Patrick King

The Saint John Sea Dogs are looking to supplement the holiday cheer by taking their place in Québec Major Junior Hockey League history.

Saint John is the hottest junior team with a string of 20 consecutive wins. Five games remain in their schedule before the league breaks for the holiday season and should the Sea Dogs win all five, they will tie the league mark set by the 1973-74 Sorel Éperviers.

"That would be quite the Christmas gift, I guess," said veteran forward Mike Hoffman.

The Sea Dogs’ last loss came on Oct. 13 to Atlantic Division-rival P.E.I. The current streak is already third-best in league history and while head coach Gerard Gallant is impressed with his team’s success, he doesn’t find himself chasing history.

"The streak’s not a big issue around here," Gallant said. "We want to do as well as we can each night. Fortunately for us it’s turning into wins every night.

"To win 20 games in a row, I never thought that was going to happen."

Surprises are nothing new to the Sea Dogs.

Prior to the commencement of the new season, Saint John was one of many teams whose championship aspirations were in limbo while awaiting word on their veteran players. The team was confident many of their players would return but less so about two newcomers.

Overage forwards Hoffman and Nicholas Petersen, neither of whom had yet played for Saint John, had realistic chances of playing in the American Hockey League this season. Both players had been drafted last summer by Ottawa and Pittsburgh respectively, but found their way back to junior and now comprise two-thirds of the Sea Dogs’ top line.

The veteran experience both players provide is invaluable towards the team’s success, Gallant says. Hoffman won the President Cup as league champions with the Drummondville Voltigeurs last season, beating Petersen’s Shawinigan Cataractes in the final.

The championship series has already gone down as one of the most intense and unpredictable in league history. Drummondville won its first league title with a 3-2 decision in the seventh game.

"Every once in a while it comes up (in conversation)," Hoffman said.

Petersen vividly remembers the series and, in particular, the final game. He hit the post in the dying seconds with his team needing a goal to send the game into overtime. That memory was prevalent when Saint John made its only visit to Drummondville on Nov. 20.

"All I could remember was losing Game 7 there," he said. "That (was) quite the game and I think about it a lot."

A chance at redemption was one of the reasons Petersen chose not to sign the Penguins’ contract this summer. Although he only joined Saint John this season, he was part of the compensation Shawinigan sent for defenceman Alex Grant last season.

Similarly, Hoffman was also acquired as part of future considerations when Drummondville added Chris DiDomenico for last year’s championship run.

Both players are familiar with long winning streaks. Petersen’s Cataractes won 15 consecutive games early last season where their streak ended in Lewiston, of all places. The rebuilding MAINEiacs were one of the league’s worst teams a year ago, much like they are again this season.

So when Petersen saw a visit back to Lewiston with his team enjoying a 14-game winning streak this season, he made sure his new team didn’t make the same mistake. Petersen scored three times and added another assist, capturing the game’s first star nominee.

"We made sure we won that game," a relieved Petersen said.

Hoffman’s Voltigeurs climbed even closer to the top of the records with an 18-game winning-streak, fifth best in league history.

The duo put last season’s championship series behind them while teaming up for the common goal this season. Although Hoffman missed substantial time after breaking his left foot in his first game of the season, the line enjoyed instant chemistry upon his return.

"(Petersen) was a good player last year and we knew that we had to keep an eye on him," Hoffman said. "I’m glad to have him on my line this year."

The Sea Dogs will be put to the test this weekend with three road games in three nights. The third game will be played in Moncton against the surging Wildcats.

The approach, Gallant says, will be to prepare the same way they have all season - by taking each game at a time. With their goal within reach, the team knows there’s no better way to ring in the holiday season than by tying the 36-year-old record.

"The guys have talked about that," Petersen said. "We’re definitely working towards that and keep focusing on each game at a time."