeBlanc of Moncton to assistant general manager. The former Saint John Sea Dogs general manager will join Mooseheads GM Cam Russell as part of a revamped management team heading into next week’s QMJHL draft. 

- While nothing official has come out from the team, Jean-Marc Blouin is apparently now the Halifax Mooseheads Head Scout as well as being the team’s chief scout in Quebec. Allie MacDonald is the team’s Chief Atlantic Scout while Robert MacDonald handles New Brunswick and PEI, Tony Cuomo scouts Newfoundland prospects and Bill MacLean and Assistant Coach Jason Troini cover Nova Scotia. 

- Both the PEI Rocket and Cape Breton Screaming Eagles will play the Moncton Wildcats at the Moncton Coliseum during the 2009 Monctonian AAA Challenge, November 19-22. The Rocket game will be Friday at 7:00pm while the Cape Breton contest will be Sunday at 4:00pm.

From May 11 - 17 

- Willie Desjardins will be head coach of Canada’s National Junior Team for the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship. The 2010 tournament will be held in Regina and Saskatoon, SK from December 26, 2009 to January 5, 2010. Desjardins, 52, head coach of the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers, will lead Team Canada in its quest for a sixth-consecutive gold medal at the IIHF World Junior Championship. Desjardins will be joined behind Canada’s bench by associate coach Dave Cameron, a Prince Edward Island native, who is head coach and GM of OHL’s Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors, and assistant coaches André Tourigny, head coach of QMJHL’s Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, and Steve Spott (head coach and GM of OHL’s Kitchener Rangers). Cameron was an assistant coach with Willie Desjardins under Pat Quinn when Canada won gold at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa, Ont.. Cameron will serve as an associate coach this year.

- Referees Jean Hébert and Marc Muylaert will join linesmen Paul Béchard, Christian Boudreau, Stéfan Capano, Serge Carpentier, Yanick Massé and Sylvain Losier as officials at the 2009 Memorial Cup which gets underway Saturday in Rimouski. Two referees from each of the two other regional leagues (OHL & WHL) will also be making the trip to the prestigious event. 

- Forward Yannick Riendeau of the Drummondville Voltigeurs is the Boston Pizza CHL Player of the Week for the week ending May 10. Riendeau, now a three-time winner of this award, recorded 11 points including five goals and six assists in four games. 

- Gabriel Girard of the Shawinigan Cataractes is the ADT CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending May 10. In two starts Girard recorded two wins while posting a goals-against-average of 0.88 and a save percentage of .970.

From May 4 - 10 

- Windsor Spitfires (OHL) and Keowna Rockets (WHL) have qualified to join the host Rimouski Oceanic at the 2009 Memorial Cup.

- Yannick Riendeau of the Drummondville Voltigeurs scored his 27th goal of the playoffs Sunday, 16 of them have been on the powerplay, tieing the QMJHL record of 16 powerplay goals by Mathieu Melanson of the Québec Remparts in the 2006 playoffs.

- Since the first QMJHL championship series in 1969, only 15 series have required six or seven games, including Sunday’s game. 

- In the history of the finals, ithis year’s series is only the second time (Verdun-1992 | Shawinigan-2009) that a sixth game was needed, following losses in the first two home games by a finalist team. 

- In the history of the finals, of the series that needed six or seven games, 57% of the series were won by the team with the home ice advantage (1st game of the series at home).

- The Baie-Comeau Drakkar Friday confirmed the promotion of Stéphane Hains from assistant to head coach following the dismissal of Éric Dubois.

From April 27-May 3 

- Baie-Comeau Drakkar Sunday announced the firing of team GM and Head Coach Éric Dubois. Dubois had been with the team since the 2003-04 season, compiling a 141-166-2 record during that span. He was recently named the Head Coach of Team Quebec for the 2010 Under-17 World Hockey Championship.

- The Canadian Hockey League Wednesday announced that forward Cédric Lalonde-McNicoll of the Shawinigan Cataractes is the Boston Pizza CHL Player of the Week for the week ending April 26. Lalonde-McNicoll scored three goals and four assists for seven points in three games.

- The President’s Cup championship series between Drummondville Voltigeurs and Shawinigan Cataractes is scheduled to get underway May 1 in Drummomdville at 8:35pm AT. The teams will play two games in Drummondville, two games in Shawinigan and if more games are necessary alternate for any other games.

- Marc-André Dumont is the new head coach of the Val d’Or Foreurs of the QMJHL. Dumont coached the Châteauguay Patriots in the Quebec Midget AAA League last season. He was also the head coach of Team Quebec at the Under-17 World Junior Championship. He served as an assistant coach on Benoît Groulx’s staff with the Gatineau Olympiques during the 2006-07 campaign. This is his first head coaching job at the major junior level.

From April 6-11

- The Halifax Mooseheads made some changes to their coaching staff Wednesday that will see a new goalie coach and former player and Dartmouth Major Midget Subways coach Jason Troini back in the fold. Head coach and general manager Cam Russell said Troini will join current assistant coaches Chris Donnelly and Jeff MacLeod. He will be working with the Mooseheads part-time mainly working as the eyes in the sky from the pressbox, breaking down videos and helping with practices. Brad MacCharles is taking over as goaltending coach.

- The only QMJHL player on Canada’s U18 team, Saint John Sea Dogs defenceman Simon Despres. a native of Laval, QC, has been named an alternate captain of the team currently competing at the World Under 18 Challenge being played at the northern U.S.A. community of Fargo, N.D.

- The QMJHL Disciplinary Prefect suspended Shawinigan Cataractes left-wigner Antoine Houde-Caron for two games for cross-cheching an opponent during last Saturday’s game against the Olympiques

- Montreal Junior’s right-wigner Samuel Grenache has suspended for one game for cross-cheching an opponent. The incident happened during last Saturday’s game against the Voltigeurs.

From April 1-5 

- Friday night’s quarterfinal playoff game between Cap Breton Screaming Eagles and Quebec Remparts at the Colisee Pepsi in Quebec was the second longest game in QMJHL history lasting 132 minutes and 57 seconds before Robert Slanley scored to give the Eagles the win 3-2. 

- The Val-d’Or Foreurs has won the official draw for the first overall pick in the next Quebec Major Junior Hockey League entry draft to be held in Moncton in June. The Halifax Mooseheads was the other team with a shot at the pick. 

- The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has voted  to return to Drummondville for the 2010 Annual Session, which will be held from June 2-5, 2010. The Voltigeurs last hosted the prestigious event in 2007.

- The QMJHL Board of Governors has accepted the nomination of Alan Chaput as the new Governor of the Lewiston MAINEiacs following the resignation of Matt McKnight.

From March 16-31

- The Val-d’Or Foreurs organization announced Monday that General Manager and Head Coach Éric Lavigne had been relieved of his duties immediately. Lavigne had been with the organization since the 2005-06 season. Under his guidance, the Foreurs managed to win just 19 games this season.

