2012 MasterCard Memorial Cup: Sea Dogs’ Jason Seed goes from unknown commodity to valuable asset

SHAWINIGAN, Que. — Jason Seed has to be one of the most successful mid-season free-agent pickups to win a Memorial Cup and be in the mix to win another.

The Saint John Sea Dogs defenceman won the 2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup in Mississauga and is trying to help the Sea Dogs repeat.

Seed joined the Sea Dogs in the first week of that year after being picked up from the Gatineau Olympiques for a fifth-round pick. Little did the rangy rearguard who was bypassed twice in the Ontario Hockey League priority selection draft know where it would lead.

"The move to Saint John was a bit of a shock at first because I hadn`t heard my name in any trade talk," recalls Seed, who hails from Manotick, Ont., a suburb of Ottawa. "Once I found out I was being traded to Saint John, one of the best teams in the league at that time, I was really excited with the opportunity to play with the Sea Dogs."

Seed's scenic route to Saint John started with the Junior A Cumberland (Ont.) Grads after OHL teams shied away from him, perhaps due to slight frame. After he completed one season in Cumberland, Gatineau invited the 6-foot-1, 174-pounder where he eventually made the team and patrolled the Olympiques blueline for a year and a half before the move to Saint John.

Seed joined a Sea Dogs defensive corps that was loaded with talent and saw limited action for the remainder of that season.

"It was exciting to join such a talented team but really tough to crack the top six D," Seed explains. "I knew I had to be patient and wait for my opportunity to play myself into a regular role."

Seed did witness the Sea Dogs capture their first Memorial Cup last May and managed to suit up in one game.

"I learned so much from our playoff and Memorial Cup run, it was a great experience and really helped me to mature as a player."

Steady contributor

This season Seed has contributed to the Saint John cause and sees quality minutes playing alongside partner Ian Saab who collected the third highest penalty minute total (164) in Sea Dogs history.

Seed also has quick praise for Saint John coach Gerard Gallant and associate coach Mike Kelly for their help in his progression to a regular role on the Sea Dogs blueline.

"Gerard has a ton of experience as a player and a coach, the guys on the team respect him and are so appreciative of the way he has developed our skill and maturity level."

After breezing through the QMJHL post season with a 16-1 record the Sea Dogs find themselves in unchartered water after losing their opening game 5-3 to the London Knights at the 2012 Memorial Cup.

But according to Seed you won`t see any panic from his squad.

"We need to play our game in our next contest against the Edmonton Oil Kings [on Monday]. We were not very good against London, took some costly penalties and did not compete hard enough. We will be better. "

Mike Beasley is a QMJHL correspondent for Buzzing The Net.