Post by Score on Sept 4, 2007 23:40:24 GMT -4
Rocket pair set sights on same goal
Rookie Brandon MacLean and veteran Jason Swit are looking to land spots on team
The Guardian
P.E.I. Rocket’s Jason Swit and Brandon MacLean have much in common.
Both are new to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League club and both are finding their way with the Rocket, even if the pair are on opposite ends of their major junior careers.
And both should be on the ice when P.E.I. hosts the Moncton Wildcats tonight (7 p.m., Civic Centre) in exhibition action.
It’s the first game of the Cavendish Cup, a two-game, total-points series between the Confederation Bridge rivals. Game two is Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Summerside Wellness Centre.
MacLean, 16, is a rookie forward, P.E.I.’s first-round draft pick (11th overall) in June, while the veteran Swit, 20, is in his third year as a QMJHL defenceman.
But Swit, who came from the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in a pre-draft trade for winger Joey Haddad, understands what the Rocket need from his Q experience.
“I’ve got to be a leader and (be) strong defensively and (show some) offensive skills. And work both on the power play and the penalty kill,” said Swit, a two-time academic player of the month with the Eagles. “It’s all the same hockey, but the team obviously has different systems that I have to adapt to.”
Swit, a Mississauga, Ont., native, replaces the graduated Luciano Lomanno as the squad’s 20-year-old blue-liner, but Swit looks at pre-season like a younger player.
“No spot’s secure until you sign, so you’ve got to come and work hard and try and make the team.”
For MacLean, who finished 15th in scoring last year in the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League, his first major junior pre-season has been an eye-opener.
“(I’ve played) not bad, but it’s been hard transition. Everyone’s bigger and stronger (plus) it’s hard being a rookie,” said MacLean.
He’s played in four of P.E.I.’s six pre-season games, tallying a penalty-shot goal (versus Halifax in late August), a minus one plus-minus, six shots and four hits.
But while the Bedford, N.S., native may not be up the speed yet, he knows the regular season is a long one.
“I’m not with the pace yet, but I think in time I’ll be there. I just need to play every game, be ready for every game.”
Rookie Brandon MacLean and veteran Jason Swit are looking to land spots on team
The Guardian
P.E.I. Rocket’s Jason Swit and Brandon MacLean have much in common.
Both are new to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League club and both are finding their way with the Rocket, even if the pair are on opposite ends of their major junior careers.
And both should be on the ice when P.E.I. hosts the Moncton Wildcats tonight (7 p.m., Civic Centre) in exhibition action.
It’s the first game of the Cavendish Cup, a two-game, total-points series between the Confederation Bridge rivals. Game two is Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Summerside Wellness Centre.
MacLean, 16, is a rookie forward, P.E.I.’s first-round draft pick (11th overall) in June, while the veteran Swit, 20, is in his third year as a QMJHL defenceman.
But Swit, who came from the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in a pre-draft trade for winger Joey Haddad, understands what the Rocket need from his Q experience.
“I’ve got to be a leader and (be) strong defensively and (show some) offensive skills. And work both on the power play and the penalty kill,” said Swit, a two-time academic player of the month with the Eagles. “It’s all the same hockey, but the team obviously has different systems that I have to adapt to.”
Swit, a Mississauga, Ont., native, replaces the graduated Luciano Lomanno as the squad’s 20-year-old blue-liner, but Swit looks at pre-season like a younger player.
“No spot’s secure until you sign, so you’ve got to come and work hard and try and make the team.”
For MacLean, who finished 15th in scoring last year in the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League, his first major junior pre-season has been an eye-opener.
“(I’ve played) not bad, but it’s been hard transition. Everyone’s bigger and stronger (plus) it’s hard being a rookie,” said MacLean.
He’s played in four of P.E.I.’s six pre-season games, tallying a penalty-shot goal (versus Halifax in late August), a minus one plus-minus, six shots and four hits.
But while the Bedford, N.S., native may not be up the speed yet, he knows the regular season is a long one.
“I’m not with the pace yet, but I think in time I’ll be there. I just need to play every game, be ready for every game.”