- The Quebec Major Junior Hockey Monday announced that Rouyn-Noranda Huskies forward Sergey Ostapchuk has been suspended for eight games. Ostapchuk received six games, including an automatic one-game suspension, for his role in a fight and an additional two games for spearing an opponent during last Friday’s contest between the Huskies and the Montreal Juniors. The organization is also fined $500. The Juniors was also fined $1,500, $1,000 following Dmitri Kostromitin’s involvement in a second fight during the same stoppage in play as well as $500 for Matt Fillier who was the third man in during a fight. The Huskies also received a $1,000 fine after Jérôme Gauthier-Leduc fought twice during the same stoppage in play.Since the Huskies have been eliminated from playoff contention, the suspension will begin with the first game of the 2009-10 regular season.

- The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has suspended Gatineau Olympiques defenceman Spencer Metcalfe for a total of four games (including an automatic one-game suspension) for an aggressor penalty which he received during last Saturday’s playoff game between the Titan and the Olympiques. The organization is also fined $500. Acadie-Bathurst Titan forward Vincent Arseneau is suspended for one game for a hit to the head.

- The Gatineau Olympiques and the Acadie-Bathurst Titan organizations have each been fined $1,000 following the players and the coaching staff’s inappropriate behaviour during last Saturday’s game between the two clubs.The Commissioner of the QMJHL, Gilles Courteau, imposed an additional $1,000 fine to the Titan organization for inappropriate comments made by their head coach, Ron Choules.

From March 9 -15, 2009

- The Lewiston Maineiacs’ future living arrangements may still be up in the air, but on the ice, the team knows two things for certain: It will play Baie-Comeau and Chicoutimi this weekend at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee, and if the Maineiacs win both games, they’ll get to play more games in Lewiston. With two games remaining, the Lewiston Maineiacs are tied with Val d’Or for the 16th and final playoff spot in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The Halifax Mooseheads are also still involved in the race, with three games to play over their final three days of the season. The Mooseheads lost, 7-5, on Wednesday against PEI.

- The new home of the Shawinigan Cataractes will be known as the Bionest Centre. Bionest, a local company has purchased naming rights to the facility opened earlier this season as the Ampitheatre.

- The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has suspended right-winger Jonathan Audy-Marchessault of the Quebec Remparts  for a total of seven games for attempting to injure an opponent in last Friday’s contest versus the Shawinigan Cataractes. Audy-Marchessault has already served one game of the suspension.

From March 2-8, 2009 

- Former Moncton Wildcats goaltender Josh Tordjman is getting another crack at the NHL. Phoenix Coyotes has recalled him from San Antonio of the AHL.

- Former St. John’s Fog Devil Timo Pielmeirer is a Anahiem Ducks having been traded now for Travis Moen and Kent Huskins who join the San Jose Sharks 

- Drummondville Voltigeurs, Shawingan Cataractes and Quebec Remparts are the only three QMJHL teams in this week’s CHL Top 10

From February 16-22, 2009

- Left-winger Ashton Bernard of the Shawinigan Cataractes, a native of Eskasoni,NS, has been suspended for a total of four games for attempting to injure a Lewiston MAINEiacs player during last Friday’s contest. Bernard has already served one game of the suspension.

- Drummondville Voltigeurs forward Yannick Riendeau and Rimouski Océanic goaltender Maxim Gougeon today were named the TELUS offensive and defensive players of the week for the period extending from February 9 to 15.

- Yannick Riendeau of the Drummondville Votigeurs registered five goals, including two game-winners, and added two assists in three Voltigeurs wins last week, becoming the first player to reach the 100-point mark. He has accumulated 47 goals and 105 points in 53 games so far this season.

From February 9-15, 2009

- Left-winger Philippe Bergeron of the Drummondville Voltigeurs has been suspended five games after he gave a dangerous bodycheck to an opponent during last Wednesday’s game versus the P.E.I. Rocket.

- The Montreal Juniors has issued an update on Angelo Esposito who injured himself last Wednesday night, February 11th 2009, against the Victoriaville Tigers.Dr Jacques Toueg, orthopedic surgeon and team doctor, confirmed Friday morning that Esposito has a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee and it will end his season. He will be reevaluated next week at the Institut de chirurgie spécialisée de Montréal and an operation will probably follow. According to Dr Toueg’s evaluation, this injury will not affect Angelo’s career and he should be ready for the Atlanta Trashers’ training camp next fall.He is the second top scorer on the team to have his season end early. Luke Adam is also out following an injury to his spleen.

- The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Hall of Fame exhibit, an initiative created in collaboration with RDS, as well as the President Cup will be on display at the Colisée Pepsi on Saturday, February 14, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm during the Quebec City International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. The Hall of Fame exhibit’s visit is a great opportunity for hockey fans to learn more about the rich history of the QMJHL and its greatest ambassadors.

- Former Quebec Rempart Mathieu Melanson of Shediac, NB is the second leading scorer on the Mississippi Sea Wolves of the ECHL. He has 18 goals and 22 assists for 40 points in 33 games. He was fined this week for abuse of an official following a recent game.

- Jean-Philippe Mathieu of the P.E.I. Rocket has been suspended ten games (automatic one-game suspension and an additional nine games) for cross-checking an opponent on the head during last Saturday’s game against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan.

- Montreal Juniors blueliner T.J. Brennan five games (automatic one-game suspension and an additional four games) for attempting to injure an opponent in last Saturday’s contest versus the Gatineau Olympiques.

- No team from Atlantic Canada was named to this week’s CHL Top 10 Rankings. Only three teams from the QMJHL were named - Shawinigan, Drummondvile and Quebec. Apparently the select number of NHL scouts who make the selections cannot look beyond Quebec City.

- The Acadie-Bathurst Titan, in partnership with the Moncton Military Family Resource Centre, will be hosting a “Wear Red Friday” Support our troops hockey game at the KC Irving Regional Civic Centre Friday February 20, 2009 at 7:00 pm as the Titan host the Québec Remparts.The Titan will be showing their support for military Families by encouraging all fans to wear something red. Military men and women in uniform will be attending the game with their families. The Titan has an Easter coloring page available on their website that kids can color and drop off at the KC Irving Centre from February 10 – February 20 until game time. The team is encouraging people bring with them one of the following items:·M & M’s, Instant cup of Soup Mix and/or Hand Wipes or Hand Sanitizer.These items and the coloring pages will be sent to the troops in time to be an Easter treat.

- The Moncton Wildcats invite fans to their annual skills competition. This year the Wildcats will test their skills with young players from the Charlie Bourgeois Hockey School. The competition will take place February 23rd at the Eugene LeBlanc Arena in Memramcook. The fun starts at 6:30 p.m.

- Moncton Wildcats hockey cards for this season are now available at the Roar Store in the Coliseum or at McDonald’s in Moncton, Riverview and Dieppe.

From February 2 - 8, 2009 

- With eight points in seven games Jan Stransky has earned the Halifax Mooseheads’ “Citadel Halifax Hotel Player of the Month” award for January, 2009. The eighteen-year-old winger, returning to action after a four-game suspension, began his offensive assault with a bang, scoring a pair of goals, including the winner, while being named the game’s first star in a 6-2 victory at Acadie-Bathurst January 17, and followed it up with a four-point performance (2+2) and a second star selection the next afternoon in a 6-4 loss to Moncton. Stransky’s six-point weekend resulted in him being named the QMJHL Offensive Player of the Week, for the second time since joining the Mooseheads.

