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Post by dogcatcher on Feb 21, 2008 7:29:27 GMT -4
Sports Mailbag: Use of enforcer hinders junior team
Published Thursday February 21st, 2008
Appeared on page B8
Gratuitous fighting in hockey is just simply dumb. Trying to hit a head housed by a helmet and visor is asinine. Today an enforcer (goon) is sent to fight at the coach's command in an apparent attempt to deliberately alter the game dynamics. I don't subscribe to the fight "momentum builder" theory espoused by many. Often, just the opposite occurs with players standing around and waiting. Power hockey has never needed this ingredient to deliver the entertainment value provided by the fastest of sports.
The four forward lines have added to the speed of the game over yesterday's three lines, that is, if players skate for the full shift.
The Sea Dogs have tough guy Brett Gallant in the lineup. His lack of skating has coach Jacques Beaulieu micro-managing his ice time, depending on game status. Mike Thomas and Mathew Stoddard then ride the bench, two-way players both. Remember the former's offensive output before Christmas (away from Gallant) while the latter held his own with Chris Di Domenico and Ryan Sparling. We could have a formidable, versatile fourth line when Steven Anthony completes the pairings, giving the Dogs a tactical advantage against opposing fourth lines.
When healthy, the Dogs have 13 forwards. Who sits out? Not Gallant. So as long as this occurs, I won't be backing the Dogs as a loyal fan in the seats. The odd game perhaps, given their marketing efforts. All this criticism of the "Top Dogs", where can my head be? They are in first place in spite of Gallant, not because of him.
To my dismay Halifax has responded by recently acquiring David Bouchard (30 fights). All you fight fans, get ready.
GEORGE URQUHART
Quispamsis
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Post by elementz on Feb 21, 2008 9:32:12 GMT -4
Interesting and I kind of see his point. But what happens when JB sits Gallant and we get ran all over the ice. What if somebody comes and 2 hands dido or runs Grant from behind? Sure we have players that will stand up to other players but Gallant is the one that puts fear in the other players.
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joey
Draft Pick
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Post by joey on Feb 21, 2008 10:57:23 GMT -4
I read this and the first thing I thought of was reddog bluedog puting in anther plug to get the coaches to play Thomas more but then I no that cant be it. He was not one of the 5700 at harbour station that stood up and cheered when Gallant and Leroux went at it 2 seconds into the game. Honestly I thing Gallants hockey has improved enough hes certainly not out of place and most nights are very effective maybe not scoring but holding the other teams from scoring and giving the top line a rest. Its to bad that a person oppinion is so obsessed he has to take shots at this teenage boy over here doing the toughest jobs that can be asked to do, and does it better than anyone else in this league and has to read this stupid article written about him. Shame on you Mr Urquart.
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Post by tostitos on Feb 21, 2008 11:00:44 GMT -4
Must be one of Caddells old geezers. Obviously doesn't have a clue about hockey.
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Post by reddogbluedog on Feb 21, 2008 12:04:47 GMT -4
No it was not me but to say that Gallant has improved to the point where he contributes is just crazy. He cannot even skate backwards and ices the puck 80% of the time he touches it in our own end. He might have one shift a month where he looks like a hockey player. I know the importance of an enforcer but Gallant has been in the line up every night and we are getting out hit by every team in the league. Moncton last night 24 to 9 and Titan 21 - 13. I don't care who we put out there but someone has to start laying on the body. Please tell me who that person or what line that is??? Dido has turned into a whiner, Liske won't hit because he might get hurt, Anthony a total waste of money and what the hell is he doing moving up to the first or second line, Stoddard afraid of the corners and I could go on but I see no one willing to sacrifice body parts on our team that is getting a regular shift. You think we are going anywhere in the playoffs without a line that can bang?? I like Thomas because he is the only guy that has shown me consistent tough play and laying on the body this year for our team and I am not the only one that would like to see him on a checking line and making the other team put their heads up once in a while. We are getting run over by teams and doing nothing about it. It appears that having Gallant around is not stopping this so why not try an effective 4th line with three good players and see what happens? I am still looking for someone to tell me where out team toughness should come from because right now no team fears us and they really do not seem to be intimidate by Gallant. Check the stats Joey and see how many games we have out hit anyone. Do I like Gallant and his ability to fight? Absolutely Is he intimidating teams and protecting our guys from getting knocked around? The stats show that this is not the case. How many guys on our team are hitting back?  I will let you all answer that one. I don't know about all you experts but I am tired of watching us get pushed around. Watch the tape with the Huskies and wee how many times Fullerton was run at or had his own players pushed into him and no one did a thing about it. If people are seeing us as been a skilled and tough physical team that is ready to charge into the playoffs please let me know because I am missing the toughness if it is there?? |
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joey
Draft Pick
Posts: 144
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Post by joey on Feb 21, 2008 12:16:39 GMT -4
Were first in the league ,coming from last a year ago. I would say the Seadogs are doing something right. I could comment to u but all the posters on here knows you dont have a clue . Just another plug hoping the coaches are reading and will play your boy more. Shamefull and Im sure he must be proud.
