Station Nation: Notebook: Donovan invited to Habs rookie camp
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| Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs |
Saint John Sea Dogs forward Alexander Donovan will attend Montreal Canadiens rookie camp.
According to a news release, the camp “will be held at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard and Slush Puppie Centre in Gatineau, from September 11-15. Habs prospects will play two games against the Winnipeg Jets and Ottawa Senators at the Slush Puppie Centre on September 12 and 13 as part of the 2026 NHL Prospect Challenge.”
Donovan, 19, is entering his second season with the Sea Dogs. Last year, the Connecticut native recorded 25 goals and 28 assists in 63 regular season games. He had another goal and an assist in four playoff games.
COMING UP
The start of the QMJHL regular season is now less than two weeks away.
The Sea Dogs will open the year Sept. 18-19 with a pair of games in St. John’s against the Newfoundland Regiment. Saint John went winless at Mary Brown’s Centre last season.
Saint John will host the Moncton Wildcats on Friday, Sept. 25 in the team’s home opener at TD Station.
Before all that though, the Sea Dogs have one pre-season game left to play. Saint John, 2-2-0-0 in exhibition play, will take on the Halifax Mooseheads, 4-1-0-0, on Friday at Dartmouth’s RBC Centre. These two met last Friday in Saint John where Halifax posted a 7-3 win.
EARLY DRAFT RANKINGS
Elite Prospects has released their pre-season rankings for the 2027 NHL Draft.
Two Sea Dogs were ranked in the top-20: Alexis Joseph was ranked 12th and Jamie Glance 20th.
It’s our BIGGEST preseason draft ranking ever 👀
Our NHL Draft scouts have ranked the Top 6⃣4⃣ prospects for the #2027NHLDraft 🤩
Read the full ranking breakdown here: https://t.co/EDwZvopK2W pic.twitter.com/7eX7TCOcB6
— Elite Prospects (@eliteprospects) September 8, 2026
TESINK SIGNS IN ECHL
Former Sea Dogs forward Marcus Tesink is returning to North America,
Last season, the 28-year-old recorded three goals and 14 assists in 54 games with the Flames.
Tesink played junior hockey in the MHL, QMJHL and BCHL before joining Concordia University’s men’s hockey team. He last played in North America in 2022-23.
The Saint John native appeared in 15 games with the Sea Dogs during the 2017-18 season.
RETURN TO THE COLISEUM
The Moncton Wildcats made their return to their old home, the Moncton Coliseum, on Saturday, hosting the Cape Breton Eagles in a pre-season game.
It’s the first time the Wildcats have played in the building since leaving for the downtown Avenir Centre in 2018.
The building is still quite active with recreational hockey and trade shows, so it’s stayed in decent condition (and I’m shocked the video board – which was added for the 2005 Memorial Cup – still works). It was definitely a bit strange watching a Wildcats game here again, especially without all the team signage that used to be everywhere inside the building.
OTHER THINGS
- As mentioned, the Sea Dogs will open the regular season in St. John’s against the Newfoundland Regiment. The Regiment say tickets to the Sept. 18 game are limited. Fans will receive rally towels at the game.
- As previously reported, McGill University officially announced this past week that former Sea Dogs forward Mitchell Wagner will join the men’s hockey team for the 2026-27 season. Wagner appeared in 21 games with the Sea Dogs during the 2024-25 season.
- The Halifax Mooseheads announced three more cuts on Sunday, which included forward Émrik Ménard, who was the seventh overall pick in this year’s QMJHL Entry Draft.
- Olivers Murnieks and the Boston College men’s hockey team will now open the 2026-27 season with a high profile exhibition game at Michigan State.
- The NHL Draft will stay boring for another year, because reasons.
The NHL draft, which is being held June 25-26, will once again be with the de-centralized format for a third year in a row, the league confirms.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) September 8, 2026
- St. Andrews native Gavin Smith, the younger brother of Gabe Smith, has signed with the MHL’s Summerside Western Capitals. Smith has spent most of the past three seasons at Rothesay Netherwood.
✍️ SIGNED ✍️
The Summerside Western Capitals are pleased to announce the signing of forward Gavin Smith.
Welcome to Summerside, Gavin!#OurCityOurTeam pic.twitter.com/9Rv3nOJms0
— Summerside Western Capitals (@SsideCapitals) September 6, 2026
- Saint John Flames season is nearing at the LBR.
https://t.co/5Rvt8JTCEP pic.twitter.com/RCJYEFYW5Y
— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) September 6, 2026