- Left-winger Alexandre Quesnel of the Gatineau Olympiques has been suspended four games by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League  following a dangerous cross-check on Rimouski Océanic centre Félix Lefrançois during last Saturday’s game.

- Garrett Clarke of the Lewiston MAINEiacs has had his season shortened by twelve games for cross-checking an opponent on the head during last Friday’s game against the Victoriaville Tigres. Victoriaville Tigres defenceman Pierre-Luc Pelletier has had his shortened by five games for a hit from behind which occurred in last Saturday’s contest versus the Lewiston MAINEiacs.

- Players from the Quebec teams in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League swept the offensive, defensive and rookie player of the month awards for January. Paul Byron of the Gatineau Olympiques is the award-winner on offence. Charles Lavigne of the Quebec Remparts gets the nod on defence. Oliver Hotte of the Drummondville Voltigeurs is the rookie of the month.

- Chicoutimi Saguenéens forward Jacob Lagacé and Val-d’Or Foreurs goaltender Raffaele D’Orso Monday were named the TELUS offensive and defensive players of the week for the period extending from January 26 to February 1. In three Foreurs wins, D’Orso blocked an astounding 133 shots to finish the week with a 1.33 goals-against-average and .971 save percentage. 

- Cape Breton Screaming Eagles Captain Chris Culligan on playing his 300th game in the QMJHL - "It’s a great honour, especially to have done it with the Cape Breton organization. Being from Cape Breton, it’s been a dream come true the last five years. To get to 300 games with this team makes it extra special."

From January 26 - February 1, 2009 

- Lewiston MAINEiacs defenceman Garrett Clarke , a native of Moncton, has been suspended indefinitely for cross-checking an opponent in Friday’s game versus the Victoriaville Tigres.

- The QMJHL’s presence in New England appears to be coming to an end. While earlier rumours had the Lewiston MAINEiacs moving to St. John’s. The latest one has the franchise going to the Montreal area community of Boisbriand where a new 3500 seat arena is being built. If anything is to happen by the 2009-10 it will have to be settled by Sunday. Former Saint John Flames defenceman Joel Bouchard is apparently the key member of the Boisbriand group.
 
- The Canadian Hockey League Wednesday announced its most recent CHL Mosaik MasterCard Top 10 rankings for the 2008-09 season. Four Quebec Major Junior Hockey League teams managed to crack the upper echelon of the CHL: The Shawinigan Cataractes (4th), the Quebec Remparts (5th), the Drummondville Voltigeurs (6th) and the Moncton Wildcats (9th).

- Moncton Wildcats left winger Matt Brown, a Truro, NS native, is expected to miss the rest of the regular season following knee surgery. He and the Wildcats are hoping for a return for the playoffs.

- Former Halifax Mooseheads coach Shawn MacKenzie begins his day where he loves to be — the local hockey rink. The Bedford native is at the rink at 6:00am six out of seven days each week to participate in practices as part of his job as the Hockey Development Professional for the Bedford and District Minor Hockey Association. And while helping to teach kids as young as five or six about the game of hockey certainly doesn’t bring the limelight that coaching the Mooseheads did, MacKenzie finds plenty of fulfillment in what he does without the stress.

- Gatineau Olympiques forward Paul Byron and Quebec Remparts goaltender Charles Lavigne today were named the TELUS offensive and defensive players of the week for the period extending from January 19 to 25. Lavigne registered three road wins while posting a 1.37 goals-against-average and .957 save percentage. He had his best start versus the Wildcats on Saturday, pushing away 30 shots in a 2-0 victory at Moncton Coliseum. 

- The Remparts are tied for first in the overall standings with the Drummondville Voltigeurs. Each team has 79 points. Shawinigan Cataractes are right behind with 78 and Moncton Wildcats have 77 starting the week.
 
- Kevin Cameron, a former business consultant who was once president of the Halifax Mooseheads, has been appointed Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald’s deputy chief of staff. Cameron most recently spent 18 months as senior policy advisor with the Economic Development department.

- Defenceman Justin Pender is scheduled to return to the Halifax Mooseheads lineup on Friday on the road against the Val-d’Or Foreurs. Pender is a St. John’s, NL native, who was used as a forward before getting injured, has not played since Jan. 4 because of an abdominal strain. In other injury news, forward Eric Louis-Seize (shoulder) is expected to miss another week from the Moose lineup and rookie Ned O’Brien (bruised thigh) is day-to-day and might miss some time.

- The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has suspended forward Ryan Jasinsky of the Victoriaville Tigres for ten games being the aggressor during a fight with Pierrick Martel during last Friday’s game versus the Shawinigan Cataractes. Jasinsky from Richmond, VA apparently continued to hammer Martel after he was down on the ice.

- Scott Brannon of the Moncton Wildcats has 27 goals to match the number on his back.

From January 19 - 25, 2009 

- Matt Eagles of the Moncton Wildcats scored his 21st goal of the season on his 21st birthday.

-  Four Quebec Major Junior Hockey League teams managed to crack the CHL Mosaik MasterCard Top 10 rankings for the week, the Shawinigan Cataractes (3rd), the Moncton Wildcats (6th), the Quebec Remparts (7th) and the Drummondville Voltigeurs (9th).

From January 12 - 18, 2009 

- Halifax Mooseheads owner Bobby Smith has relieved Marcel Patenaude of his duties as General Manager of the team effective January 14, 2009 the team announced. Cam Russell will immediately assume the role to Coach and General Manager of the Club. The organization thanked Marcel Patenaude for his contribution over a nine-year stay with the Mooseheads. Under his supervision, the Mooseheads twice reached the President Cup Final in 2003 and 2005.

-  Four Quebec Major Junior Hockey League teams managed to crack the upper echelon of the CHL Mosaik MasterCard Top 10 rankings for the week: The Shawinigan Cataractes, the Drummondville Voltigeurs, the Moncton Wildcats and the Quebec Remparts.

– The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has announced that forward Joey Haddad of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles has been suspended two games for a hit to the head, which occurred during last Sunday’s game versus the Moncton Wildcats. The decision, according to a league release, was rendered after reviewing the videotape of the incident and after consulting all concerned parties.

From January 5 - 11, 2009 

- Halifax Mooseheads announced that 17-year-old defenceman Richard Greer from Quincey, MA has been assigned to the New England Junior Huskies of the Eastern Junior Hockey League. “We felt it was best for his development that he play for now at a lower level where he should be able to get more ice time than we can provide at present,” General Manager Marcel Patenaude said. “Richard will remain on our protected list and is included in our future plans.”

- Yannick Riendeau and Marc-Antoine Desnoyers of the Drummondville Voltigeurs and Quebec Remparts winger Dmitri Kugryshev are the winners of the offensive, defensive and rookie player of the month awards for December respectively. The players were chosen by a committee mandated by the League. 

- The Rouyn-Noranda Huskies traded 19 year-old defenceman Marc-André Bourdon, 19 year-old Matthew Dopud and 17 year-old left winger Justin MacNaughton to the Rimouski Océanic for first (acquired from Quebec), second, third (acquired from Quebec) and seventh round selections in 2009 as well as for first and fourth round picks in 2010.

