Wednesday, July 14, 2010

SPARLING SIGNS WITH MISSOURI

Despite being part of one of the greatest upsets in Canadian University Sports history, Ryan Sparling has chosen to leave the St. Francis Xavier X-Men for the Central Hockey League.

According to SaintJohnSeaDogs.com, Sparling has signed a contract with the CHL’s Missouri Mavericks after playing a year in the CIS ranks.

The Sydney, Nova Scotia native is the Sea Dogs’ franchise leading point getter with 217 points in 247 games. After spending four years with Saint John from 2005-6 to 2008-09, “Spar Dog” joined the X-Men of Atlantic University Sport.

In 25 games played last season with St. Francis Xavier, Sparling recorded two goals and nine assists. The X-Men of 2009-10 will forever be known as the team that swept the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds – ranked number one in the country – out of semi-finals in three straight 3-2 wins. The squad also ended the V-Reds lengthy winning streak in the regular season.

The almost-22-year old winger remains Saint John’s franchise leader in career goals (83), assists (134), points (217), and power play goals (34). In 18 career playoff games, Sparling registered 6G-14A-20P. He assisted on the first post-season goal in Sea Dogs history, setting up Scott Howes for a first period power play marker versus the P.E.I. Rocket on March 21, 2008. Sparling was also named First Star of the Game in Saint John’s first-ever win, recording 2G-1A-3P during a 6-3 victory over the Halifax Mooseheads on September 18, 2005.

Also according to Sea Dogs website is that goaltender Marc-Antoine Gelinas signed a contract with the CHL’s Odessa Jackalopes earlier this summer. But, Sports Junior reports on their Facebook page that the former Sea Dogs netminder has signed with the American Hockey League’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Gelinas, an overager last season, registered a record of 21-5 with Saint John before traded midseason to the Shawinigan Cataractes. In 27 games with the Sea Dogs, the QMJHL journeyman had a goals against average of 2.56 and save percentage of 0.913.

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