The Saint John Sea Dogs will be in need of a new team captain.
Eriks Mateiko is being traded to Rimouski, the team announced Monday.
The deal will also see the Sea Dogs receive four draft picks in 2026.
Head Coach Travis Crickard said it means Mateiko will get the chance to compete for the Memorial Cup, which is being hosted by Rimouski.
“It is extremely difficult to lose the captain of our team for the second half and the final stretch of his junior career,” Crickard said in a news release.
“However, when the dust settles from this trade fans will see how important this transaction will be for the future of our program.”
The 19-year-old has totaled 14 goals and five assists in 23 games this season for the Sea Dogs. The native of Latvia was a third-round pick of the Washington Capitals in 2024.
Mateiko recently represented Latvia at the 2025 World Juniors in Ottawa. He finished first on the team and tied for fourth in the tournament with five goals in five games.