- Quebec Remparts forward Mikhail Stefanovich and defenceman Guillaume Monast Monday were named the TELUS offensive and defensive players of the week for the period extending from December 29, 2008 to January 4, 2009

From December 29 - January 4 

- Four QMJHL officials took part in Saturday’s semi-final match-up between Sweden and Slovakia at the 2009 World Junior Hockey Championship in Ottawa. The officials were selected by the IIHF. Referees Guy Pellerin and Marc Muylaert as well as linesmen Sylvain Losier and Daniel Béchard took part in the game.

- The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League announced Friday that forward Jan Stransky of the Halifax Mooseheads has been suspended four games for cross-checking an opponent during Tuesday’s game versus the P.E.I. Rocket.

- 20 year-old goaltending veteran Jake Allen of Fredericton stopped all 38 shots he faced Friday night from entering the net as the Montreal Juniors shut down the offensively strong Montreal Juniors 4-0 at the Verdun Auditorium. Newfoundlanders Pat O’Keefe and Luke Adam scored goals.

- Moncton Wildcats in seventh spot is the only Atlantic team in the most recent CHL Mosaik MasterCard Top 10 rankings for the 2008-09 season. Four Quebec Major Junior Hockey League teams managed to crack the upper echelon of the CHL, the others are Drummondville Voltigeurs, the Shawinigan Cataractes and the Quebec Remparts. 

- Drummondville Voltigeurs forward Yannick Riendeau leads all the QMJHL players with 66 points in 34 games as league play moves into 2009.

- The Moncton Wildcats have an outstanding team goals against average of 1.96, to lead the league as the teams move into the 2009 portion of the season. The league record is 2.33 set by Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in 2003-04. 

- Halifax Mooseheads forward Jan Stransky and Shawinigan Cataractes goaltender Gabriel Girard were named the TELUS offensive and defensive players of the week. Stransky, who was acquired by the Mooseheads from the Olympiques via a trade last weekend, recorded three goals and two helpers in two contests.

From December 22-28 

- The Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has traded the QMJHL rights to forward 17-year-old Gabriel Côté to the Drummondville Voltigeurs. In return, the Voltigeurs send to the Titan their 7th round pick, obtained previously from Val d’Or, in the 2009 QMJHL entry draft.

- Drummondville Voltigeurs forward Yannick Riendeau and Victoriaville Tigres netminder Kevin Poulin Monday were named the TELUS offensive and defensive players of the week for the period extending from December 15 to 22. Riendeau collected three goals on eleven shots and added two assists in two Drummondville wins. Poulin was simply outstanding last week, registering one win in two starts while posting a 1.02 goals-against-average and .974 save percentage.

From December 15 -21 

- Moncton Wildcats got their 57th point of the season with their 3-2 victory over Lewiston Friday night. That equals their total at the end of last season.

- Moncton Wildcats will be travelling on their own bus when they return to play following the holidays. Team owner Robert Irving is to make the official announcement after the team’s Christmas dinner after Friday night’s game with Lewiston MAINEiacs. 

- The Wildcats organization is exploring the feasibility of holding major junior hockey’s first outdoor game at the new Moncton stadium December 31, 2009. (With ideas like that in the works you can sure tell Bill Schurman is back in town - ed.)

- A sellout crowd of 3,560 spectators assembled for the final game at the legendary Jacques-Plante Arena. The building, which was built in 1937, has been the home of the Shawinigan Cataractes for its entire 40-year history. The Cataractes will open their new building on December 27 when the Montreal Juniors come to town.

- The Halifax Mooseheads has honored longtime medical trainer Chris McQuaid, who has been a fixture on the home bench since 1988, first with the AHL’s Citadels and then for the entire 15-year history of the QMJHL’s Mooseheads. A Belleville native, he began his career with the Western Hockey League’s Westminster Bruins. On December 3rd, Chris worked his 1,000th home game and received the Ken Mounce Award, which is given to the person who shows outstanding dedication to the Mooseheads organization. He retired following Sunday’s game.

- Boston Bruins of the NHL has recalled former Moncton Wildcat Martins Karsums from Providence of the AHL

- Guy Pellerin of Dieppe has been named to the officiating staff for the 2009 World Junior Championship being played in Ottawa beginning December 26. A level VI referee, Pellerin officiates mainly games in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and in Atlantic University Sports men’s hockey. He will be joined by another QMJHL referee, Marc Muylaert of Ste. Martine, QC. 

- Spencer Jezegou had a successful return to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan lineup last weekend, scoring twice and adding three assists in the team’s three road games. He got the overtime winner on Friday against the Chicoutimi Saguenéens. Éric Faille (1-3-4), Rémi Blanchard (1-2-3) and Tomy Joly (2-2-4) also fared well.

- Tomy Joly of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan now has 158 career regular season points in the QMJHL (78-80-158), in 184 games. He also has 25 points (13G, 12A) in 24 playoff games, totaling 91 goals and 92 assists for 183 points in 208 career QMJHL games.

- The Acadie-Bathurst Titan players will have their ball-hockey tournament Monday night from 6:00p.m. to 9:00p.m. at the École Secondaire Nepisiguit and Place-des-Jeunes school gymnasiums. Registrations are $20 per 5-person teams. Spectators are invited to bring non-perishable food items. All proceeds will go to the Bathurst Volunteer Center’s Christmas Basket program. 

- Tuesday December 16th, fans of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan are invited to the annual Skate with the Titan event, to be held from 6:40p.m. to 7:40p.m. on the Eddy rink at the KC Irving Regional Centre. Again, Spectators are invited to bring non-perishable food items for the Bathurst Volunteer Center’s Christmas Basket program. .

From December 8-14 

- Saint John Sea Dogs has signed free agent winger Josh Schram to a five-game contract. Schram, 18, was released by the Ontario Hockey League’s Kitchener Rangers last month after skating in 16 games with the defending OHL Champions to start the season. The 6’2”, 198 lb. native of Paris, ON played nine games for Kitchener last season, registering the lone point of his CHL career in the form of an assist. In 25 career OHL games, Schram has compiled 13 penalty minutes and a rating of -3.

- Moncton Wildcats has the third highest increase in attendance this season and the third largest average attendance in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Compared to last year’s numbers, the biggest hikes were noticed in Drummondville (+13.5 %), Shawinigan (+9.6 %) and Moncton (+9.4 %). Overall, the QMJHL is averaging 3,384 fans per game through December 1st, a 1.1% drop (36 spectators per game) from last season. Quebec has the highest average attendance (10,839) followed by Halifax (6,225), Moncton (4,219) and Rimouski (3,965).

- The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League announced that Guillaume Pelletier of the Rimouski Océanic is suspended one game for cross-checking an opponent during last Sunday’s game against the Moncton Wildcats. 

- Nick Layton from Wheaton Settlement, NB is the leading scorer for the Montreal Juniors. Layton has 37 points in 31 games and is tied for 11th overall in league scoring. 

- Jake Allen of Fredericton limited the current top team in major junior hockey to one goal in making 26 saves Wednesday night as his Montreal Juniors defeated Shawinigan Cataractes 4-1 at the Verdun Auditorium.

