Stan is given his ring during “Night of Champions.” (Photo via sashastolemyheart)

Last year, the Saint John Sea Dogs were unstoppable. Led by Jonathan Huberdeau, Zack Phillips, Tomas Jurco, and Nathan Beaulieu — top prospects all of whom were selected in the top 35 of the 2011 NHL Draft — the Sea Dogs ripped off an insane 77-11 record capturing both the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Presidents Cup and the Canadian Hockey League’s Memorial Cup. Saint John — who joined the QMJHL as an expansion team just six years ago — became the first organization from Canada’s Maritimes region to win the most coveted prize in Junior Hockey.

The Sea Dogs new championship banners. (Photo credit: saintjohnseadogs.com)

On October 29th, the club celebrated their two titles by hosting a “Night of Champions” at Harbour Station. In front of an announced crowd of 5,888, the Sea Dogs raised their championship banners and handed out 67 rings to players and management.

Each ring, which Team president Wayne Long estimated cost the club around a thousand dollars apiece, is personalized with the player’s name and number and feature their 77-11 record on one side and their “Leave No Doubt” slogan on the other. 23 blue stones are encrusted on the top and four clear diamonds are planted on the side.

Caps prospect Stanislav Galiev — who scored 48 goals in 88 games and averaged well over a point per game during Saint John’s Championship run — was impressed with his new bling.

“They did a great job on the rings,” Galiev told RMNB. “It’s a great feeling from last year and we know how hard we worked last season to get it.”

Unfortunately, the 19-year-old Moscow native had to accept his new jewelry with a fluorescent orange cast covering his left forearm and could not play in the team’s 6-0 victory over the Chicoutimi Sagueneens. During Capitals Training Camp in September, the 2010 third round pick absorbed a hit along the boards which broke his wrist. “After I went into the boards,” Stan explained, “[my arm] started to hurt so bad. It wasn’t even that bad of a hit!”

Galiev tried to play through the pain and managed to score three goals in the Sea Dogs’ first five games. But after being examined by team doctors, the team shut him down. Stan tells RMNB that the cast comes off next Tuesday and he’s eager to play again.

Regardless, after being passed over by the Russian WJC team last December, Galiev now has something awesome that even the gold medal-winning Evgeny Kuznetsov and Dmitry Orlov can be jealous of: a championship-winning season. Maybe that’s why– as we ended our conversation– Galiev admitted he wears the ring 24/7. He might have been joking. Maybe.

While he’s healing up, at least Galiev can pass the time by blinding himself with that ring.

Photos of Stanislav Galiev’s Championship Ring

Photo credit: Stan Galiev

Photos Taken During “Night of Champions”

Photo credit: saintjohnseadogs.com

Sea Dogs goalie Jacob DeSerres & Galiev mug for the camera. (Photo via sashastolemyheart)

Video recapping the Sea Dogs’ Playoff Run Last Year