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Post by habh8er on Dec 10, 2007 0:54:48 GMT -4
Had to go out to dinner half way thru the game and was glad to see that I didn't miss anything....4-1 when I left and that was the final score, but what the hell happened in the third ...did the shot clock on the home side get broken or something...holy shit 17-3 thats brutal, no better way to give up a nice lead than to not show up for the third period.
Checked the Q site and we're 1 point out of first and hold the best winning%(.636, RN in 2nd at.629) in the league gotta love that!!....maybe my Bro and some of the boys will give the Dogs another chance and come out to a game after the break...you reading this AJ your being called out on a public forum...stop being such a hard ass the QMJHL is a good product, and we have one of the best teams in the nation.... swallow your pride and say you were wrong, or don't say anything and accept the offer.
Nice game again by Howes today, he's a real good hockey player who has a real nose for the net and doesn't seen to shy away from the rough play either...between him and Mikey Thomas I don't know who throws the body more. Sure am glad that J.B. made that deal he has turned out to be a great pickup and is deserving of the coveted over-age spot that he is occupying. Now if we can get the rest of the boys healthy over the break and get the injury bug out of the room we should be a dangerous team in the second half.I was talking to Sparling and Hooper at the game last night #51 hopes to be back against Halifax, but all #4 would say about the shoulder is that it is real sore...a couple of weeks should do it some good and maybe he's ready to go by the new year, but I'm not too confident that he'll be back before the middle of Jan. by the way he looked...I'm sure they'll want it to heal up real good this time, being the same injury re-aggrivated, I'm no Dr. but the body language wasn't positive...hopefully I'm wrong.
Can't wait till Friday to see the boys in first place**fingers crossed** that would make for a very merry Christmas.....GO DOGS GO TEAM CANADA!!
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Post by dogcatcher on Dec 10, 2007 8:16:17 GMT -4
Depleted Dogs win
Hockey Saint John one point out of first place after 4-1 victory at home
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Monday December 10th, 2007
Appeared on page B8
SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs are in an unfamiliar position with just two games left before the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's holiday break.
After taking two of three games over the weekend, the Sea Dogs are one point out of first place in the Eastern Division with the Halifax Mooseheads coming to town Friday.
Defenceman Yann Sauve said the team is looking forward to the final two contests.
"We just have to go out there and play as hard as we can because we have 10 days off after that to recover," he said.
The Sea Dogs picked up a 4-1 win Sunday over the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles to salvage a split in their weekend series after Cape Breton won 4-3 on Saturday night at Harbour Station. Saint John played shorthanded for the last three contests as forwards Ryan Sparling, Alexandre Picard and Brett Gallant were all out with injuries. Rookie forward Steven Anthony missed Sunday's game with a knee problem.
"We're missing some key guys, but it's great because we had guys step up," Sauve said.
On Saturday Michael Kirkpatrick was the top Sea Dog with a two-point effort - a goal and an assist - in a 4-3 loss to the Screaming Eagles in front of 2,945 fans. Alex Grant and Francois Gauthier had one goal each while Chris Culligan, Nick MacNeil, Alexandre Quesnel and Joey Haddad scored for Cape Breton.
On Sunday it was Mike Thomas's turn to take the spotlight. The New Maryland product electrified the 2,890 fans at Harbour Station with two goals in the 4-1 victory over Cape Breton. Scott Howes and Francois Gauthier chipped in with one goal apiece for Saint John while Jordan Clendenning replied for the Screaming Eagles.
"(Thomas) has really played well in the last month," said Saint John head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu. "His energy out there tonight was appreciated by all our kids because they're a tired bunch in there. They'll get a couple days off and start skating again on Wednesday."
The teams traded power plays in the opening minutes of the first period. Saint John starting goaltender Robert Mayer and his Cape Breton counterpart Olivier Roy kept the game scoreless early on.
The Sea Dogs broke the deadlock at 13:09 of the first. Thomas found the puck on a scramble in front and snapped a shot through traffic over the glove of Roy.
The goal was an historic one for two Saint John players as Quispamsis product Andrew Langan and Philip Richer picked up assists for their first QMJHL points.