From December 1-7 

- Peter Delmas of Bedford, NS, a goaltender with Lewiston MAINEiacs, scored a goal  Saturday December 6th against Quebec Remparts. The first goaltender in the history of the league, to be credited with a goal, was Antoine Lafleur.

- This Sunday December 7, at 4pm, the Rocket will host the Drummondville Voltigeurs at the Charlottetown Civic Centre. The Rocket will be teaming up with the RCMP and The Charlottetown City Police for the Annual Teddy Bear Toss. All fans are encouraged to bring a stuffed animal to throw on the ice after the Rocket score their first goal. All Teddy Bears collected will be used by the City Police and the RCMP in their work with children.

- Saint John Sea Dogs defenceman David Stich has been invited to Team Czech Republic’s final World Junior Team selection camp, scheduled to begin at Brampton, Ontario’s Powerade Centre in mid-December. Stich, 19, is currently tied for fourth in the category of goals by a defenceman in the QMJHL with eight. The 6’2”, 215 lb. blueliner has played in 149 games with the Sea Dogs scoring 12 goals and assisting on 38 for 50 points and accumulated 214 minutes in penalties thus far in his major junior career.

- The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Tuesday announced the winners of the offensive, defensive and rookie player of the month awards for November. La Pocatière, QC native Danny Massé of the Drummondville Voltigeurs is the offensive player. In ten games, he scored nine goals and assisted on eleven. The defensive player of the month is Sébastien Piché of the Rimouski Océanic, Piché registered five goals, including two game-winners, and added twelve assists while posting a +5 rating. The top rookie is defenceman Dmitry Kulikov of the Drummondville Voltigeurs. In ten games, the offensively gifted blueliner scored two goals and assisted on thirteen others while posting a +9 rating.

- The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League announced three suspensions following incidents which took place during last week-end’s games. Rimouski Océanic forward Félix Lefrançois is suspended five games for a hit to the head (code 4.34) which took place in last Friday’s game versus the PEI Rocket. Cape Breton Screaming Eagles center Vincent Lavigueur gets two games for a boarding call (code 4.44) which he received in last Friday’s contest versus the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. Finally, Drummonville Voltigeurs winger Mike Hoffman is suspended two games for cross-checking a Baie-Comeau Drakkar player during last Saturday’s game.

– Victoriaville Tigres forward Andrej Nestrasil and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies defenceman Marc-André Bourdon Monday were named the TELUS offensive and defensive players of the week for the period extending from November 24 to 30. Nestrasil collected three goals as well as a shootout winner and added five assists in three games. 

From November 23-30 

- The Gatineau Olympiques and the Saint John Sea Dogs traded assets on Tuesday. The Sea Dogs traded 20 year-old left-winger Kyle Paige to the Olympiques for a ninth round pick in the 2010 QMJHL Entry Draft. Paige, a native of Richmond Hill, Ontario, has one goal and two helpers in eleven games so far this season. 

- The Acadie-Bathurst Titan will take their show on the road… and into the schools throughout Northern New Brunswick starting on Tuesday November 25th. The Titan players will visit schools in Northern New Brunswick to meet students from kindergarten to grade 8 and take the opportunity to talk about the following themes: bullying, the importance of academic studies and teamwork. Recreational activities will also complement the visits. The team hopes that the players will have the opportunity to visit most of the more than 50 schools (approximately 9000 students) in Northern New Brunswick by the end of January.

From November 17-23

- The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League suspended Quebec Remparts forward Frédérick Roy for fifteen games, including an automatic one game suspension (Code 5-26, Game misconduct penalty for cross-checking). The incident occurred during last Friday’s game against the Montreal Juniors. Roy crossed-checked an opponent in the head during an exchange of hits.

From November 10-16 

- The Montreal Juniors have aaded a new player in their line-up. Toni Ritter, 18 year old, 6’3" forward from Germany, will play his first game with the Juniors on Friday, November 14, as the team will face the P.E.I. Rocket

- The Moncton Wildcats wrote the team’s name in the QMJHL record book again last Saturday November 8, with a win against Halifax. The Wildcats broke an old record, established 32 years ago, for most consective road wins to start a season by winning their ninth. Cornwall Royals had held the old mark of eight.

- Shawinigan Cataractes has extended the team’s current winning streak to a 12th consecutive game with a 3-1 victory over Quebec Sunday

- Drummondville Voltigeurs forward Yannick Riendeau and Shawinigan Cataractes netminder Timo Pielmeier Monday were named the TELUS offensive and defensive players of the week for the period extending from November 3-9

From November 3-9 

- The Halifax McDonalds has announced that defencemen Dylan King has been signed by the PEI Rocket. Last year in league scoring King lead all defencemen with 53 points, in just 35 games. With the McDonalds this season King has 13 points(3G+10A) in 12 games. King will stay with the McDonalds and will play for PEI when needed.

- Saint John Sea Dogs President Wayne Long has announced that this coming Saturday, November 8 at 5:35pm, both he and Head Coach/General Manager Jacques Beaulieu will host an open Fan Symposium on the main concourse at Harbour Station. “It’s very important for us to have an open line of dialogue with our fans,” said Long. “The Sea Dogs are Saint John’s team, and we hope that Saturday’s symposium will give fans the chance to provide constructive feedback and have questions answered on anything and everything related to our organization.”

- The next record the Moncton Wildcats look to break is for the most consecutive road wins at the start of the season. The Wildcat’s only game this week is in Halifax on Saturday. A win on Saturday will break the 32 year old record set by the Cornwall Royals in the 1976-77 season. The Wildcats are 2-0 with Halifax this season. 

- Matt Eagles, Ted Stephens and Scott Brannon lead the Moncton Wildcats in scoring with 23, 15 and 14 points respectively so far this year. 

- The Moncton Wildcats are offering a Spirit of Tomar family pack which includes four tickets to a specific game and a voucher for four french fries and four cokes from concessions. Included in the price is a $5 donation to the Magnetic Hill Tiger Exhibit Fund. All this and great Wildcat action for only $54.

- Nineteen year-old Rocket defenceman Philippe Garnier has decided to leave the PEI Rocket Hockey Club and return to his home town of St. Georges-de-Beauce, Québec

- Shawinigan Cataractes won a 10th consecutive game Saturday. They need only three other more wins to tie their team record (13) established in 1994-95.

From October 27- November 2 

- The Moncton Wildcats Thusday night broke the QMJHL record for most consecutive games to start the season with at least a point in each game. With the team’s shootout win over the PEI Rocket the Wildcats are now undefeated in regulation time in their first 17 games, 15-0-2-0.    

- The Moncton Wildcats tied a 32-year-old record over the weekend: most consecutive wins on the road to start a season (8). The Wildcats also tied the league record for consecutive games to start the season with at least a point in each game. The record is 16 games. The Wildcats are 14-0-2-0.

- Richard Martel, the head coach of the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, will reach the 1,000-game mark this Sunday as the Saguenéens host the Victoriaville Tigres at Centre Georges-Vézina. He will become only the third head coach in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League history to reach this prestigious plateau. Guy Chouinard and Réal Paiement are the only other figures to reach 1,000 games behind the bench. Pascal Vincent of the Montreal Juniors is the next closest at 635 contests.

