Post by Score on Jan 18, 2008 0:12:16 GMT -4
Rocket's Doyle trying to deflect heat of spotlight
Charlottetown native will be under the close scrutiny of scouts at the CHL-NHL Top Prospects Game
CHARLES REID
The Guardian
Most Quebec Major Junior Hockey League players are used to being in the spotlight.
For some, like P.E.I. Rocket forward Chris Doyle, the glare is a little hotter as he will scrutinized by scouts, coaches and general managers from the 30 NHL teams at the 2008 CHL-NHL Top Prospects Game, Jan. 22-23, in Edmonton.
It’s an annual flashy tryout game for 40 NHL draft-eligible players in the QMJHL, OHL and WHL.
Ten players from the QMJHL are on the rosters of the two teams.
“I try not to think about it being so much of a showcase,” Doyle, 18, said after a Rocket practice Thursday at the Civic Centre. “I’m just going to go 100 per cent every shift and hopefully they like what they see. I’m just going to work as hard as I can.”
But first, Doyle, a native of Charlottetown, and the Rocket have a three-game weekend set beginning tonight with the Saint John Sea Dogs (ranked 10th the CHL) in Saint John at 7:30 p.m.
The road trip continues Saturday in Bathurst, N.B., against the Titan (7 p.m).
Finally, on Sunday the Rocket finishes in Charlottetown with a 4 p.m. showdown with Rouyn-Noranda at the Civic Centre.
Sunday’s game features the return of former leading scorer Brett Morrison, traded last week to the Huskies for defenceman Dylan Quaile and forward Benjamin Casavant.
Doyle flies out Monday for Edmonton and practises Tuesday with his Team White squad, which includes Joel Champagne from Chicoutimi, Yann Sauvé from the Sea Dogs, Val-d’Or’s Maxime Sauvé and Peter Delmas, both from Lewiston.
It’s not much time to build a rapport with linemates, but Doyle is not worried.
“Everyone’s got lots of skill out there. I’m sure everyone will bond real quick,” he said. “I’m sure everyone will get comfortable with each other after the first period.”
He will miss Jan. 23’s game in Cape Breton but will be back for P.E.I.’s home game Jan. 25 against Drummondville.
In his sophomore Q campaign, Doyle is second in team scoring with 44 points (20 goals, 24 assists). It’s improvement the Rocket likes to see after drafting Doyle in the first round, fourth overall, in 2006.
And while Rocket head coach Guy Chouinard applauds Doyle’s selection, he knows it’s just the beginning of a long journey to the pros.
“That’s a big step for him,” said Chouinard, himself a former second overall pick of the NHL’s Atlanta Flames in 1974. “(It’s) a good achievement, but he’s got a ways to go before he gets to the promised land.”
Chouinard said NHL squads watch for crunch-time potential.
“Be a player in their own zone, be a player in the defensive zone, be a player in the neutral zone. That’s what the scouts are looking for, be a player when it counts.”
Doyle is rated as a third-round pick (80th overall) in the NHL Central Scouting mid-term rankings released last week.
Rocket defenceman Jordon Southorn is also a third-round prospect, 75th overall.
New forward Mathieu Tousignant is the highest Rocket, rated at 55th overall in the second round, while Czech Republic winger Jan Kana is a fifth-round projection.
But despite the CHL nod, Doyle knows the NHL is still a distant dream.
“I wouldn’t say I’m that close. It’s an honour to be picked and I know myself I have to pick up my game in the second half if I want to be drafted high.”
Charlottetown native will be under the close scrutiny of scouts at the CHL-NHL Top Prospects Game
CHARLES REID
The Guardian
Most Quebec Major Junior Hockey League players are used to being in the spotlight.
For some, like P.E.I. Rocket forward Chris Doyle, the glare is a little hotter as he will scrutinized by scouts, coaches and general managers from the 30 NHL teams at the 2008 CHL-NHL Top Prospects Game, Jan. 22-23, in Edmonton.
It’s an annual flashy tryout game for 40 NHL draft-eligible players in the QMJHL, OHL and WHL.
Ten players from the QMJHL are on the rosters of the two teams.
“I try not to think about it being so much of a showcase,” Doyle, 18, said after a Rocket practice Thursday at the Civic Centre. “I’m just going to go 100 per cent every shift and hopefully they like what they see. I’m just going to work as hard as I can.”
But first, Doyle, a native of Charlottetown, and the Rocket have a three-game weekend set beginning tonight with the Saint John Sea Dogs (ranked 10th the CHL) in Saint John at 7:30 p.m.
The road trip continues Saturday in Bathurst, N.B., against the Titan (7 p.m).
Finally, on Sunday the Rocket finishes in Charlottetown with a 4 p.m. showdown with Rouyn-Noranda at the Civic Centre.
Sunday’s game features the return of former leading scorer Brett Morrison, traded last week to the Huskies for defenceman Dylan Quaile and forward Benjamin Casavant.
Doyle flies out Monday for Edmonton and practises Tuesday with his Team White squad, which includes Joel Champagne from Chicoutimi, Yann Sauvé from the Sea Dogs, Val-d’Or’s Maxime Sauvé and Peter Delmas, both from Lewiston.
It’s not much time to build a rapport with linemates, but Doyle is not worried.
“Everyone’s got lots of skill out there. I’m sure everyone will bond real quick,” he said. “I’m sure everyone will get comfortable with each other after the first period.”
He will miss Jan. 23’s game in Cape Breton but will be back for P.E.I.’s home game Jan. 25 against Drummondville.
In his sophomore Q campaign, Doyle is second in team scoring with 44 points (20 goals, 24 assists). It’s improvement the Rocket likes to see after drafting Doyle in the first round, fourth overall, in 2006.
And while Rocket head coach Guy Chouinard applauds Doyle’s selection, he knows it’s just the beginning of a long journey to the pros.
“That’s a big step for him,” said Chouinard, himself a former second overall pick of the NHL’s Atlanta Flames in 1974. “(It’s) a good achievement, but he’s got a ways to go before he gets to the promised land.”
Chouinard said NHL squads watch for crunch-time potential.
“Be a player in their own zone, be a player in the defensive zone, be a player in the neutral zone. That’s what the scouts are looking for, be a player when it counts.”
Doyle is rated as a third-round pick (80th overall) in the NHL Central Scouting mid-term rankings released last week.
Rocket defenceman Jordon Southorn is also a third-round prospect, 75th overall.
New forward Mathieu Tousignant is the highest Rocket, rated at 55th overall in the second round, while Czech Republic winger Jan Kana is a fifth-round projection.
But despite the CHL nod, Doyle knows the NHL is still a distant dream.
“I wouldn’t say I’m that close. It’s an honour to be picked and I know myself I have to pick up my game in the second half if I want to be drafted high.”
