GDT: Sea Dogs at Titan - December 28, 2007

[dogcatcher]

SEA DOGS AT TITAN TONIGHT - 7:30 PM!!

The Sea Dogs will visit the K.C. Irving Regional Centre tonight for a divisional showdown with the new-look Acadie-Bathurst Titan. Saint John has posted a record of 1-1 thus far in Bathurst this season, having suffered a 6-3 loss to the Titan on October 26 prior to earning a 6-4 win on December 7 in a game that saw Scott Howes and Michael Kirkpatrick net two goals apiece to produce a road victory for the Sea Dogs.

The game can be heard live by tuning into News 88.9 FM, the radio home of Sea Dogs hockey. A live webcast of the head-to-head battle between these two provincial rivals is also available by logging onto qmjhl.mytelus.com/.

[dogcatcher]

Dogs meet new look Titan
QMJHL: Saint John kicks off second half with key date against divisional rival

Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Friday December 28th, 2007
Appeared on page B6

SAINT JOHN - When the Saint John Sea Dogs hit the ice tonight in Bathurst at 7:30 p.m. against the Titan, they may have to do a double-take to recognize their opponents.

The Titan were one of the busiest teams during the trade period, acquiring a top offensive defenceman in Drew Paris from the Drummondville Voltigeurs and hard-hitting goal scorer in Ryan Graham from the St. John's Fog Devils, among others.

Saint John forward Mike Thomas said he's looking forward to playing the new-look Titan.

"We play them a lot, so to see them early in the second half will be good so we know what we're facing," Thomas said.

While Paris will add to the league's top power-play unit, Acadie-Bathurst general manager Sylvain Couturier was excited about landing Graham.

The 20-year-old has 18 goals and 13 assists for 31 points in 36 games this season, all with the Fog Devils. While Graham can score, Couturier said he'll add a physical presence on a line with Titan star Mathieu Perreault. Acadie-Bathurst felt Perreault was getting pushed around too much in the first half of the season and feel Graham will curtail that playing alongside him.

Saint John head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu said Perreault is a dangerous player no matter who's skating with him.

"He's so effective," Beaulieu said. "We're not the type of team that's going to rough him up, but we're going to know where he is at all times when he's on the ice."

As for Garham, Beaulieu said the work done thus far by Acadie-Bathurst during the trade period shows they're looking for a deep playoff run.

"Graham is a grinder and the type of player you want for the playoffs," Beaulieu said. "(The Titan) are going to take a run at (the title) with the moves they made and he'll help their team."

While the Titan may need a few games and practices to get used to one another, the Sea Dogs won't have any adjustment period. Saint John made one deal so far this trade period, sending goaltending prospect Nathan Dunnett to Drummondville to complete the deal for 20-year-old forward Scott Howes.

Saint John defenceman Yann Sauve said the break was a good time to rest for the team as they prepare to continue their winning ways and hopefully make a deep playoff run.

"We're rested and we'll continue to improve with every game," the 17-year-old said.

As for avoiding a sluggish start due to the 12-day layoff, Beaulieu said keeping players focused over the holiday period is tough.

"We had a practice (Wednesday) and it wasn't a very good one," he said. "The guys have been off a while, but I'm sure they'll be ready for Friday."

[Deleted]

I hope anyone deciding to make the trip up for the game drives safely and arrives here in town and back in Saint John without incident.

[canucklehead]

Make lotz a noise boyz have an awesome trip!!!

Wish I could have made the trip! Damn work!!!

[dogcatcher]

thebmw said:

I hope anyone deciding to make the trip up for the game drives safely and arrives here in town and back in Saint John without incident.

47 very enthusiastic Sea Dogs fans are making their way up to Bathurst today!! We'll try to make the most noise there! Listen for us on the webcast & radio!!

[springer]

A few of us in here talked about needing a grinder type player or line to take a run at the playoffs. Othere appeared to say "oh you do not think that JB knows what he is doing" or something along that line. And then in JB's quote today he stated;

"Graham is a grinder and the type of player you want for the playoffs," Beaulieu said. "(The Titan) are going to take a run at (the title) with the moves they made and he'll help their team."

