Post by dogcatcher on Jan 10, 2008 6:56:27 GMT -4
Dogs grab Central Scouting's attention
NHL Four Saint John players, four NBers make list of top prospects
Andrew McGilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Thursday January 10th, 2008
Appeared on page B5
SAINT JOHN - The National Hockey League's Central Scouting mid-season draft rankings were released Wednesday with four Saint John Sea Dogs and four New Brunswick players making the list of North American skaters.
The top Sea Dog is second-year blue-liner Yann Sauve. The Rigaud, Que., product is ranked 21st amongst North American skaters and is a possible first-round selection.
Heading into Wednesday's game against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, Sauve had three goals and 10 assists for 13 points. The defenceman was also selected to participate in the Canadian Hockey League's 2008 Top Prospects game being held Jan. 23 in Edmonton.
Sauve has been mentioned as a possible first-round pick since the start of the season, but said he tries not to put too much pressure on himself.
"I knew this was going to be a big year for me," Sauve said. "At the beginning of the season I was maybe thinking about it a little bit."
"I don't want to put too much pressure on myself, a little bit is good, but I've been trying to just think about my game and not about the draft."
As for the CHL Prospects game, it's another pressure situation.
"I'm excited, but I don't want to put pressure on myself," he said. "I just have to go out and try to play the same game I do here."
The highest-ranked Quebec Major Junior Hockey League skater is Quebec Remparts forward Mikhail Stephanovich.
Other Sea Dogs making the list include New Maryland native Mike Thomas at 134 followed closely by defenceman Pascal Amyot at 168. First-year goaltender Robert Mayer checks in at No. 15 among North American goaltenders.
Thomas has racked up six goals and three assists this season along with throwing some of the biggest hits on Harbour Station ice. The 17-year-old said it was nice to see his name on the list.
"I was a little surprised," Thomas said. "It makes you feel good knowing the work you put in is noticed."
However, he's careful, like many players in the QMJHL, not to read too much into the rankings.
"It's nice to be recognized, but it's not the real draft," he said.
Central Scouting is one of many services ranking players while NHL clubs have lists of their own.
The top New Brunswicker on the list is Moncton's Kelsey Tessier. The second-year forward with the Quebec Remparts is in the No. 33 slot while Cap-Pele's Patrice Cormier of the Rimouski Oceanic is ranked 82nd.
St. John's Fog Devils goaltender and Fredericton product Jake Allen was ranked 25th amongst North American goalies. The rookie netminder has seen limited action backing up San Jose Sharks draft pick Timo Pielmeier.
Other notable players include Moncton Wildcats defenceman Mark Barberio at No. 85 and Chicoutimi Sagueneens rookie forward Nicolas Deschamps at No. 28.
Steven Stamkos of the Sarnia Sting and Drew Doughty of the Guelph Storm are the first and second ranked players, respectively, among players skating in North America.
The top European player is Russian forward Nikita Filatov.
Central Scouting director E.J. Maguire has nine full-time and 12 part-time scouts on the prowl compiling the list.
"This is a good year," he said when asked to judge the quality of the Class of 2008. "The draft (talent) is deep through the first round."
While the mid-term rankings were released Wednesday, they are already in flux.
"The nature of this list is a snapshot," said Maguire. "We're already re-evaluating the rankings."
While Stamkos has emerged as the consensus No. 1 pick, "It is nowhere near as definite as it was with (Sidney) Crosby or, going back quite a few years, Mario Lemieux."
A final list will be released in April - before many of the teens complete their team's playoffs.
"The 30 teams we work for want (the final list) early so when they do their final meetings they have a basis for comparison - a second barometer from which they can judge their own individual rankings. We're proud that our rankings hold up well against any individual team's assessments over any number of years."
- with files from Canadian Press
NHL Four Saint John players, four NBers make list of top prospects
Andrew McGilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Thursday January 10th, 2008
Appeared on page B5
SAINT JOHN - The National Hockey League's Central Scouting mid-season draft rankings were released Wednesday with four Saint John Sea Dogs and four New Brunswick players making the list of North American skaters.
The top Sea Dog is second-year blue-liner Yann Sauve. The Rigaud, Que., product is ranked 21st amongst North American skaters and is a possible first-round selection.
Heading into Wednesday's game against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, Sauve had three goals and 10 assists for 13 points. The defenceman was also selected to participate in the Canadian Hockey League's 2008 Top Prospects game being held Jan. 23 in Edmonton.
Sauve has been mentioned as a possible first-round pick since the start of the season, but said he tries not to put too much pressure on himself.
"I knew this was going to be a big year for me," Sauve said. "At the beginning of the season I was maybe thinking about it a little bit."
"I don't want to put too much pressure on myself, a little bit is good, but I've been trying to just think about my game and not about the draft."
As for the CHL Prospects game, it's another pressure situation.
"I'm excited, but I don't want to put pressure on myself," he said. "I just have to go out and try to play the same game I do here."
The highest-ranked Quebec Major Junior Hockey League skater is Quebec Remparts forward Mikhail Stephanovich.
Other Sea Dogs making the list include New Maryland native Mike Thomas at 134 followed closely by defenceman Pascal Amyot at 168. First-year goaltender Robert Mayer checks in at No. 15 among North American goaltenders.
Thomas has racked up six goals and three assists this season along with throwing some of the biggest hits on Harbour Station ice. The 17-year-old said it was nice to see his name on the list.
"I was a little surprised," Thomas said. "It makes you feel good knowing the work you put in is noticed."
However, he's careful, like many players in the QMJHL, not to read too much into the rankings.
"It's nice to be recognized, but it's not the real draft," he said.
Central Scouting is one of many services ranking players while NHL clubs have lists of their own.
The top New Brunswicker on the list is Moncton's Kelsey Tessier. The second-year forward with the Quebec Remparts is in the No. 33 slot while Cap-Pele's Patrice Cormier of the Rimouski Oceanic is ranked 82nd.
St. John's Fog Devils goaltender and Fredericton product Jake Allen was ranked 25th amongst North American goalies. The rookie netminder has seen limited action backing up San Jose Sharks draft pick Timo Pielmeier.
Other notable players include Moncton Wildcats defenceman Mark Barberio at No. 85 and Chicoutimi Sagueneens rookie forward Nicolas Deschamps at No. 28.
Steven Stamkos of the Sarnia Sting and Drew Doughty of the Guelph Storm are the first and second ranked players, respectively, among players skating in North America.
The top European player is Russian forward Nikita Filatov.
Central Scouting director E.J. Maguire has nine full-time and 12 part-time scouts on the prowl compiling the list.
"This is a good year," he said when asked to judge the quality of the Class of 2008. "The draft (talent) is deep through the first round."
While the mid-term rankings were released Wednesday, they are already in flux.
"The nature of this list is a snapshot," said Maguire. "We're already re-evaluating the rankings."
While Stamkos has emerged as the consensus No. 1 pick, "It is nowhere near as definite as it was with (Sidney) Crosby or, going back quite a few years, Mario Lemieux."
A final list will be released in April - before many of the teens complete their team's playoffs.
"The 30 teams we work for want (the final list) early so when they do their final meetings they have a basis for comparison - a second barometer from which they can judge their own individual rankings. We're proud that our rankings hold up well against any individual team's assessments over any number of years."
- with files from Canadian Press