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Post by bjindaho on Feb 21, 2008 13:18:13 GMT -4
Actually, we are first despite being outhit EVERY game. It's one thing to say that we should play Thomas more because he is a scorer. It is another to say that he deserves a regular shift and that guys like him banging opponents for a full playoff series could be a key to our success. Gallant tries to hit people but he lacks foot speed. But it would be silly to bench him most nights, because opponents know that if they take cheap shots on our players, they'll end up like Legros. Still, I wouldn't mind JB tinkering until he found three players that will hit consistently, even if it means moving Howes down (so he can be one of the three).
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Post by killer on Feb 21, 2008 13:19:32 GMT -4
red/bluedog I have no idea where you get Thomas being a consistent with his physical play...................... The kid started the season playing the hard nose brand of hockey but got away from that and went around a month or 2 without even getting involved in a fight. When is the last time he has devastated someone with a huge hit? We might have to go back to preseason for that one. Only recently has Thomas been playing tough hockey again but was very invisible last night along with the rest of the team. Your man crush is skewing your view. Gallant has been the only consistent physical presence game in and game out and deserves to be on that ice each and every game. Just think of the bitching you would be doing about being out hit and out muscled with Gallant out of the lineup!!
As for Anthony I thought he played his best hockey of the season when he played on the Picard/Howes line and thought it was good to see him get back up on that line. He had a nice first period last night but like the rest of the team disappeared after that. I am sure when he is producing at 18 or 19 you will change your views.
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Post by killer on Feb 21, 2008 13:21:26 GMT -4
Actually, we are first despite being outhit EVERY game. It's one thing to say that we should play Thomas more because he is a scorer. It is another to say that he deserves a regular shift and that guys like him banging opponents for a full playoff series could be a key to our success. Gallant tries to hit people but he lacks foot speed. But it would be silly to bench him most nights, because opponents know that if they take cheap shots on our players, they'll end up like Legros. Still, I wouldn't mind JB tinkering until he found three players that will hit consistently, even if it means moving Howes down (so he can be one of the three). Moving your top goalscorer down so he can hit and fight...............brilliant strategy  |
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joey
Draft Pick
Posts: 144
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Post by joey on Feb 21, 2008 13:24:01 GMT -4
Sports Mailbag: Use of enforcer hinders junior team Published Thursday February 21st, 2008 Appeared on page B8 Gratuitous fighting in hockey is just simply dumb. Trying to hit a head housed by a helmet and visor is asinine. Today an enforcer (goon) is sent to fight at the coach's command in an apparent attempt to deliberately alter the game dynamics. I don't subscribe to the fight "momentum builder" theory espoused by many. Often, just the opposite occurs with players standing around and waiting. Power hockey has never needed this ingredient to deliver the entertainment value provided by the fastest of sports. The four forward lines have added to the speed of the game over yesterday's three lines, that is, if players skate for the full shift. The Sea Dogs have tough guy Brett Gallant in the lineup. His lack of skating has coach Jacques Beaulieu micro-managing his ice time, depending on game status. Mike Thomas and Mathew Stoddard then ride the bench, two-way players both. Remember the former's offensive output before Christmas (away from Gallant) while the latter held his own with Chris Di Domenico and Ryan Sparling. We could have a formidable, versatile fourth line when Steven Anthony completes the pairings, giving the Dogs a tactical advantage against opposing fourth lines. When healthy, the Dogs have 13 forwards. Who sits out? Not Gallant. So as long as this occurs, I won't be backing the Dogs as a loyal fan in the seats. The odd game perhaps, given their marketing efforts. All this criticism of the "Top Dogs", where can my head be? They are in first place in spite of Gallant, not because of him. To my dismay Halifax has responded by recently acquiring David Bouchard (30 fights). All you fight fans, get ready. GEORGE URQUHART Quispamsis Dog Catcher, is this not like the Bashing post that was put on here earlier.And yet you highlighted and post it. Why bother to put this on here. Not real classey. Just my oppinnon.The fellow that wrote it is bad enough ,why highlight it. |
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Post by bjindaho on Feb 21, 2008 13:28:07 GMT -4
he'd still play PP. And we'd still have something like Sparling-Dido-Charland, Liske-Picard-Gauthier for a top 6. Maybe get Anthony to play with him (assuming Anthony will play physical) and you could actually have a decent third line which happens to be physical.
