Post by dogcatcher on Feb 9, 2008 7:51:47 GMT -4
AT EASE ON THE ICE
QMJHL: Sea Dog effectively deals with hockey's pressures to spark Saint John's success this year
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Saturday February 9th, 2008
Appeared on page C14
SAINT JOHN - At 10 years old, Saint John Sea Dogs forward Scott Howes wanted nothing more than to get away from competitive hockey.
Identified at an early age as a player with promise, Howes skated head long into Toronto's AAA hockey machine, replete with its exacting demands and overbearing coaches.
"I was playing at the AAA level at 10 and then I ran into coaches and situations where I wasn't treated very well," Howes said this week.
"I was 10 years old. I just wanted to play."
Sick of the pressure and loathing the grind, Howes sought a retreat to house league. His parents readily agreed.
There in his first house-league practice, wearing a track suit, helmet, gloves and skates, Howes was light years removed from being the 30-goal scorer on Canada's ninth-ranked junior team.
And there he might have remained had it not been for a coach named Cosmo Nardone.
While others berated, Nardone encouraged. Where others found fault, Nardone saw promise.
"I didn't do anything magical," Nardone said. "Scott is a happy go lucky kid who had some coaches that made it hard at a young age, I just tried to make it fun again for him."
It was in that environment that Howes rediscovered the joy in hockey. The place that had become so constricting, once again became an outlet for release.
"I was lucky living in Toronto because there's a bunch of outdoor rinks," Howes said. "I didn't realize it at the time, but when I felt stressed out as a kid I just went out and played on the rinks."
While Nardone didn't push Howes back to competitive hockey, he reminded Howes that if he wanted to, his talent could lead him back to the higher ranks.
"I told him about my brother who was very talented, but at 14 quit playing," Nardone said. "He never forgave himself for that and I knew Scott wouldn't either if he didn't give it another shot."
At 17, Howes played a year of AAA midget hockey in Toronto, but went undrafted in the Ontario Hockey League. Instead, he caught on with the Wexford Raiders of the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League. While some OHL teams began to take notice of his strong two-way play, so did the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
In the summer of 2006, Howes attended Voltigeurs training camp, intent on gaining experience before returning to Ontario, where he expected tryouts with OHL squads. To his surprise Howes stuck with the Voltigeurs, who the Sea Dogs visit Sunday in a nationally televised game on Sportsnet, beginning at 9 p.m.
"I'd never been to a major junior camp before and I ended up making the (Voltigeurs) so I stayed," he said.
Howes put up solid numbers in Drummondville including 25 goals and 17 assists for 42 points in 47 games. He also attracted the attention of Saint John head coach Jacques Beaulieu. Also the Sea Dogs general manager, Beaulieu began trying to acquire Howes in August of last year, but couldn't pry him away from Drummondville coach Guy Boucher.
"I kept pursuing it because I felt he was a good fit for us and he is," Beaulieu said. "He's the type of player we were looking for with good hands, patience and a little bit of experience."
Howes said he wasn't expecting to be traded to Saint John, but is glad it happened.
The veteran forward is having a career year with the Sea Dogs including 31 goals and 28 assists for 59 points in 49 contests.
While he admits he still gets stressed from playing a high-level of hockey, he's found ways of handling it.
"It's the people and the city that I find relaxing," he said.
"I've got fantastic billets and if I need to talk they're always there, same with the coaching staff."
While he's relaxed, it doesn't mean he's satisfied.
"The numbers are never satisfying for me, I always want to do more," he said, showing signs of his competitive streak. "There's always room for improvement, but I've learned to relax and remember to enjoy where I am."
As for his old coach, Nardone said he gets updates from Sea Dogs Ontario scout Al Mason on his pupil's progress and talks with Howes on the phone.
"He's always been a good kid and deserved to get a shot," Nardone said.
"He just needed a break and look what happened when someone gave him one."
QMJHL: Sea Dog effectively deals with hockey's pressures to spark Saint John's success this year
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Saturday February 9th, 2008
Appeared on page C14
SAINT JOHN - At 10 years old, Saint John Sea Dogs forward Scott Howes wanted nothing more than to get away from competitive hockey.
Identified at an early age as a player with promise, Howes skated head long into Toronto's AAA hockey machine, replete with its exacting demands and overbearing coaches.
"I was playing at the AAA level at 10 and then I ran into coaches and situations where I wasn't treated very well," Howes said this week.
"I was 10 years old. I just wanted to play."
Sick of the pressure and loathing the grind, Howes sought a retreat to house league. His parents readily agreed.
There in his first house-league practice, wearing a track suit, helmet, gloves and skates, Howes was light years removed from being the 30-goal scorer on Canada's ninth-ranked junior team.
And there he might have remained had it not been for a coach named Cosmo Nardone.
While others berated, Nardone encouraged. Where others found fault, Nardone saw promise.
"I didn't do anything magical," Nardone said. "Scott is a happy go lucky kid who had some coaches that made it hard at a young age, I just tried to make it fun again for him."
It was in that environment that Howes rediscovered the joy in hockey. The place that had become so constricting, once again became an outlet for release.
"I was lucky living in Toronto because there's a bunch of outdoor rinks," Howes said. "I didn't realize it at the time, but when I felt stressed out as a kid I just went out and played on the rinks."
While Nardone didn't push Howes back to competitive hockey, he reminded Howes that if he wanted to, his talent could lead him back to the higher ranks.
"I told him about my brother who was very talented, but at 14 quit playing," Nardone said. "He never forgave himself for that and I knew Scott wouldn't either if he didn't give it another shot."
At 17, Howes played a year of AAA midget hockey in Toronto, but went undrafted in the Ontario Hockey League. Instead, he caught on with the Wexford Raiders of the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League. While some OHL teams began to take notice of his strong two-way play, so did the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
In the summer of 2006, Howes attended Voltigeurs training camp, intent on gaining experience before returning to Ontario, where he expected tryouts with OHL squads. To his surprise Howes stuck with the Voltigeurs, who the Sea Dogs visit Sunday in a nationally televised game on Sportsnet, beginning at 9 p.m.
"I'd never been to a major junior camp before and I ended up making the (Voltigeurs) so I stayed," he said.
Howes put up solid numbers in Drummondville including 25 goals and 17 assists for 42 points in 47 games. He also attracted the attention of Saint John head coach Jacques Beaulieu. Also the Sea Dogs general manager, Beaulieu began trying to acquire Howes in August of last year, but couldn't pry him away from Drummondville coach Guy Boucher.
"I kept pursuing it because I felt he was a good fit for us and he is," Beaulieu said. "He's the type of player we were looking for with good hands, patience and a little bit of experience."
Howes said he wasn't expecting to be traded to Saint John, but is glad it happened.
The veteran forward is having a career year with the Sea Dogs including 31 goals and 28 assists for 59 points in 49 contests.
While he admits he still gets stressed from playing a high-level of hockey, he's found ways of handling it.
"It's the people and the city that I find relaxing," he said.
"I've got fantastic billets and if I need to talk they're always there, same with the coaching staff."
While he's relaxed, it doesn't mean he's satisfied.
"The numbers are never satisfying for me, I always want to do more," he said, showing signs of his competitive streak. "There's always room for improvement, but I've learned to relax and remember to enjoy where I am."
As for his old coach, Nardone said he gets updates from Sea Dogs Ontario scout Al Mason on his pupil's progress and talks with Howes on the phone.
"He's always been a good kid and deserved to get a shot," Nardone said.
"He just needed a break and look what happened when someone gave him one."
