Post by dogcatcher on Aug 18, 2007 10:02:36 GMT -4
Hoping to hit their stride
Higher Calling: After missing the playoffs in their first two years, the Saint John Sea Dogs are ready for a run at this season's post-season party
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Saturday August 18th, 2007
Appeared on page C12
SAINT JOHN - The top dog and majority owner, Scott McCain, has said he'd be surprised if they didn't. Head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu wants it to happen and all 45 players in training camp beginning Sunday want to be a part of it.
The playoffs. Two little words that mean so much for the Saint John Sea Dogs as they prepare to start their third season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
While the day before training camp isn't the best time to say what a team will or won't do, it is a time to look at what they've done to try and reach that goal.
The Sea Dogs have made significant additions to all three facets of the team, from goaltending and defence to scoring.
Starting with the defence, the biggest addition is 6-foot-3, 208-pound first overall pick Simon Despres. A self-described offensive defenceman, Despres said he's anxious to get on the ice in a Sea Dogs uniform.
"I think we're the last team to start (training camp), so it's been a long wait," Despres said. "I haven't been on the ice in a week and that's been hard for me."
Despres will join a defensive unit that could come into its own this season. Former first overall picks Alex Grant and Yann Sauve will anchor the D along with Pascal Amyot, David Stich, Jeff McNeil and Sebastien Rioux. Grant is entering his third season in the QMJHL and his first as an NHL draft pick. The 18-year-old from Antigonish, N.S. was a fourth-round selection of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2007 NHL entry draft.
Sauve will enter camp fresh off playing for Team Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Under-18 Memorial Tournament in the Czech Republic.
Beaulieu said the experience will have nothing but positive implications for the 17-year-old sophomore.
"This will prepare Yann for the next step, which could be the world juniors, and prepare him for the biggest season of his hockey career, which is his draft year," Beaulieu said.
In goal, Saint John has highly-touted Swiss netminder Robert Mayer in camp. Mayer was the third overall selection in the 2007 Canadian Hockey League import draft. Add to that 20-year-old Travis Fullerton, Matthew Dopud, 2007 draft pick Nathan Dunnett, Troy Passsingham and Karel St-Laurent, and you've got a lot to choose from.
Mayer has a spot on the team, leaving one position left with Fullerton looking to have the inside track.
Up front, the Sea Dogs should be improved from last season. Leading scorer and Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Chris Di Domenico is back along with second-leading scorer Ryan Sparling. Both players think the offence will be much improved.
"I'm pretty excited about the team, we're a little older and I think we can do some damage," Sparling said.
"We look good on paper, now we've got to show it on the ice," Di Domenico said. "With the guys we picked up, we should see some more offence."
The 19-year-old Sparling is also looking to take on a leadership role this season.
"I had a few guys who did that for me when I came into the league like Dave MacDonald and Kevin Coughlin," Sparling said. "(Coughlin) would take me aside and show me what to look for before games."
The veterans will be joined by newcomers Jordan Knox, the 2005-06 Canadian Junior A player of the year, and Steven Anthony, this year's 10th overall pick. Along with Despres, Anthony was rated among the top three players in the draft. Anthony had 64 points in 35 games with the Dartmouth Subways of the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League last season.
The Sea Dogs will also have a brother duo up front in the form of Keven and Francis Charland. In the enforcer department, the team will have Brett Gallant, who racked up 192 penalty minutes last season while also chipping in with five goals and an assist.
While the playoff potential of the team will show throughout the season, the players have to do one thing first - make it through training camp.
Higher Calling: After missing the playoffs in their first two years, the Saint John Sea Dogs are ready for a run at this season's post-season party
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Saturday August 18th, 2007
Appeared on page C12
SAINT JOHN - The top dog and majority owner, Scott McCain, has said he'd be surprised if they didn't. Head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu wants it to happen and all 45 players in training camp beginning Sunday want to be a part of it.
The playoffs. Two little words that mean so much for the Saint John Sea Dogs as they prepare to start their third season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
While the day before training camp isn't the best time to say what a team will or won't do, it is a time to look at what they've done to try and reach that goal.
The Sea Dogs have made significant additions to all three facets of the team, from goaltending and defence to scoring.
Starting with the defence, the biggest addition is 6-foot-3, 208-pound first overall pick Simon Despres. A self-described offensive defenceman, Despres said he's anxious to get on the ice in a Sea Dogs uniform.
"I think we're the last team to start (training camp), so it's been a long wait," Despres said. "I haven't been on the ice in a week and that's been hard for me."
Despres will join a defensive unit that could come into its own this season. Former first overall picks Alex Grant and Yann Sauve will anchor the D along with Pascal Amyot, David Stich, Jeff McNeil and Sebastien Rioux. Grant is entering his third season in the QMJHL and his first as an NHL draft pick. The 18-year-old from Antigonish, N.S. was a fourth-round selection of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2007 NHL entry draft.
Sauve will enter camp fresh off playing for Team Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Under-18 Memorial Tournament in the Czech Republic.
Beaulieu said the experience will have nothing but positive implications for the 17-year-old sophomore.
"This will prepare Yann for the next step, which could be the world juniors, and prepare him for the biggest season of his hockey career, which is his draft year," Beaulieu said.
In goal, Saint John has highly-touted Swiss netminder Robert Mayer in camp. Mayer was the third overall selection in the 2007 Canadian Hockey League import draft. Add to that 20-year-old Travis Fullerton, Matthew Dopud, 2007 draft pick Nathan Dunnett, Troy Passsingham and Karel St-Laurent, and you've got a lot to choose from.
Mayer has a spot on the team, leaving one position left with Fullerton looking to have the inside track.
Up front, the Sea Dogs should be improved from last season. Leading scorer and Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Chris Di Domenico is back along with second-leading scorer Ryan Sparling. Both players think the offence will be much improved.
"I'm pretty excited about the team, we're a little older and I think we can do some damage," Sparling said.
"We look good on paper, now we've got to show it on the ice," Di Domenico said. "With the guys we picked up, we should see some more offence."
The 19-year-old Sparling is also looking to take on a leadership role this season.
"I had a few guys who did that for me when I came into the league like Dave MacDonald and Kevin Coughlin," Sparling said. "(Coughlin) would take me aside and show me what to look for before games."
The veterans will be joined by newcomers Jordan Knox, the 2005-06 Canadian Junior A player of the year, and Steven Anthony, this year's 10th overall pick. Along with Despres, Anthony was rated among the top three players in the draft. Anthony had 64 points in 35 games with the Dartmouth Subways of the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League last season.
The Sea Dogs will also have a brother duo up front in the form of Keven and Francis Charland. In the enforcer department, the team will have Brett Gallant, who racked up 192 penalty minutes last season while also chipping in with five goals and an assist.
While the playoff potential of the team will show throughout the season, the players have to do one thing first - make it through training camp.