The defence took over and held the Screaming Eagles off the board throughout the first. The Sea Dogs had a 14-6 edge in shots in the opening frame.
Cape Breton tied the game 1-1 early in the second period. Woodstock product Clendenning shoveled the puck into an open net after a scramble left Mayer down and out. Edmundston native Dean Ouellet drew an assist.
Saint John took the lead back with a three goals in a span of just over two minutes. First, Howes roofed a backhand past Roy at 11:35, Thomas wristed home his second of the game at 12:27 and it was capped off with a breakaway goal from Gauthier at 13:43 for a 4-1 Sea Dogs lead.
Several players extended point streaks on the goals including Di Domenico to eight games and Howes and Gauthier to seven.
The fourth goal chased Roy from the Cape Breton net, he was replaced by Marek Benda.
Despite a close call late in the period thanks to a wandering Mayer, the Sea Dogs took a three-goal edge into the third.
The final frame saw Saint John tighten up on defence trying to keep the Screaming Eagles at bay to preserve the lead.
The strategy worked thanks to 17 saves from Mayer in the final period as the Sea Dogs picked up their franchise record 21st win of the season and set another mark for points in a season with 45.
As for the injury situation, Beaulieu said there's a 90 per cent chance Picard will be ready for Friday's game with Halifax while Gallant and Anthony should be ready to go. Sparling's shoulder injury will keep him out until at least after the break.
The Sea Dogs record currently sits at 21-9-1-2.
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Post by dogbert on Dec 10, 2007 9:12:42 GMT -4
The Foggies have to take one from the Eagles in CB that same night. Still, I hope the paper puts this in headlines all week. The rink should be full for this one, but it probably won't be..
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Post by springer on Dec 10, 2007 10:59:09 GMT -4
First the negative and it had to be the attendance for me this weekend. Battling for first place with one of the top teams and we cannot break 3000.I am sure there are a lot of reasons why but it was still disappointing. If people don't want to watch this team then what are the owners to do. Had to get that off my chest.
Great win by the boys after looking real tired on Saturday. What the hell are we going to do with Thomas? In my opinion he is too good to be stuck on the fourth line and since he has started getting extra playing time he is certainly showing his worth. However when injuries get back he will end up playing on the fourth line and getting his 4 shifts per game. Is he destined for the third line on another team at Christmas? He is 17 and arguably the hardest hitter in the league plus he has the skills to go with it. Hate to see us lose this 17 year old as he looks like a good one in the future.
Howes has been magic and is really coming into his own. Again he brings the physical with the skill. With him and Thomas and one other physical player we could getting the checking scoring line that people talked about early that we need for a run down the stretch. Don't know if it will happen or not but Howes is certainly turning some heads.
Mayer had another solid game and really shut the door in the third. Give him another year to mature and gain consistency and watch out. I am guessing the Fullerton gets all the starts when he is away.
All I can say is that this is fun to watch and if they are not looking at this as a go for it year I will be really surprised. Hard to get a better start than this and what do we need that would push us over the top?
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Post by canucklehead on Dec 10, 2007 11:32:14 GMT -4
First the negative and it had to be the attendance for me this weekend. Battling for first place with one of the top teams and we cannot break 3000.I am sure there are a lot of reasons why but it was still disappointing. If people don't want to watch this team then what are the owners to do. Had to get that off my chest. Great win by the boys after looking real tired on Saturday. What the hell are we going to do with Thomas? In my opinion he is too good to be stuck on the fourth line and since he has started getting extra playing time he is certainly showing his worth. However when injuries get back he will end up playing on the fourth line and getting his 4 shifts per game. Is he destined for the third line on another team at Christmas? He is 17 and arguably the hardest hitter in the league plus he has the skills to go with it. Hate to see us lose this 17 year old as he looks like a good one in the future. Howes has been magic and is really coming into his own. Again he brings the physical with the skill. With him and Thomas and one other physical player we could getting the checking scoring line that people talked about early that we need for a run down the stretch. Don't know if it will happen or not but Howes is certainly turning some heads. Mayer had another solid game and really shut the door in the third. Give him another year to mature and gain consistency and watch out. I am guessing the Fullerton gets all the starts when he is away. All I can say is that this is fun to watch and if they are not looking at this as a go for it year I will be really surprised. Hard to get a better start than this and what do we need that would push us over the top? I know the attendance was alittle on the low side this weekend but there are a ton of reasons Christmas & the ton of parties that were this weekend I really think the attendance will be fine after Christmas. Money right now is a real issue for alot of fans that maybe just can't afford to take the family out to a game right now but I really think you'll see much better crowds after Christmas. |
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Post by dogcatcher on Dec 10, 2007 13:32:01 GMT -4
I have no idea how people can say that the crowd will get better after the Christmas break? It should have been the month of December when the crowd spiked. Counting the game this weekend, we have 3 games left in December, 7 in January, 4 in February, & 2 in March.