- The PEI Rocket are pleased to announce that 18 year old, defenceman Jordon Southorn has rejoined the team. After meeting with the Rocket coaching staff Wednesday, Jordon is expected to be in the line up on October 30, as the Rocket visit the Wildcats in Moncton.

- Brandon Hynes of Norris Point, NL who plays with Victoriaville Tigre, leads the QMJHL rookies with 11 goals in 19 games

- After an evaluation by team doctors, it has been determined that Halifax Mooseheads’ left-winger Logan MacMillan will miss the next two to four weeks after suffering an injury to his right knee at practice Saturday, General Manager Marcel Patenaude confirmed Monday. The 19-year-old MacMillan has played in nine games with the Mooseheads since returning from the Anaheim Ducks Training Camp, recording four goals and four assists.

- The Halifax Mooseheads Monday placed 19-year-old defenceman R D Chisholm on waivers. “We have decided to place Chisholm on waivers to give him the opportunity to continue playing at the Major Junior level,” General Manager Marcel Patenaude said.

- PEI Rocket rookie, Ben Duffy was named to The Hockey News’ weekly roundup of players they can’t wait to see in the NHL some day. Duffy made the list at #8, while 2007 Rocket draft pick Jordan Escott also made the list at #4. The 17 year old Escott is currently playing with the Amherst Ramblers in the MJAHL and was recently named to Canada East’s team at the World Jr. A Challenge in November.

- The PEI Rocket also announced that 18 year old Jordon Southorn has been suspended indefinitely by the organization for conduct detrimental to the team.

From October 20-26 

- Four Quebec Major Junior Hockey League teams managed to crack the Canadian Hockey League’s most recent Mosaik MasterCard Top 10 rankings: The Quebec Remparts (2nd), the Moncton Wildcats (3rd), the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (5th) and the Shawinigan Cataractes (9th).

From October 13-19 

- Shawinigan Cataractes forward Matthew Pistilli and teammate Simon Lacroix were named the TELUS offensive and defensive players of the week for the period extending from October 13 to 19. 

- Val-d’Or Foreurs finally got its first win of the season Sunday after 14 consecutive losses. The Foreurs defeated defending President’s Cup champion Gatineau Olympiques 5-3.

- The Gatineau Olympiques and the Drummondville Voltigeurs traded assets on Wednesday. The Olympiques sent 20 year-old Czech Republic defenceman Patrick Prokop to the Voltigeurs for a sixth round pick in 2009 (acquired via Gatineau) and a third round pick in 2010.

From October 6 - 12 

- The Acadie-Bathurst Titan has traded 19 year-old forward Radek Vlasanek to the Halifax Mooseheads. In return, the Mooseheads will send the Titan their 5th round pick in the 2010 QMJHL entry draft.

- Twenty-year-old defenceman Justin Pender is the Mooseheads’ “Citadel Halifax Hotel Player of the Month” for September, 2008. Pender, in his fourth season with Halifax, received the award from Mooseheads’ Head Coach Cam Russell at the team’s monthly luncheon at the Citadel Halifax Hotel

- First-year left winger Matthew Snow, a 19-year-old, received the Mooseheads  “Scholastic Player of the Month” Award, awarded to the player who best combines talent, academic and general performance.

From September 29 - October 5 

- Toronto Maple Leafs has returned star forward Chris DiDomenico to the Saint John Sea Dogs. DiDomenico had the opportunity to take the opening faceoff of a Leafs - Pittsburgh Penguins exhibition game against Sidney Crosby. They were also sent off with coincidental penalties later in the game.

- Phoenix Coyotes of the NHl has sent former Moncton Wildcats goaltender Josh Torjman to San Antonio of the AHL

- Nineteen year-old winger Logan MacMillan from Charlottetown has been returned to the Halifax Mooseheads by the Anaheim Ducks of the NHL

- The Acadie-Bathurst Titan and radio station CKLE in Bathurst have signed a three year agreement with Gilles DeGrace to broadcast the team’s games for this season and the next two seasons. 
  
From September 22-28 

- Edmonton Oilers assigned former Moncton Wildcats forward Stephane Goulet to Springfield of the American Hockey League while New York Rangers  assigned former Halifax Mooseheads forward Ryan Hillier Hart ford of the OHL and Vancouver Canucks returned defencemanYann to the Saint John Sea Dogs.

- Former Halifax Mooseheads defenceman Guillaume Monast has signed a three-year entry level contract with the Dallas Stars.Monast, 20, was never drafted, but impressed scouts with his two-way poise after coming to Halifax in a mid-season trade in 2006-07. He will play for the Quebec Remparts this season.

- The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Tuesday imposed a two-game suspension to Acadie-Bathurst Titan forward Tomy Joly for attempting to injure an opposing player.

- Carolina Hurricanes of the NHl-returned forward Robert Slaney to the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. Former Eagle Jean-Claude Sawyer of Saint John, NB has been sent to Rockport of the American Hockey League by the Chicago Blackhawks.

- St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League has returned goaltender Jake Allen of Fredericton to the Montreal Junior of the QMJHL. 

From September 15-21 

- Pittsburgh Penguins has assigned Cape Breton Screaming Eagles veteran Joey Haddad to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Peguins of the American Hockey League and returned defenceman Alex Grant to Saint John Sea Dogs.

- Halifax Mooseheads have acquired the Quebec Remparts 2009 seventh round pick in a trade announced Saturday. In return, Halifax sent the rights to 20-year-old defenceman Maxime Pomerleau to the Remparts. The Mooseheads had obtained the rights to Pomerleau, a fifth round pick of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan in 2006, from the Montreal Juniors when Montreal placed him on waivers Sep. 05/08.

- The PEI Rocket opens their Home Opener Weekend Friday night September 19,
vs. Acadie-Bathurst Titan, and then again Saturday vs. the Moncton Wildcats, game times are at 7:00pm. On Saturday the Rocket will be giving out free Mark’s Work Wearhouse magnetic calendars’ to the first 2000 fans through the door.

- In other news Rocket Defenseman Philippe Garnier will be rejoining the team. The 19 year old defenceman decided to leave the team last week and return to his home town of St-Georges-de-Beauce, Québec, to focus more on his schooling.

- The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has announced that the September 14 contest between the Val-d’Or Foreurs and Gatineau Olympiques which was stopped for safety reasons after the end of the first period because of foggy conditions on the ice will be replayed in its entirety on Wednesday, October 8, starting at 7:30 pm.

From September 8-14 

- The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has imposed two suspensions following events which took place in last Sunday’s game between the Saint John Sea Dogs and the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. Chris DiDomenico of the Sea Dogs used abusive language which was aimed at an opposing player and thus is suspended two games while the organization is fined $250. Mike Thomas of the Titan distributed a dangerous check and is also suspended two games.

