QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Sea Dogs Tweak Blueline

Published on June 3, 2011 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


VICTORIAVILLE, Que. - The Saint John Sea Dogs shuffled the mix on the blueline Friday, adding some toughness while bidding adieu to a member of the MasterCard Memorial Cup championship team.

The Sea Dogs acquired 19-year-old defenseman Ian Saab with the 17th pick of the special Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Dispersal Draft. QMJHL teams took turns selecting players and picks from the Lewiston Maineiacs franchise, which will not operate next season after being acquired by the league.

The six-foot-three, 192-pound Halifax native recorded three goals, eight points and 106 penalty minutes in 46 games as an 18-year-old sophomore with the Maineiacs.

"He's a kid we've had our eye on for a long time. We inquired about him at different times prior to this and we're real happy to have him," said Sea Dogs associate coach and director of hockey operations Mike Kelly.

Saab was a fourth-round pick of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in 2009 after racking up 226 penalty minutes to go with three goals and 15 points in 51 games as a 16-year-old with the Halifax Lions of the Maritime Junior A League. The blueliner split time between the Lions and Eagles before being dealt to Lewiston as part of the Eric Gelinas trade in January 2010. He earned a more regular role with Lewiston in the second half of 2009-10, appearing in 22 games, scoring his first QMJHL goal and tallying 55 penalty minutes.

"He's a hard-nosed, physical defenseman that just started to evolve into a bona fide player in the second half of this season," Kelly said.

Saab said he felt "pretty nervous" as the future of the Lewiston franchise fell in doubt over the past few days.

"I was watching the broadcast online and when I got picked I couldn't have been happier, it was pretty exciting," Saab said when reached by phone at his Halifax home.

Saab said he plans to train hard throughout the summer in an effort to add even more size.

"I know I've got to be a hard worker to be on that team. Lewiston was so far away from home but Saint John isn't that far away from Halifax and I have a couple of buddies on that team, (Stephen) MacAulay and (Steven) Anthony. I know them, I love the rink and they have a great coach. What else can you want' I'm just ecstatic."

With the 18th pick in the Dispersal Draft, Saint John added Lewiston's fourth-round pick (68th overall) to its stable of selections for Saturday's QMJHL Entry Draft. The Sea Dogs now hold four picks in the top four rounds, and six of the top 99 selections.

Meanwhile, as the QMJHL trade window opened Friday morning, the Sea Dogs acquired a second-round pick in the 2012 QMJHL Entry Draft from the Chicoutimi Sagueneens in exchange for defenseman Gabriel Bourret.

Bourret had eight goals, 33 points and 72 penalty minutes in 63 games as an 18-year-old sophomore after recording 10 points in 37 games during his rookie season. He emerged as a regular for the Sea Dogs in the 2010 run to the President's Cup final, suiting up for 19 playoff games, a total he matched in this season's championship run.

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from June 3, 2011


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