Post by dogcatcher on Jan 24, 2008 7:30:29 GMT -4
SEA DOGS' TOP SCORER SKATING ON A THIN EDGE
Hockey Di Domenico needs to strike balance between playing with a chip and being too chippy
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Thursday January 24th, 2008
Appeared on page B8
SAINT JOHN - "You suck."
"Your head is too big for your helmet now that you've been drafted."
Those are two of the more tame statements lobbed at Saint John Sea Dogs star forward Chris Di Domenico this season. Being at or around the top of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League scoring race plants a target firmly on his back. Sometimes the Woodbridge, Ont. native, selected in the sixth round of the 2007 NHL draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, shrugs it off and plays his game.
Di Domenico has 69 points in 46 games this season, just six points away from tying his team record.
But then again there are times when he lets it get the best of him and he responds like any normal teenager.
His punishment? Too many trips to the penalty box. In fact, twice this season, the six-foot-one, 170 lb. forward has even dropped the gloves and fought.
However, Di Domenico is no angel himself. He doesn't mind telling opponents what he thinks of them or delivering a shot of his own. In fact, out of the top 20 scorers in the QMJHL, only Jordan Clendenning of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles has more penalty minutes than Di Domenico's 66.
It's a statistic not lost on Saint John head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu.
"He gets tied up in that stuff sometimes a little more than what I would like him to," Beaulieu said. "People are trying to get him off his game and sometimes it works.
"He does take a lot of penalties and he's got to get away from that. He's a skill player and we've got other guys to take care of the other stuff."
As for Di Domenico, he thinks the penalty numbers are a bit inflated due to his dropping of the gloves.
"I've got two fighting majors so there's 10 minutes right there," the 18-year-old said. "Penalties come and most of them are stick infractions I need to cut down on."
And the verbal jousting and shoving that come after the whistle, Di Domenico said he knows teams are trying to get under his skin. He said he needs to keep his focus and if someone does get to him, he needs to let it go.
Easier said than done, according to his coach.
Beaulieu said it's a difficult task to play with an edge and not let it cross over into penalties.
"You really have to walk a fine line and walk it closely because you can cost your team games when it goes the other way," Beaulieu said. "We have a monthly meeting with Chris to make sure we keep him on an even keel."
As for the flip side of things, namely his tendency to get after other players and frustrate them, he said he doesn't go into a game thinking about doing it.
"I just like to see how the game goes and I do like to try and get under their skin," Di Domenico said.
Linemate Ryan Sparling said most of the things said on the ice are not fit to print, but admits neither Di Domenico or himself are shy about firing verbal jabs.
"Usually it comes in the heat of the moment," Sparling said. "If someone is saying something I don't have a problem stepping in and sometimes it goes past words."
"Usually (Di Domenico) is pretty good at starting things and I usually have to come in and help out and I don't mind doing that."
Di Domenico and the Sea Dogs will try and get under the skin of the Drummondville Voltigeurs tonight in a 7 p.m. start at Harbour Station. At 30-12-1-3, after 46 games, Saint John sits atop the East Division with 64 points, one ahead of the Halifax Mooseheads. Drummondville is at the opposite end of the scale, sitting in last place with 21 points in the West Division.
HOCKEY NIGHT: Saturday night's game between the Sea Dogs and St. John's Fog Devils has been designated Hockey Night in Saint John. Special events include a pre-game ceremony honouring local minor hockey volunteers, old-time hockey music being played on an organ throughout the evening and fans are encouraged to wear their favourite jerseys from the amateur of professional ranks. Local minor hockey teams will be able to purchase special ticket packages to the game by calling the Sea Dogs office at 657-3647.
Hockey Di Domenico needs to strike balance between playing with a chip and being too chippy
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Thursday January 24th, 2008
Appeared on page B8
SAINT JOHN - "You suck."
"Your head is too big for your helmet now that you've been drafted."
Those are two of the more tame statements lobbed at Saint John Sea Dogs star forward Chris Di Domenico this season. Being at or around the top of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League scoring race plants a target firmly on his back. Sometimes the Woodbridge, Ont. native, selected in the sixth round of the 2007 NHL draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, shrugs it off and plays his game.
Di Domenico has 69 points in 46 games this season, just six points away from tying his team record.
But then again there are times when he lets it get the best of him and he responds like any normal teenager.
His punishment? Too many trips to the penalty box. In fact, twice this season, the six-foot-one, 170 lb. forward has even dropped the gloves and fought.
However, Di Domenico is no angel himself. He doesn't mind telling opponents what he thinks of them or delivering a shot of his own. In fact, out of the top 20 scorers in the QMJHL, only Jordan Clendenning of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles has more penalty minutes than Di Domenico's 66.
It's a statistic not lost on Saint John head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu.
"He gets tied up in that stuff sometimes a little more than what I would like him to," Beaulieu said. "People are trying to get him off his game and sometimes it works.
"He does take a lot of penalties and he's got to get away from that. He's a skill player and we've got other guys to take care of the other stuff."
As for Di Domenico, he thinks the penalty numbers are a bit inflated due to his dropping of the gloves.
"I've got two fighting majors so there's 10 minutes right there," the 18-year-old said. "Penalties come and most of them are stick infractions I need to cut down on."
And the verbal jousting and shoving that come after the whistle, Di Domenico said he knows teams are trying to get under his skin. He said he needs to keep his focus and if someone does get to him, he needs to let it go.
Easier said than done, according to his coach.
Beaulieu said it's a difficult task to play with an edge and not let it cross over into penalties.
"You really have to walk a fine line and walk it closely because you can cost your team games when it goes the other way," Beaulieu said. "We have a monthly meeting with Chris to make sure we keep him on an even keel."
As for the flip side of things, namely his tendency to get after other players and frustrate them, he said he doesn't go into a game thinking about doing it.
"I just like to see how the game goes and I do like to try and get under their skin," Di Domenico said.
Linemate Ryan Sparling said most of the things said on the ice are not fit to print, but admits neither Di Domenico or himself are shy about firing verbal jabs.
"Usually it comes in the heat of the moment," Sparling said. "If someone is saying something I don't have a problem stepping in and sometimes it goes past words."
"Usually (Di Domenico) is pretty good at starting things and I usually have to come in and help out and I don't mind doing that."
Di Domenico and the Sea Dogs will try and get under the skin of the Drummondville Voltigeurs tonight in a 7 p.m. start at Harbour Station. At 30-12-1-3, after 46 games, Saint John sits atop the East Division with 64 points, one ahead of the Halifax Mooseheads. Drummondville is at the opposite end of the scale, sitting in last place with 21 points in the West Division.
HOCKEY NIGHT: Saturday night's game between the Sea Dogs and St. John's Fog Devils has been designated Hockey Night in Saint John. Special events include a pre-game ceremony honouring local minor hockey volunteers, old-time hockey music being played on an organ throughout the evening and fans are encouraged to wear their favourite jerseys from the amateur of professional ranks. Local minor hockey teams will be able to purchase special ticket packages to the game by calling the Sea Dogs office at 657-3647.