Photo credit: sports.ru

The last time we caught up with Caps prospect Stan Galiev, he was rehabbing a wrist injury and showing RMNB some exclusive photos of his new championship ring. Hopefully that wrist has fully healed, because it must now bear the burden of another gaudy ring: the Saint John Sea Dogs have won the QMJHL championship for the second year in a row.

Thursday, Saint John emphatically clinched the title, blowing out Rimouski Oceanic (Sidney Crosby’s former Junior team) 8-0 in Game Four. They now will advance to the Memorial Cup for the second straight season. Galiev had a five-point night, tallying a natural hat trick, adding two assists, and rifling a game-high nine shots on net. Galiev and his line-mates Zach Phillips and Tomas Jurco also combined for twelve points.

“My legs felt good and I wanted to be dangerous with the puck every time,” Galiev told The Canadian Press after the game. “I’m just having fun and this will be a great memory. I’ve had three great seasons here and we’re looking forward to the Memorial Cup.”

Those who follow the Sea Dogs closely may not have been surprised — the team, sporting four NHL first-round draft picks, has been remarkable all season long, winning 50 games for the third straight season. They also lost just one game through four rounds of the playoffs, sweeping three teams.

Galiev, who continues to grow into his wiry frame, was dominant in the playoffs tying Charlie Coyle (QMJHL MVP) for the team’s points lead (34). He also scored more goals than any other Sea Dog (16) and finished the playoffs with an astonishing plus-30 rating. Galiev’s postseason scoring nearly doubled his regular season output (19 points and 13 goals in 20 games), which was cut short due to wrist surgery.

The 2012 Memorial Cup will begin May 18th in Shawinigan, Quebec. The Sea Dogs will look to be the first repeat team since the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires (Taylor Hall, Philipp Grubauer) did so in 2009 and 2010.

GIFs

Galiev’s sick assist to Tomas Jurco for a first period goal.

The Sea Dogs bench goes wild.

Team picture! (All GIFs from Station Nation)

Photos

Stan raises the cup on the ice.

Galiev and Tomas Jurco: two-time champions.

Stan holds the cup on team bus.

Galiev poses with teammates Ian Saab and Charles Roussel.

Stan holds the cup with his roommates Jason Cameron and Dylan McGuigan. (All photos from Stan Galiev’s Twitter account)

Additional reporting by Ana Hansen.