Post by Score on Aug 25, 2007 18:16:21 GMT -4
Defencemen Benoit Gervais and Pierre-Luc Lessard see improvements on the P.E.I. Rocket’s blue-line
The Guardian
It seems P.E.I. Rocket defencemen Benoit Gervais and Pierre-Luc Lessard can’t escape one another and their Quebec Major Junior Hockey League fortunes are fixed.
Both are 19 years old, both were once teammates in Gatineau but were reunited last season in P.E.I. after trades (June 2006 for Lessard, Christmas break last season for Gervais) and both will likely anchor a young but growing Rocket defence.
“It’s deeper, more experienced. Last year in the playoffs, at the end we had pretty much Southy (Jordon Southorn), as a 16-year-old, as almost our fourth (defenceman),” said Gervais after a recent Rocket training camp practice in Pownal.
But a crowded house is possible in 2007-08 as Rocket head coach Yanick Jean might have an eight-man defensive crew.
Right now, it includes 20-year-old former Screaming Eagles blue-liner Jason Swit, acquired for winger Joey Haddad before the 2007 draft, 2006 third-round selection Danick Malouin and 2007 fifth- rounder Allan Clow, Chris Owens, who played a handful of Rocket games last year, and Summerside’s Parker Deighan.
Gone to the pros with the Buffalo Sabres organization is high scoring defenceman Marc-Andre Gragnani, whose 68 points were fifth on the club and 22 goals were second among Q defencemen.
Gervais, however, isn’t concerned about this group’s need to fill the gap.
“I’ve got to get a little bit more than last year because you’ve got to improve every year, but our (defence) is way better than last year with Southorn and Swit coming out,” said Gervais, a Val-d’Or, Que., native. “We’ll be pretty good all-around. When you played with Gragnani last year you had to stay back because he was going offence every time, but now everybody is ready to backup everybody.”
Lessard sees his duty as weighty even though he’s nursing a sore right shoulder which kept him out of Thursday’s exhibition game against Halifax.
“I think it will be to bring leadership on the ice and off the ice because I know I have to improve on both,” said Lessard, a Thetford Mines, Que., native, “but my biggest role will be to help the young defencemen to become leaders on this team for the future.”
And like Gervais, Lessard isn’t worried about the red gleam behind the net.
“I think we have good offence players. First of all we have to play good defensively and the offensive skills will come. I don’t think we have any pressure to be like Gragnani,” said Lessard.
Five of the eight still in camp are 18 years old or younger. Lessard, a fourth-round pick (121st overall) of the Ottawa Senators in 2006, expects to be teamed with Southorn early in the season and while the youngsters have ability, Lessard is cautious.
“I think we have skills on offence and defence and power play, but we have to improve our defensive game and maybe play a little bit more physical because we’re not very big.”
Lessard leaves for a Senators rookie tournament Sept. 4-10 in Kitchener, Ont., then the main camp Sept. 12 in Ottawa.
Next year is his contract-signing year.
Earlier this summer he went to a Sens prospects camp and learned more than just hockey.
“My nutrition was not good before I went there so they told me what to eat and what supplements to take.”
Those include whey protein, ZMA (a muscle-builder) and other niceties.
“It’s (things) like fish oil. Not that good,” said Lessard.
The Guardian
It seems P.E.I. Rocket defencemen Benoit Gervais and Pierre-Luc Lessard can’t escape one another and their Quebec Major Junior Hockey League fortunes are fixed.
Both are 19 years old, both were once teammates in Gatineau but were reunited last season in P.E.I. after trades (June 2006 for Lessard, Christmas break last season for Gervais) and both will likely anchor a young but growing Rocket defence.
“It’s deeper, more experienced. Last year in the playoffs, at the end we had pretty much Southy (Jordon Southorn), as a 16-year-old, as almost our fourth (defenceman),” said Gervais after a recent Rocket training camp practice in Pownal.
But a crowded house is possible in 2007-08 as Rocket head coach Yanick Jean might have an eight-man defensive crew.
Right now, it includes 20-year-old former Screaming Eagles blue-liner Jason Swit, acquired for winger Joey Haddad before the 2007 draft, 2006 third-round selection Danick Malouin and 2007 fifth- rounder Allan Clow, Chris Owens, who played a handful of Rocket games last year, and Summerside’s Parker Deighan.
Gone to the pros with the Buffalo Sabres organization is high scoring defenceman Marc-Andre Gragnani, whose 68 points were fifth on the club and 22 goals were second among Q defencemen.
Gervais, however, isn’t concerned about this group’s need to fill the gap.
“I’ve got to get a little bit more than last year because you’ve got to improve every year, but our (defence) is way better than last year with Southorn and Swit coming out,” said Gervais, a Val-d’Or, Que., native. “We’ll be pretty good all-around. When you played with Gragnani last year you had to stay back because he was going offence every time, but now everybody is ready to backup everybody.”
Lessard sees his duty as weighty even though he’s nursing a sore right shoulder which kept him out of Thursday’s exhibition game against Halifax.
“I think it will be to bring leadership on the ice and off the ice because I know I have to improve on both,” said Lessard, a Thetford Mines, Que., native, “but my biggest role will be to help the young defencemen to become leaders on this team for the future.”
And like Gervais, Lessard isn’t worried about the red gleam behind the net.
“I think we have good offence players. First of all we have to play good defensively and the offensive skills will come. I don’t think we have any pressure to be like Gragnani,” said Lessard.
Five of the eight still in camp are 18 years old or younger. Lessard, a fourth-round pick (121st overall) of the Ottawa Senators in 2006, expects to be teamed with Southorn early in the season and while the youngsters have ability, Lessard is cautious.
“I think we have skills on offence and defence and power play, but we have to improve our defensive game and maybe play a little bit more physical because we’re not very big.”
Lessard leaves for a Senators rookie tournament Sept. 4-10 in Kitchener, Ont., then the main camp Sept. 12 in Ottawa.
Next year is his contract-signing year.
Earlier this summer he went to a Sens prospects camp and learned more than just hockey.
“My nutrition was not good before I went there so they told me what to eat and what supplements to take.”
Those include whey protein, ZMA (a muscle-builder) and other niceties.
“It’s (things) like fish oil. Not that good,” said Lessard.
