GDT: Sea Dogs vs Huskies - February 15, 2008

[dogcatcher]

SEA DOGS AND HUSKIES DO BATTLE TONIGHT AT HARBOUR STATION - 7:30 PM

Two QMJHL powerhouses, the Saint John Sea Dogs and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, meet for the first time this season tonight at Harbour Station.

Both teams have experienced significant success in their respective conferences this season, with the Sea Dogs leading the way in the QMJHL East and the Huskies having dominated the TELUS Division for the majority of the 2007-08 campaign.

Last season, the Sea Dogs were a perfect 2-0 versus the Huskies, with Chris DiDomenico leading all Saint John players with four points (2G-2A) versus Rouyn-Noranda over the course of the two victories.

Prior to tonight's contest, a special ceremony honouring the 1968 Saint John Junior Schooners will be held. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the team’s historic, championship season.

Fans can catch the action live by logging onto News 88.9 FM at www.news889.com/, the official QMJHL webcast at qmjhl.mytelus.com/, or by watching the game on Rogers Television Cable 10 in New Brunswick. Tickets are available by calling the Harbour Station Box Office at [phone].

[dogcatcher]

Two of nation's top-10 teams battle tonight
QMJHL Ninth-ranked Sea Dogs take on No. 7 Rouyn-Noranda at Harbour Station

Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Friday February 15th, 2008
Appeared on page B12

SAINT JOHN - It's difficult to describe a team that's won two games in a row and six of its last 10 outings as slumping.

However, by their own lofty standards this season, the Saint John Sea Dogs are doing just that.

Saint John takes on the Rouyn-Noranada Huskies tonight in a 7:30 p.m. start at Harbour Station.

Yes, the Sea Dogs still remain in the top spot of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Eastern Division. Yes, the team was the first in the East to clinch a playoff berth and yes they remain the ninth-ranked team in the Canadian Hockey League. While all those are positives, team captain Alex Grant and Ryan Sparling know things have to change.

"We're in a little bit of a slump right now," Grant said.

"It's probably best to get it out of our system now than when the playoffs begin."

Grant said head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu prepares the team thoroughly for each contest, but it's up to the players to execute the game plan and break some of the recent bad habits.

"We've got to be more disciplined as a team and follow those systems and do what he wants us to do on the ice," Grant said. "That starts in the dressing room with guys coming together and once we do that, we'll get even better on the ice."

Part of what's been hindering the Sea Dogs lately is the penalty kill. Heading into Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Moncton Wildcats, the penalty kill had plummeted to second worst in the QMJHL after being one of the top units for much of the season.

The special teams unit looked much improved in the win over the Wildcats, killing off an extended two-man advantage early in the second period.

"Last night (Moncton) only went one for seven and I'll take that any night as long as we get the two points," Sparling said.

"We got sticks in lanes (Wednesday) night, Jacques really stressed the importance of the penalty kill before the game and we worked on it in practice," the 19-year-old said. "We came out and executed."

Another reason for optimism is the play between the pipes. Travis Fullerton was brilliant his last time out making 42 saves in a 5-2 win over the Drummondville Voltigeurs. While Fullerton has been steady most of the year, rookie goalie Robert Mayer has struggled in the second half.

Mayer played his best game in recent memory against the Wildcats, making 25 saves in the win.

The Sea Dogs will need to be at their best this weekend as they face two tough teams in the seventh-ranked Huskies and the Acadie-Bathurst Titan who've won six of their last seven outings, including a 5-3 win over the Huskies Wednesday.

"Those games shouldn't be too hard to get up for because one team is one of the best in the country and the other is a provincial rival," Grant said. "Both games are at home and there should be good crowds."

[reddogbluedog]

Grant's little slump has now grown into about 10 games since the Dogs have really played well. However it is nice that the other teams in the division have not been playing really great either. Our PK was good against Moncton who have little if not no offence. We are struggling against the weakest teams in the league and if the boys don't start getting it in gear we could be in for a rough ride. Only 5 home games left and another tough trip against better teams in Quebec. Usually heading into the last month of the season you like to see your team peaking. I am guessing that JB treated the game against Moncton as a loss and that the boys got a blast after the game. We generated no offence and the points picked up by players on the last two goals had nothing to do with creativity. If we play like this tonight it will be a total blow out with Fullerton gone after the first period. Also if we get a big crowd and the boys suck that is not going to help attendance. Time for the boys to show some balls and get things back on track. Maybe the superstars need to come back to reality and start playing hockey.