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Post by killer on Feb 21, 2008 13:35:18 GMT -4
he'd still play PP. And we'd still have something like Sparling-Dido-Charland, Liske-Picard-Gauthier for a top 6. Maybe get Anthony to play with him (assuming Anthony will play physical) and you could actually have a decent third line which happens to be physical. Liske and Gauthier will not produce nearly at the pace of what Howes is.............. not even close. We don;t have many Muckers or Bangers outside of Gallant and Thomas. We are very small up front and thats the way it is. |
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Post by knight on Feb 21, 2008 13:49:27 GMT -4
Sports Mailbag: Use of enforcer hinders junior team Published Thursday February 21st, 2008 Appeared on page B8 Gratuitous fighting in hockey is just simply dumb. Trying to hit a head housed by a helmet and visor is asinine. Today an enforcer (goon) is sent to fight at the coach's command in an apparent attempt to deliberately alter the game dynamics. I don't subscribe to the fight "momentum builder" theory espoused by many. Often, just the opposite occurs with players standing around and waiting. Power hockey has never needed this ingredient to deliver the entertainment value provided by the fastest of sports. The four forward lines have added to the speed of the game over yesterday's three lines, that is, if players skate for the full shift. The Sea Dogs have tough guy Brett Gallant in the lineup. His lack of skating has coach Jacques Beaulieu micro-managing his ice time, depending on game status. Mike Thomas and Mathew Stoddard then ride the bench, two-way players both. Remember the former's offensive output before Christmas (away from Gallant) while the latter held his own with Chris Di Domenico and Ryan Sparling. We could have a formidable, versatile fourth line when Steven Anthony completes the pairings, giving the Dogs a tactical advantage against opposing fourth lines. When healthy, the Dogs have 13 forwards. Who sits out? Not Gallant. So as long as this occurs, I won't be backing the Dogs as a loyal fan in the seats. The odd game perhaps, given their marketing efforts. All this criticism of the "Top Dogs", where can my head be? They are in first place in spite of Gallant, not because of him. To my dismay Halifax has responded by recently acquiring David Bouchard (30 fights). All you fight fans, get ready. GEORGE URQUHART Quispamsis Dog Catcher, is this not like the Bashing post that was put on here earlier.And yet you highlighted and post it. Why bother to put this on here. Not real classey. Just my oppinnon.The fellow that wrote it is bad enough ,why highlight it. I just read that Bashing post and it was the Dogcatcher that stated no personall attacks on board members or Seadog players and yet he put it on here. ?? Take it off and think before you write. These players read this BS and its just one persons oppinion. |
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Post by elementz on Feb 21, 2008 14:07:25 GMT -4
So should we ban the newspaper too. Players read the newspaper. I don't really consider that article bashing even though I disagree with the guy's opinion.
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Post by dogcatcher on Feb 21, 2008 14:20:20 GMT -4
The article is staying up.
I don't think the article was actually meant to be a hit against Brett...I think it was meant to be an article about fighting in general. You'll notice in the last line that the writer complains about Halifax getting David Bouchard.
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I will let you all answer that one. I don't know about all you experts but I am tired of watching us get pushed around. Watch the tape with the Huskies and wee how many times Fullerton was run at or had his own players pushed into him and no one did a thing about it. If people are seeing us as been a skilled and tough physical team that is ready to charge into the playoffs please let me know because I am missing the toughness if it is there??