Dawson Stairs is off to a fast start in his rookie season with the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL. The 17-year-old was an affiliate player in the 2018-19 season, suiting up for 11 games with the Sea Dogs where he notched a pair of assists. Stairs also split his time with the South Kent Selects Academy in Connecticut, where he scored 21 goals and added 24 assists in 30 games, and Campbellton.
In just 24 games, his 16 goals were fourth-most on the Eastlink North Division champions, and his 28 total points were the 8th highest on the team. That earned Stairs a spot on the MHL’s Rookie All-Star Team at left wing in a season where he started as a 16-year-old. He also led the Tigers in scoring in the 2019 Canadian Tire Cup Playoffs with four goals and eight assists as the team reached the league final.
In an article by Gabrielle Schofield for the Sea Dogs, the Fredericton-native spoke about the 2018-19 season:
“Playing in Campbellton was great,” Stairs says about his time in the MHL. “We had a great group of guys there and I found we just really bonded well together, and it helped my performance on the ice.”
Playing at the Junior level as a 16-year-old was invaluable experience for the young forward, giving him a taste of what to expect and helping him develop as a player.
Stairs has also been named on the NHL Central Scouting’s Preliminary Players To Watch List.