August 20, 2012

SAINT JOHN – The Saint John Sea Dogs have made the first roster reduction of training camp. Goaltenders Drew Michals, James Edwardson and Shawn Jeffrey, forwards Mark Creaser, Jeremy Brown and Jacob McNutt and defenceman Thomas Leonard have been released from the 2012-2013 training camp.

Edwardson, Jeffrey, Leonard and Michals were released on Friday in order to maintain NCAA eligibility. The 6-foot, 160-pound Michals was the Sea Dogs ninth-round selection (165^th overall) in the 2012 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League entry draft. Hailing from Newton, Massachusetts, the 16-year-old netminder was attending his first Sea Dogs training camp.

Leonard, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound Rothesay, NB native was a local invite to the 2012-13 training camp. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Edwardson, also an invite, is a native of Cornwall, Ontario and was participating in his first Sea Dogs training camp.

Jeffrey was selected by the Sea Dogs in the 2011 QMJHL entry draft in the ninth round, 162^nd overall. The Antigonish, NS goaltender was taking part in his second Sea Dogs training camp.

On Sunday, the team also released a trio of forwards. Brown, 5-foot-9 and 178 pounds, was the Saint John’s 14^th round choice, 250^th overall in the 2012 QMJHL entry draft. The 17-year-old calls Saint-Jean-sur-Richlieu, QC home and participated in his first Sea Dogs training camp.

The 6-foot-4, 215-pound, 18-year-old Creaser and 17-year-old, 5-foot-11, 150-pound McNutt were also released from camp on Sunday. Both Nova Scotia forwards were taking part in their first training camp.

The rest of the Sea Dog hopefuls have until Wednesday to state their case for an invite to the Sea Dogs main training camp, beginning Tuesday, Sept. 4.