So JB welcome to the club of those not knowing what they are talking about. However it would be nice to hear what JB states about keeping his best grinder on the bench???

[Judas In My Mind]

canucklehead said:

Make lotz a noise boyz have an awesome trip!!!

Wish I could have made the trip! Damn work!!!

Excuslehead. That should be your new name. Its always some excuse for you. "Damn work!" or "My turn with the kiddies." blah blah blah blah blah! ;D

p.s. Stop ending your words with damn 'z' instead of 's'. This ain't Boyz in da Hood and you ain't black!

[Judas In My Mind]

springer said:

A few of us in here talked about needing a grinder type player or line to take a run at the playoffs. Othere appeared to say "oh you do not think that JB knows what he is doing" or something along that line. And then in JB's quote today he stated;

"Graham is a grinder and the type of player you want for the playoffs," Beaulieu said. "(The Titan) are going to take a run at (the title) with the moves they made and he'll help their team."

So JB welcome to the club of those not knowing what they are talking about. However it would be nice to hear what JB states about keeping his best grinder on the bench???

Way to twist it to what you want there Springer. Is Graham a grinder type? Yes. He is also a grinder that is capable of a point per game, and likely better than that with the Titan, especially if he is playing top line with Perreault.

As for the Sea Dogs...best grinder on the bench? Surely you don't mean Mike Thomas because he has been playing a fair bit in the most recent games before the break, and playing well.

However if you cannot see the difference between Mike Thomas at this point in his career, and Ryan Graham at this point...I don't know how to help you.

[springer]

So who is our Graham type? I was talking about Langan!!!!!!!!!! LOL

[dogbert]

springer said:

So who is our Graham type? I was talking about Langan!!!!!!!!!! LOL

We don't have a Graham type. JB's main objective is next season or the season after. This team's not ready to go for it now despite the firepower we've added. Mr. Thomas, a 17yr old, is developing nicely, and while he still has lots of upside, IMO he doesn't have the agility, soft hands, and playmaking ability to be a ppg player.

[CatsFan]

Titan win 6-4.

[reddogbluedog]

We only have 4 ppg guys and we only have 5 guys with over 10 goals so really dogbert we do not have a lot to work with at all using the ppg theory. In fact the Eagles only have 3 ppg players so what does this tell us. Perhaps most guys playing in the league bring other things to the table to help their teams. Let's hope we get some bangers in the lineup or it is not going to be a pleasant 2nd half.

Given fitness and holidays I am looking at a 6 - 3 Titan win tonight.

[killer]

reddogbluedog said:

We only have 4 ppg guys and we only have 5 guys with over 10 goals so really dogbert we do not have a lot to work with at all using the ppg theory. In fact the Eagles only have 3 ppg players so what does this tell us. Perhaps most guys playing in the league bring other things to the table to help their teams. Let's hope we get some bangers in the lineup or it is not going to be a pleasant 2nd half.

Given fitness and holidays I am looking at a 6 - 3 Titan win tonight.

So who do we take out of the lineup (when healthy ) for these so called bangers we desperately need??

We have gritty checkers up front in Howes, Gallant, Thomas and we have a big body defense that can get physical as well.

Fans need to relax, sit back and enjoy the our first decent season.

Our go for it year where we should make big trades should be for next season with the group we have set to return.

[Judas In My Mind]

The PPG comment applied to Ryan Graham only. Geez. IF we had a PPG grinder like Ryan Graham WHICH WE DON'T, then yes I and likely everyone would agree that a player like that should not be sitting on the bench.

Most of this grinder arguement though has been centered around playing guys like Thomas and Gallant more. Thomas currently is earning more ice time, and good for him, but he's not a top 2 line player currently. Not for this team or most any other team in this league I'd say. He certainly now has earned a shot at like third line icetime though, or 10th forward type time where he gets most shifts with the fourth line and is snuck out onto the ice every now and then with parts of the 1st, 2nd or 3rd lines, just to stir things up and change the pace somewhat.

As for the comment about Langan being our best grinder...not even going to respond. ;D

[bjindaho]

What about Scott "Ow" Howes???