November

[elementz]

After a great start of 10-4-2, we are going to be facing a tough month of November. 6 of our first 8 games of the month are on the road and we only play 4 games at home this month.

We have two 3 game road trips that won't be easy. First two are this weekend against the Foggies who are always very tough at home and they have been on a roll lately. We finish up against Moncton who we should be able to beat. I am hoping for at least 4 out of 6 points.

Back at home against Halifax and Chicoutimi. Halifax will be a good test for us as this is the first time playing them on home ice.

Then, we goto our first long trip to Quebec to take on the Remparts, Sags and Drakkar. Again, I would love to be able to snag 4 out of 6 points here.

I think at the end of November, we will see what these Dogs are made of.

[bjindaho]

This is a make or break month for our season. This kind of schedule would cripple either of the first two years' teams. I think we need at least 9 of our first 16 to be in good shape. Luckily, Moncton might be the best team to face as the 3rd team in a 3 game trip, but the Baie-Comeau game might be ugly.

[habh8er]

Doesn't look all that bad really...go to St. John's for 2 , back home on Mon. morning....up the road to Moncton on Wed. then 2 games at home. Yes the trip to Que. will be a test but I think the boys will be ready to get away together by the middle of Nov. for more than a day trip...which is what the schedule will have been up till that point(excluding this wkend). Good time for some team building and a chance for the vets and the new guys(rookies and pick-ups)to become more of a "family". We all enjoy a good road trip, can't wait till the first of March Gat, Rou, Val and Lewy in 6 days in the middle of a 6 game road swing that ends in C.B.

[elementz]

Speaking of March, I'm really worried about going down the stretch. We play 9 of our last 12 games on the road. That could really hurt us in the playoff race for positoning

[bois]

You're worried about playing 3 out of 12 on the road down the stretch? That sounds like a pretty sweet schedule actually

[Judas In My Mind]

He meant 3 of our last 12 games at home. 9 on the road, 3 at home.

[habh8er]

Well here we are at the end of November, the Dogs play the final game of the month tonight against the Fog Devils and for the most part this month has been pretty good for us
September, 8 of a possible 12 points=66.6%
October ,14 of possible 20 points=70.0%
November , 13 of possible 20 points=65.0% (as of now)

With a win tonight that would be 15 of 22 or 68.0% in Nov. and would have the season average at 68.5% with 37 of 54 total points....not too shabby for a month where we had 7 road games of 11 total games, and had 3 reg. wins, 2 shootout wins, 1 overtime win, 1 overtime loss and 3 losses where we led in all only to have the home-team comeback to take the points. (St. J, Que, B.C.) three pretty tough places to win. Keep it up Dogs way to go so far.

[Judas In My Mind]

December scares me right now despite an abundance of games at home. From Dec. 1st - Dec. 14th we play seven games. Halifax twice. Bathurst twice. Cape Breton twice. PEI once. Other than currently struggling PEI, those are some tough teams there. (yes I still believe Bathurst will end up finishing second in this division despite their slow start).

Every game this month is against a divisional opponent too, but that first half is a tough one. Could be a rough beginning to December.

[habh8er]

jrsuperstar said:

December scares me right now despite an abundance of games at home. From Dec. 1st - Dec. 14th we play seven games. Halifax twice. Bathurst twice. Cape Breton twice. PEI once. Other than currently struggling PEI, those are some tough teams there. (yes I still believe Bathurst will end up finishing second in this division despite their slow start).

Every game this month is against a divisional opponent too, but that first half is a tough one. Could be a rough beginning to December.

That is a tough looking month for sure, a couple of back to back games in there too home n' home with Bathurst and that Sat. Sun at H.S against the Eagles should prove interesting.

If we are going to move up in the standings we have to be able to take points away from those types of teams, 2 at home against the Moose and 2 at home against the Eagles...should be able to split those and the HnH we should get one....12 or 14 points this month again should be do-able, as long as we start to get the goaltending we(they) are capable of......when does Mayer leave, around the 17th?

[elementz]

Speaking of Mayer leaving, wonder if we will see Passingham get a start. I would like to see that.

[habh8er]

elementz said:

Speaking of Mayer leaving, wonder if we will see Passingham get a start. I would like to see that.

You would like to see that .......whats up with that planning on making a large wager in favor of the opposition ;D.

Never know we could see him on the 16th or 30th against the Cats, or in one of the 3 in Saint John's to start the new year. I'm thinking he will get at least one start then, if not he's been around taking up a roster spot for an awfully long time to accomplish very little if anything at all.....still don't quite get that one, why he would sit in the stands all year in favor of playing somewhere else, especially as a goaltender he would need to see some game action you would think to stay "on the ball"(or puck as it were). Guess they wanted him to work with the coaches that are available to him here or something.

[elementz]

Of course I want to see how he does in a game situation. He most likely will be our back up next year and could play in 20-25 games. I know 1 game isn't much to go by but I would still like for him to showcase his talent.

I fail to understand why he is still sitting in the stands too.

[canucklehead]

I don't like the idea of having our backup next year not playing a single game or even 2 or 3 games the entire year prior to a year we are going to be attempting to make our biggest push.

I'd love to get at least 7 points out of 14 this month December could be rough sattle up boyz

[mvp]

i have no idea how fa works in the q but im guessing its either keep him with the team as a third goalie or send him back to ontario and lose his rights there for they wouldnt have him for next year which is when they want him for

[habh8er]

elementz said:

Speaking of Mayer leaving, wonder if we will see Passingham get a start. I would like to see that.

Passingham was doing the job of Art Comeau on the web-cast and said he hopes to get the start on sunday against the Wildcats, and will be on the bench as backup on Friday against the Moose.