- Spencer Jezegou is the new Acadie-Bathurst Titan captain. The Titan’s general Manager, Sylvain Couturier made the announcement at the team’s sponsor recognition gala held on Wednesday night. Jezegou will have a strong supporting cast. Maxime Renaud and Tomy Joly will be assistant captains while Brad Tesink and Drew Paris will be alternates. They will lead the team in their season opener Friday against the Saint John Sea Dogs at the KC Irving Regional Centre. Pre-game ceremonies will begin at 6:55pm and the game at 7:15pm

- The Montreal Juniors announced Monday that former NHL defenceman Joël Bouchard has joined the team as an assistant coach. Bouchard played 13 years in the National Hockey League. For the past few years, Bouchard has hosted and produced a show on RDS.

From September 1-7

- PEI Rocket reminds all season ticket and flex pack holders, the team will be holding a BBQ Saturday September 6th from 12-2pm at Victoria Park across from the cannons.
All Rocket Season Ticket and Flex Pack Holders families and friends are encouraged to come out for a bite to eat and to mingle with the players.


- The Halifax Mooseheads have reduced their 2008-2009 roster to 28 with the release of training camp invitees Jeff Marchand and David Shea. Nineteen-year-old forward Marchand played with Halifax in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League last season, where he recorded seven goals and 14 assists in 41 games, while Shea, also 19, a 2006 draft pick (round 9, #158) of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, split his season between Rouyn-Noranda and Drummondville, picking up a goal and an assist in 32 games, while amassing 52 penalty minutes.

- The Acadie-Bathurst Titan Monday acquired the QMJHL rights to 18 year-old defenceman Charles Vouligny from the Drummondville Voltigeurs. In return, Acadie-Bathurst sent an 8th round pick in the  2009 QMJHL Entry Draft to the Voltigeurs.

From August 25-31 

- Eighteen-year-old defenceman Jim Campbell from London, Ont. will not be at the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles camp. Campbell signed with a junior ‘A’ team in Ontario, but will remain as an affiliate with the Screaming Eagles this season. Durocher said forward Jason Martin of St. Anne de Madawaska, NB left camp Friday, saying he didn’t have the right conditioning to compete for a spot. He played with Fredericton Canadiens in the NB-PEI Major Midget Hockey League last season.

- Cape Breton Screaming Eagles head coach and general manager Mario Durocher hopes to have 23 players for the final roster, which will include either one or two extra forwards or one or two extra defencemen, depending on how things go by the end of camp. He now intends to make his first cuts Sunday morning with about 10 players being released, giving them a chance to play in Saturday night’s black and white game starting at 7pm at Centre 200.
.
An intrasquad game will be played today at 10 a.m., followed by a more formal
- Halifax Mooseheads forward Tomas Knotek didn’t get drafted in June in the NHL Draft, but he’ll still get a taste of the NHL next month courtesy of the Minnesota Wild. Knotek, who had 66 points as a rookie with the Mooseheads last season, is on the Wild roster for the Detroit Red Wings’ annual prospects tournament in Traverse City, Mich. The eight-team event begins on Sept. 13 and will feature many former Mooseheads, including Jakub Voracek (Columbus), Ryan Hillier (New York Rangers), Peter-James Corsi (New York Rangers) Bryce Swan (Detroit) and Guillaume Monast (Dallas).

- Two of the most notable newcomers at the Halifax Mooseheads training camp Friday night are both strongly considering NCAA. Forwards Ned O’Brien, an 18-year-old tryout from Alberton, PEI, and Andrew O’Leary, a ninth-round pick in June’s draft, played on lines with returning Mooseheads and stood out among the rookies in intra-squad action at Cole Harbour Place. O’Leary, a 6-foot, 180-pounder who comes from the renowned U.S. prep school Shattuck St. Mary’s. O’Brien, from the same hometown as Colby Pridham, is a something of a late-bloomer. He was called up to the Summerside Western Capitals for last year’s playoffs and posted six goals and two assists in five games.

- The Mooseheads have added 19-year-old Bedford native Davey Shea to their training-camp roster. The 6-foot-1, 233-pounder had one goal, one assist and 52 penalty minutes in 32 games last season with the Drummondville Voltigeurs. If Shea makes the team, the Mooseheads are believed to have a trade arranged to acquire his rights.

- Quebec Major Junior Hockey League training camps officially get under way Friday. The pre-season schedule kicks off on Saturday as the Val-d’Or Foreurs visit the Dave-Keon Arena to battle the 2007-08 regular season champion Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. All 18 clubs will take to the ice on Sunday for pre-season battles.

- The Lewiston MAINEiacs acquired the services of 19 year-old Russian forward Maxime Gratchev and a sixth round pick in the 2010 QMJHL Entry Draft from the Rimouski Océanic for a fourth round selection in 2009 and a second round pick in 2010. Gratchev, a fourth round pick of the New York Islanders in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, recorded nine goals and 20 helpers in 39 contests last season.

- Rugged 19 year-old blueliner Anthony Pisano of Andover, MA, who is six-foot-three, 230 lbs., has elected not to attend the Saint John Sea Dogs Training Camp in favour of remaining with his MJAHL team, the Weeks Crushers

- Under an agreement with the Drummondville Voltigeurs, 19-year-old forward David Shea of Bedford, NS, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies ninth round selection (#158) in the 2006 QMJHL Entry Draft, will participate in the Halifax Mooseheads training camp. In 32 games last season, 14 with Rouyn-Noranda and 18 with Drummondville, Shea scored one goal, one assist, with 52 penalty minutes. 

- Halifax Mooseheads have announced that 18-year-old defenceman Joseph Dillon, of Shrewsbury, MS, Mooseheads’ 10th round pick in 2007, has decided not to report and will not be at the Mooseheads’ 2008 training camp.

- Jon Goyens has been added to Lewiston MAINEiacs’ coaching staff as goaltending coach.

- Chicoutimi Saguenéens has extended the contract of head coach Richard Martel

- The pre-season game Sunday August 31st between Acadie-Bathurst Titan and Moncton Wildcats scheduled for 2:00p.m. in Moncton, will now be played in the evening. The game will be played at 7:00p.m. at the Tim Horton’s 4-Ice Centre.

- Among the 48 players Halifax Mooseheads is bringing to the QMJHL team’s training camp, which starts Thursday at Cole Harbour Place. is Jeff Marchand, who is a younger brother of former Moosehead and Moncton Wildcat Brad Marchand. The Val-d’Or Foreurs still own his rights, but would trade him to the Mooseheads if he made the team.

- The Acadie-Bathurst Titan will lend a helping hand to the Acadie-Chaleur Summer Hockey Camp, being held in Caraquet. Some of the Titan’s veteran players will take part in training sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday to assist the camp’s coaches. The Acadie-Bathurst players will be on site at the Léo-Paul Foulem Arena on Tuesday August 26th from 5:00p.m. to 7:00p.m. and on Wednesday August 27th from 6:30p.m. to 8:00p.m.

From August 18-24

- Assistant coach Mario Richer has replaced Benoit Groulx as head coach of the Gatineau Olympiques. Groulx’s long overdue promotion to pro hockey came with his hiring as coach of the AHL’s Rochester Americans by Florida Panthers GM Jacques Martin

- As a lead up to the 2008-09 Acadie-Bathurst Titan training camp which will get underway Friday August 29th, a number of players will be arriving in Bathurst this weekend. Among others, import players Radovan Pulis and Radek Vlasanek will arrive on Sunday August 24th and will be at the KC Irving Regional Centre at 5:00p.m.