As for the excuse that people had parties...I can agree with Saturday night somewhat...but what about on Sunday?? We are very close to being in first place...what does the team have to do to get the people to the games???
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Post by canucklehead on Dec 10, 2007 14:29:07 GMT -4
I know several people I've talked to just can't afford to go to games right now unfortunately Christmas sucks up alot of peoples money. You take 2 kids and 2 adults to a game even on Sunday you get the deal for $32 plus ya gotta get there and park and feed the little buggers that's $50 by the time it's all said and done and not everyone has $50 to take their family to a hockey game right now.
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Post by reddogbluedog on Dec 10, 2007 22:51:30 GMT -4
Well there is more money in Saint John than there was 10 years ago and the Flames always drew bigger crowds. This si great hockey we are watching and the people still are not coming out. I am with the dog catcher where the hell is everybody?
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Post by chillywack on Dec 10, 2007 22:57:18 GMT -4
Well there is more money in Saint John than there was 10 years ago and the Flames always drew bigger crowds. This si great hockey we are watching and the people still are not coming out. I am with the dog catcher where the hell is everybody? Sitting at home because they are not the SJ Flames. People view the QMJHL as inferior hockey than the AHL, while I believe, it's if not, or more exciting then the AHL. |
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Post by major on Dec 10, 2007 23:17:23 GMT -4
Well there is more money in Saint John than there was 10 years ago and the Flames always drew bigger crowds. This si great hockey we are watching and the people still are not coming out. I am with the dog catcher where the hell is everybody? Sitting at home because they are not the SJ Flames. People view the QMJHL as inferior hockey than the AHL, while I believe, it's if not, or more exciting then the AHL. Totally agree with you on this one. |
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Post by canucklehead on Dec 10, 2007 23:19:37 GMT -4
Money is an issue for alot of people I know alot of people that would love to get out to more games but they just can't afford it right now sad but true!  |
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Post by habh8er on Dec 10, 2007 23:23:35 GMT -4
I still don't see the attendance as being a dire situation...as has been said by a few of us "things will pick up after Christmas"
Did you know....
of the top 20 attended games last year, 12 were after Christmas.
after Christmas last year there were 15 home games.
of the bottom 20 attended games last year, 15 were before Christmas.
things will be fine, and we will have more total attendance this year than last.....I am willing to make a beer bet on this one!!
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Post by berner on Dec 10, 2007 23:38:20 GMT -4
I have no idea how people can say that the crowd will get better after the Christmas break? It should have been the month of December when the crowd spiked. Counting the game this weekend, we have 3 games left in December, 7 in January, 4 in February, & 2 in March. As for the excuse that people had parties...I can agree with Saturday night somewhat...but what about on Sunday?? We are very close to being in first place...what does the team have to do to get the people to the games??? Not that complicated - you can agree with Saturday night somewhat? Come on, if people have a Christmas work party they'd be attending that over a Seadogs game. As for Sunday, many of those at work parties find the next day they are pretty tired from a night of fun, and/or a little poorer depending on how long the night lasted. Also people get busy with other things and need to find some time on the weekends to get that Christmas shopping done. And as Canucklehead has posted about 5 times it's expensive this time of year because of Christmas. LOTS of reasons why attendance was down and will likely improve after Christmas - it's very simple to see. |
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Post by canucklehead on Dec 10, 2007 23:46:09 GMT -4
Only 3 times come on Berner keep better track of my shit will ya  |
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