Post by dogcatcher on Nov 27, 2007 7:38:33 GMT -4
Don't expect Sea Dogs to mortgage future
PETER MCGUIRE
GAME ON
Published Tuesday November 27th, 2007
Appeared on page B12
Four weeks from today, people will find out if their Christmas wishes have been answered.
The Saint John Sea Dogs aren't going to turn down any gifts but they're not exactly on their knees begging for anything in particular.
During the past two Christmas seasons, their wishes were more like unattainable dreams, like making the playoffs.
That's all changed now, and instead of hoping to just make the playoffs, the Sea Dogs are aiming high.
With the QMJHL trading period on the horizon - Dec. 17 to Jan. 10 - teams are now starting to focus on whether they'll be buyers or sellers.
"There are a lot of things we like about our team," said Sea Dogs' head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu. "I don't think we'll be tweaking our lineup too much this year."
The Sea Dogs are making plenty of noise and through 26 games with 16 wins, seven losses, one overtime loss and two shootout losses. Only one team in the league has fewer losses. The Halifax Mooseheads, ranked second in the country with a record of 20-4-0-4, appear to be cementing a reputation as the team to beat. The expectation is that the Mooseheads will be active during the trade period in hopes of separating themselves from the pack.
Beaulieu is expected to ward off the temptation to try and match the Mooseheads. He's refusing to sacrifice the future for a kick at the can this year.
"Never say never," he said. "If a good deal came about that would help our team, I might pull the trigger but our thinking right now is that second spot in our division is open. We still think we can play with Halifax but they're probably going to make some moves.
"We feel we're a year ahead of schedule with what's been going on this year and we want to continue that," said Beaulieu. "We want to have stability and continue our development."
In other words, the Sea Dogs are looking to 2008-09 as their year.
While winning streaks are nice, most coaches will tell you that the most important aspect of a team's success is performing game in and game out.
"Consistency is huge in junior hockey," said Beaulieu.
The Sea Dogs have been that and then some. Throw in the fact that the special teams have been outstanding - third in the league in penalty killing and sixth on the power play - and you begin to realize how they have quietly registered at least a point in 12 of their 13 home games to date. The only regulation loss came in their season opener against the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.
Most impressive is the fact that they have not lost two games in a row in regulation all year. They've beaten two of the league's top teams in their past two outings - 3-2 in a shootout over No. 9 ranked Baie-Comeau on Friday and 6-4 over the nation's former No. 1 ranked Screaming Eagles on Sunday in Sydney, N.S. Saint John will try to move into sole possesson third place in the Eastern Division tonight with a win over the visiting St. John's Fog Devils at 7 p.m. at Harbour Station. A win would also put them sixth overall in the 18-team loop.
"An old coach once told me that if you can get all of your players to look the same, your message is getting through and you're doing your job. Our guys are doing that. They're all playing well, doing the little things right, like chipping pucks out," said Beaulieu.
PETER MCGUIRE
GAME ON
Published Tuesday November 27th, 2007
Appeared on page B12
Four weeks from today, people will find out if their Christmas wishes have been answered.
The Saint John Sea Dogs aren't going to turn down any gifts but they're not exactly on their knees begging for anything in particular.
During the past two Christmas seasons, their wishes were more like unattainable dreams, like making the playoffs.
That's all changed now, and instead of hoping to just make the playoffs, the Sea Dogs are aiming high.
With the QMJHL trading period on the horizon - Dec. 17 to Jan. 10 - teams are now starting to focus on whether they'll be buyers or sellers.
"There are a lot of things we like about our team," said Sea Dogs' head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu. "I don't think we'll be tweaking our lineup too much this year."
The Sea Dogs are making plenty of noise and through 26 games with 16 wins, seven losses, one overtime loss and two shootout losses. Only one team in the league has fewer losses. The Halifax Mooseheads, ranked second in the country with a record of 20-4-0-4, appear to be cementing a reputation as the team to beat. The expectation is that the Mooseheads will be active during the trade period in hopes of separating themselves from the pack.
Beaulieu is expected to ward off the temptation to try and match the Mooseheads. He's refusing to sacrifice the future for a kick at the can this year.
"Never say never," he said. "If a good deal came about that would help our team, I might pull the trigger but our thinking right now is that second spot in our division is open. We still think we can play with Halifax but they're probably going to make some moves.
"We feel we're a year ahead of schedule with what's been going on this year and we want to continue that," said Beaulieu. "We want to have stability and continue our development."
In other words, the Sea Dogs are looking to 2008-09 as their year.
While winning streaks are nice, most coaches will tell you that the most important aspect of a team's success is performing game in and game out.
"Consistency is huge in junior hockey," said Beaulieu.
The Sea Dogs have been that and then some. Throw in the fact that the special teams have been outstanding - third in the league in penalty killing and sixth on the power play - and you begin to realize how they have quietly registered at least a point in 12 of their 13 home games to date. The only regulation loss came in their season opener against the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.
Most impressive is the fact that they have not lost two games in a row in regulation all year. They've beaten two of the league's top teams in their past two outings - 3-2 in a shootout over No. 9 ranked Baie-Comeau on Friday and 6-4 over the nation's former No. 1 ranked Screaming Eagles on Sunday in Sydney, N.S. Saint John will try to move into sole possesson third place in the Eastern Division tonight with a win over the visiting St. John's Fog Devils at 7 p.m. at Harbour Station. A win would also put them sixth overall in the 18-team loop.
"An old coach once told me that if you can get all of your players to look the same, your message is getting through and you're doing your job. Our guys are doing that. They're all playing well, doing the little things right, like chipping pucks out," said Beaulieu.