- The Halifax Mooseheads radio home has moved. 780 KIXX Country will be carrying all Mooseheads programming for the upcoming 2008-09 season. 780 KIXX reaches across the Metro Halifax market and into secondary markets such as Enfield, Windsor,Truro etc.. Sports and Moore will continue as it has for the past 10 seasons to provide a 30 minute Rink Rant Pre Game show and 60 minute Rink Rant Post Game show before and after all Moosehead home games. John Moore and Chris Tremblay will co-host these popular shows KIXX will also carry 24 of the 34 regular season road games. Seven (7) of those games will be joined in progress. Moore will call the games for the 11th consecutive season.

From August 11-17 

- Saint John Sea Dogs has traded the rights to 19 year-old goaltender Matt Dopud to the Gatineau Olympiques. He spent last season with the Kanata Stallions of the Eastern Ontario based Central Junior A Hockey League. The compensation the Sea Dogs receive will depend on whether Dupold makes the Olympiques and remains on the roster past Christmas. 

- Canada’s three major junior leagues may decide to further limit or eliminate European imports. Teams are now permitted two with the those coming through the annual CHL Import Draft. The teams are complaining the quality has dipped while the costs have increased. 

- Former Halifax Moosehead P.J. Corsi has decided to waive his last year of junior eligibility and sign a contract with the New York Rangers organization. Corsi, who had been traded to Drummondville Voltigeurs will report to the Charlotte Checkers of the East Coast Hockey League although he will also attend the camp of the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League. Halifax will compensate the Voltigeurs with draft picks. 

- The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Collège Saint-Bernard (CSB), in Drummondville, have signed an agreement which gives CSB the mandate to ensure that players from the Province of Quebec, who are completing high school while playing for a team in another Province, have the opportunity to complete their studies. A player whose progress judged to be insufficient by the CSB or by his team’s academic consultant will have to complete his course load at the College in Drummondville as soon as his team is eliminated from playoff contention.

From July 14-31

- A reminder to PEI Rocket Season Ticket holders, on Tuesday August 5th, 2008, the Rocket will open up the Charlottetown Civic Centre for existing Season Ticket Holders who wish to relocate their existing seats. Seat Change Night will be held from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.and all seats which are currently available and those that have not been renewed will be flagged for convenient viewing. Staff members will be on site to assist anyone requesting a change.

- The Moncton Wildcats invite community groups to apply to be part of Cats Corner with Chris for the 2008-09 season. The 2008-09 season will be the second year of the project designed by Wildcats alumnus Chris Morehouse. Cats Corner is a special section of 20 seats for children provided by the Canadian Progress Club of Greater Moncton and Moncton Chrysler Dodge. The 20 seats are intended for children whom otherwise would not be able to attend a Wildcats game. Each child who attends a game through the program receives a special T-shirt and a voucher for concessions.

- Tampa Bay Lightning holds its development camp July 28-Aug. 1 in Victoria, B.C., with forward Steve Stamkos, the first overall pick in 2008, getting the most attention. QMJHL attendees include defencemen Mark Barberio (sixth round, 152nd overall, 2008) from Moncton Wildcats and Michael Ward (seventh round, 197th overall, 2007) from Shippigan, NB and the Lewiston MAINEiacs.

- Moncton Wildcats General Manager Ray Delia has decided not to seek renewale of his one-year contract when it expires August 1. He will return to the United States for personal reasons. The Wildcats are seeking a replacement for the position that basically covers all non-ice operations of the team. Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Danny Flynn is in charge of the on-ice product.

From July 7-13 

- Hockey Canada has announced that Saskatoon and Regina have landed the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championship. Winnipeg/Brandon and Halifax/Moncton also made bids for the 2010 event. The 2009 event will be in Ottawa. Saskatchewan bid unsuccessfully on the last four world junior tournaments awarded to Canada: Winnipeg (1999), Halifax (2003), Vancouver (2006) and Ottawa (2009).

- Pascal Vincent, head coach of the Montreal Junior has announced his coaching staff for the 2008-2009 season, Dominique Ducharme, Assistant Coach; Gordon Kilgallen, Assistant Coach and Éric Raymond, Goaltending Coach.

- Thirty prospects, including Saint John Sea Dogs goaltender Robert Mayer are participating in the Montreal Canadiens annual development camp this week from July 7-12, at the Centre Sportif Candiac – Les 2 Glaces, on the South Shore of Montreal. 19 of the 30 players at camp are Canadiens draft selections, including four of the five players from the 2008 NHL Entry Draft held last June in Ottawa. Mayer, who is from Switzerland is on a tryout contract.

From June 30 to July 6

- The PEI Rocket’s first round draft pick (5th overall) at the 2008 QMJHL Entry Draft
16 year old, Ben Duffy, from Lower Sackville Nova Scotia, paid a visit to the Island Wednesday visiting school and team officials and the local media. Duffy has always been a top scorer in every league he has played in. Last season at the age of 15, he was the top scorer with 62 points in 34 games and was MVP for the league. The Rocket believe he has the talent to be a franchise player.

From June 23-29 

- Former Cape Breton Screaming Eagles forward J.C. Gauthier is expected to be at the team’s training camp in August to fight for a spot. Gauthier left the team in November after scoring two goals and adding two assists in 21 games. Gauthier played junior ‘AAA’ in Granby last season. 

- The CHL Import Draft this week was the last task with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles for Assistant General Manager Vincent Riendeau, who is taking a job as a goaltending coach in Europe.

- The Halifax Mooseheads has traded their top pick in the Canadian Hockey League European import draft to the Moncton Wildcats for a sixth-round pick in the 2009 QMJHL draft. Halifax was slated to select 44th overall.
The Mooseheads had no use for the European pick with Czech forwards Jakub Voracek and Tomas Knotek still on their protected list. Voracek may never return to Halifax, as he is likely to play in either the NHL or Europe next season, but the Mooseheads will keep him on their protected list until his 2008-09 team is finalized. 

- Saint John Sea Dogs Head Coach and General Manager Jacques Beaulieu announced today that the team has acquired a sixth round selection at the 2009 QMJHL Entry Draft from the Rimouski Oceanic. In exchange, the Sea Dogs send the 41st overall selection at this year’s CHL Import Draft to Rimouski. The Sea Dogs have retained their 101st overall selection in the ’08 CHL Import Draft, which is scheduled to take place this coming Thursday, June 26. Current Sea Dogs players David Stich (D) and Robert Mayer (G) were originally acquired through the import draft.

From June 16-22
- The Acadie-Bathurst Titan has announced the nomination of Léo Luongo as goaltending coach. Luongo comes to Bathurst with an impressive resumé, working as Québec Regional Director for the Goaltenders Development Institute where he has tutored NHL, NCAA and LNAH goaltenders. He has also worked with, among others, Anaheim Ducks goaltending coach François Allaire.

- The Acadie-Bathurst Titan has announced the appointment of Vincent Roof-Racine as Athletic Therapist. Roof Racine holds a bachelor’s degree in Sports Therapy from Concordia University. He has worked with the Lachine Maroons of the Québec Junior AAA League, the Montreal Rugby Club and the Québec Radio X of the North American Hockey League.