Post by dogcatcher on Jan 3, 2008 9:14:54 GMT -4
Dogs report for road duty
QMJHL Saint John begins a three-game set in St. John's tonight against the Fog Devils
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Thursday January 3rd, 2008
Appeared on page B5
SAINT JOHN - Living out of hotel rooms and getting prepared in the visitors dressing room will become the norm for the Saint John Sea Dogs in the second half of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League season.
The squad will play 19 of their remaining 32 regular season games away from the friendly confines of Saint John and Harbour Station.
The long road home begins today with the first of three games in Newfoundland against the St. John's Fog Devils.
However, the Sea Dogs have played well on the road posting a record of 9-7 in 16 games this season.
Head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu said he's pleased with his club's effort away from home.
"If you can play .500 hockey on the road for the entire season, you're doing a pretty good job because it's not easy to win on the road," the bench boss said.
The reason for the Sea Dogs solid road play is playing basic hockey, said Beaulieu.
"We just have to continue to keep everything simple," he said. "You simplify the game, wait for your chances and just be patient."
Saint John has used the formula to pick up some big roads wins against the Lewiston Maineiacs, Acadie-Bathurst Titan, Rimouski Oceanic and Chicoutimi Sagueneens in the first half of the season. The second half of road games started off with a bang as the Sea Dogs downed the Titan 9-2 in Bathurst last Friday.
Saint John struggled early in the year on the road going 3-4 with a few losses of three goals. However, in their last five away from home the Sea Dogs have been road warriors with a record of 4-1 including victories over the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, Chicoutimi and the Titan.
Two of those wins came with a depleted lineup as forwards Alexandre Picard and Ryan Sparling missed time with injuries. The team embarks on the three-day trek to St. John's with a healthy roster, but missing goaltender Robert Mayer, forward Steven Anthony and defenceman Simon Despres to international tournaments.
The team is also on its hottest offensive streak of the year averaging six goals per contest over the last three outings. The top two lines have done the bulk of the scoring with the third and fourth lines playing solid defensive hockey.
Team captain Alex Grant said solid play on the road is a hallmark of good teams.
"Usually the best teams in the league are the ones who get it done on the road," he said. "Its not easy because we don't have the fan support like we do (at Harbour Station), but its something every team has to do."
So what does he see as the winning road formula?
"We haven't played a lot on the road this year, but we shouldn't do anything different," Grant said. "We've got to approach and prepare for every game the same."
QMJHL Saint John begins a three-game set in St. John's tonight against the Fog Devils
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Thursday January 3rd, 2008
Appeared on page B5
SAINT JOHN - Living out of hotel rooms and getting prepared in the visitors dressing room will become the norm for the Saint John Sea Dogs in the second half of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League season.
The squad will play 19 of their remaining 32 regular season games away from the friendly confines of Saint John and Harbour Station.
The long road home begins today with the first of three games in Newfoundland against the St. John's Fog Devils.
However, the Sea Dogs have played well on the road posting a record of 9-7 in 16 games this season.
Head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu said he's pleased with his club's effort away from home.
"If you can play .500 hockey on the road for the entire season, you're doing a pretty good job because it's not easy to win on the road," the bench boss said.
The reason for the Sea Dogs solid road play is playing basic hockey, said Beaulieu.
"We just have to continue to keep everything simple," he said. "You simplify the game, wait for your chances and just be patient."
Saint John has used the formula to pick up some big roads wins against the Lewiston Maineiacs, Acadie-Bathurst Titan, Rimouski Oceanic and Chicoutimi Sagueneens in the first half of the season. The second half of road games started off with a bang as the Sea Dogs downed the Titan 9-2 in Bathurst last Friday.
Saint John struggled early in the year on the road going 3-4 with a few losses of three goals. However, in their last five away from home the Sea Dogs have been road warriors with a record of 4-1 including victories over the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, Chicoutimi and the Titan.
Two of those wins came with a depleted lineup as forwards Alexandre Picard and Ryan Sparling missed time with injuries. The team embarks on the three-day trek to St. John's with a healthy roster, but missing goaltender Robert Mayer, forward Steven Anthony and defenceman Simon Despres to international tournaments.
The team is also on its hottest offensive streak of the year averaging six goals per contest over the last three outings. The top two lines have done the bulk of the scoring with the third and fourth lines playing solid defensive hockey.
Team captain Alex Grant said solid play on the road is a hallmark of good teams.
"Usually the best teams in the league are the ones who get it done on the road," he said. "Its not easy because we don't have the fan support like we do (at Harbour Station), but its something every team has to do."
So what does he see as the winning road formula?
"We haven't played a lot on the road this year, but we shouldn't do anything different," Grant said. "We've got to approach and prepare for every game the same."
