They were favoured to win it all but the Saint John Sea Dogs came up short in the quest to win another Memorial Cup on the weekend. The number one ranked junior team in the country was beaten in the semi-finals by the Shawinigan Cataractes.

"It just happens," says Sea Dogs head coach Gerard Gallant. "Like I said, we were ready to play. We wanted to compete and play but a lot of guys didn't have their best game and as a group, we did not play our best."

Sea Dogs fan Lorne Saunders has been keeping a meticulous record of the season in a scrapbook. The season ticket-holder is taking the weekend loss in stride.

"Our players were brought up from the minors. They played and they were right around first place all year long. That's important and that is the outlook for next year," says Saunders

While there's always hope for 2013, next year's Sea Dogs team is expected to look quite different. Management is already downplaying expectations and have shifted to rebuilding mode.

"You start with a young team and it matures and this year we had a lot of 19 and 20-year-olds and older 18s," says Sea Dogs President Wayne Long. "So when three quarters of your team leaves, you certainly get to appreciate it will be a new looking Sea Dogs team next year."

Today, many of the players on the Quebec League's Championship team said goodbye to Saint John for a final time. Some will move on to the National Hockey League and American Hockey League.

"It's been a great three years and I'm really happy I came over and had a great time in Saint John," says Sea Dogs forward Tomas Jurco. "We played three years in the finals. It had been a great experience for me and I think it is going to help me a lot."

"I've become pretty comfortable here," says Sea Dogs forward Zach Phillips. "I know the guys. I know the coaches and the city. It's going to be sad to leave. I'm excited, but a little nervous."

In the meantime, the countdown is on for Maritime hockey fans as training camps open for the next Q-League season in less than three months.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Mike Cameron