Local businesses reap benefits of Saint John Sea Dogs success

The success of the Saint John Sea Dogs on the ice is welcome news to local businesses and organizations with both direct and indirect ties to the organization.

READ MORE: Saint John Sea Dogs rally behind teammate diagnosed with cancer

The Dogs are kicking off the post-season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League against the Rimouski Oceanic. They enter the playoffs as the top ranked team in the “Q” and third ranked team in the entire CHL.

The Dogs are relative newcomers to the league but have already amassed four regular season championships, two league championships and the biggest of all, the 2011 Memorial Cup.

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Nearby businesses like Rocky’s Sports Bar appreciate and rely on the Sea Dogs being in town. The bar is little more than a slap shot away from the Sea Dogs arena, Harbour Station.

Moe Arsenault owns Rocky’s and said game nights are a game-changer for his business.

“We expect a substantial difference from last Friday when there wasn’t a game,” Arsenault said. “So we basically see an increase of about 50 per cent in revenue.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We expect a substantial difference from last Friday when there wasn't a game," Arsenault said. "So we basically see an increase of about 50 per cent in revenue."

The Sea Dogs had the third highest average attendance in the league this season, with almost 143,000 people making their way through the turnstiles.

Those numbers not only help bars and restaurants in the area, they also benefit the team’s community partners.

“The Sea Dogs Foundation works with the Empty Stocking Fund, Pro Kids and a number of other great not-for-profit organizations in the city so the Sea Dogs doing well is good for everybody in the community,” added team president and general manager, Trevor Georgie.

But when it comes to hockey, it’s not just businesses or spectators who benefit from attendance, the players do too and they say they appreciate and thrive off the big crowds.

“The last month or so before the end of the season we were almost sold out every game,” said forward Sam Dove-McFalls. “The guys feel it. It’s so much more fun to play in front of 6,000 people here at Harbour Station.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "The last month or so before the end of the season we were almost sold out every game," said forward Sam Dove-McFalls. "The guys feel it. It's so much more fun to play in front of 6,000 people here at Harbour Station."

That’s making the team a success story on and off the ice.