[Dogs 08-09]

Based on the seat availability on the Harbour Station website, it should be a huge crowd tonight. Upper Bowl seating appears to be 85-90% sold.

Likely 5500+ come game time...

[bjindaho]

hopefully, i can convince the wife to go...

[elementz]

reddogbluedog said:

Grant's little slump has now grown into about 10 games since the Dogs have really played well. However it is nice that the other teams in the division have not been playing really great either. Our PK was good against Moncton who have little if not no offence. We are struggling against the weakest teams in the league and if the boys don't start getting it in gear we could be in for a rough ride. Only 5 home games left and another tough trip against better teams in Quebec. Usually heading into the last month of the season you like to see your team peaking. I am guessing that JB treated the game against Moncton as a loss and that the boys got a blast after the game. We generated no offence and the points picked up by players on the last two goals had nothing to do with creativity. If we play like this tonight it will be a total blow out with Fullerton gone after the first period. Also if we get a big crowd and the boys suck that is not going to help attendance. Time for the boys to show some balls and get things back on track. Maybe the superstars need to come back to reality and start playing hockey.

Redbluedog: How do you figure that Grant has been in a slump for 10 games. He has been one of our top players out there each night in the last 10 games, maybe except for the game against the Tigres where we lost 7-2 but nobody played well.

Here is the last 10 games for Grant

3 goals, 11 assists, 14 points, 13 pim (1 fight), +7, 36 shots

If those numbers are what you consider a slump, I would hate to see him when he isn't slumping.

[J4M13]

I was just down there. Getting 3 seats together in the upper bowl is a major issue. We ended up getting lower bowl ones instead...Should be a live crowd...

[reddogbluedog]

Did you read the article Grant talked about the team being in a little slump? You should look at that article first and then comment on what our team needs to snap out of it.

[springer]

They just lost to the Titan and their coach had them on the ice today at Harbour Station. Maybe they are not playing that well right now either however the Titan have picked up their game.

Looks like a great crowd tonight and 5000 should be the minimum.

As for the Grant comments above I think that it is good to see that the team themselves recognize they are in a slump and hopefully they have been working things out as a team. By this time of the year the coaching staff has them prepared but the team still has to execute. With this many people at the game let's hope they don't play like they did against Moncton. In the three years I have been watching that was one of the worst games in Harbour Station.

Shoot out win for the Huskies. 4 - 3

[elementz]

Did you read your post, your first line reads "Grant's little slump has now grown into about 10 games..." That makes it sound like you are talking about Grant slumping, not the team itself.

[tostitos]

elementz said:

Did you read your post, your first line reads "Grant's little slump has now grown into about 10 games..." That makes it sound like you are talking about Grant slumping, not the team itself.

I just think he's too dense to realize what he said.

Not to mention Grant was named player of the week.

[canucklehead]

Grant is not about to let his team take the fall he has embraced his role on this team and he's taken the fall more then once including fighting guys he wouldn't normally fight.

Slump I don't think so that don't even make sense the guy plays 30+ mins a game against the other teams top line. He kills penalties and QB's the PP this kid does it all out there. Sure he makes mistakes but show me a player in this keague that does make mistakes especially defensemen.

As for tonight's game this would be a huge win in more ways then one I have no clue what to expect tonight but Fullerton is gonna be the guy and he better be ready and the boys might wanna stay outta the box or they'll be in trouble.

[Judas In My Mind]

7 - 2 Huskies, in front of 5,627 fans at Harbour Station!

[killer]

jrsuperstar said:

7 - 2 Huskies, in front of 5,627 fans at Harbour Station!

Nobody can ever accuse Leask of being a Homer...................


In order to win tonight we need a huge night from the entire team along with Fullerton standing on his head, should be a nice crowd so the dogs better show up this game.

[elementz]

Let's hope we get a better start rather than the last time we had a crowd of 5000+