Post by dogcatcher on Nov 22, 2007 8:05:27 GMT -4
EXTRA ACTION, ADDED PRESSURE
Shootout Fans love it, the coach hates it and the goaltender is warming to it. Like it or not Sea Dogs should get used to it
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Thursday November 22nd, 2007
Appeared on page B7
SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs pulled off a rare feat last week in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action.
For the first time in a while, the team did not need a shootout to decide a game.
Heading into Friday's QMJHL action, the Sea Dogs are tied with the Gatineau Olympiques for the most games decided by the breakaway contest.
Saint John is 3-2 this season in the shootout with seven goals for and seven against. The skills contest has resulted in three extra points in the standings, but if head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu had his way, the team wouldn't play another.
The Saint John bench boss is what you'd call a hockey purist.
"A hockey game shouldn't be determined by a shootout," he said. "I think games should end up in a tie and move on from there."
He describes heading into the final portion of a game as an awful feeling, especially if it goes beyond three shooters.
"When you get down to 12 shooters, some kids haven't played a whole lot in the game and they have the chance to win or lose the game," Beaulieu said. "It's a tough position to be in."
His players have a different take on the breakaway duel.
Rookie forward Steven Anthony said he's confident the Sea Dogs will pull out the extra point in the shootout.
"I like it and I like our teams chances in it," the first-year player said. "Our goalies are great in the shootout and we've got a lot of guys who can bury the puck."
As a fan of the game, he said the shootout adds excitement.
"It keeps you on the edge of your seat."
While skaters love breakaways, the shootout is another story for goaltenders. Sea Dogs backstop Travis Fullerton said the extra, extra frame is growing on him.
"I didn't like it much when it first came out because I wasn't very good at it," the 20-year-old said.
He's taken extra time to improve on the breakaway and, along with fellow goalie Robert Mayer, works with goaltending coach Jim Fleming on different variations of breakaways in practice.
"I'm getting better at it this year," Fullerton said. "It's like anything else, the more you work at it, the better you get and start to enjoy it."
The Riverview product has had no shortage of practice this season as he's been between the pipes for all five of the Sea Dogs' shootouts. The most memorable was a 24-shooter duel with Lewiston Maineiacs goalie Jonathan Bernier on Oct. 30.
Fullerton stopped nine of 12 shooters while Bernier stopped 10 of 12 for a 2-1 Maineiacs win.
"I knew it was going to be long," he said. "You just try and take it one shooter at a time, but it's not easy when you face 12 guys."
Since the shootout is not going away, Beaulieu said the team will incorporate it more in practice and film sessions.
"We need to practice more of it because we don't do it enough," the head coach said. "I'm starting to clip (National Hockey League) shootouts now to show moves and tendencies of players. Basically to show the guys how the pros do it."
PAINTING: The Sea Dogs will hold a raffle at Friday's game versus the Baie-Comeau Drakkar for a signed print of Holiday Ice, a painting by artist Shirley Deaville. The painting, which can be viewed on the Sea Dogs website, is signed by the artist, members of the Sea Dogs and former NHL player Danny Grant.
Fans interested in purchasing a copy of the painting can do so by clicking on the link on the team's homepage. Proceeds from the sale of the Holiday Ice prints will help support the Canadian Lung Association.
Shootout Fans love it, the coach hates it and the goaltender is warming to it. Like it or not Sea Dogs should get used to it
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Thursday November 22nd, 2007
Appeared on page B7
SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs pulled off a rare feat last week in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action.
For the first time in a while, the team did not need a shootout to decide a game.
Heading into Friday's QMJHL action, the Sea Dogs are tied with the Gatineau Olympiques for the most games decided by the breakaway contest.
Saint John is 3-2 this season in the shootout with seven goals for and seven against. The skills contest has resulted in three extra points in the standings, but if head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu had his way, the team wouldn't play another.
The Saint John bench boss is what you'd call a hockey purist.
"A hockey game shouldn't be determined by a shootout," he said. "I think games should end up in a tie and move on from there."
He describes heading into the final portion of a game as an awful feeling, especially if it goes beyond three shooters.
"When you get down to 12 shooters, some kids haven't played a whole lot in the game and they have the chance to win or lose the game," Beaulieu said. "It's a tough position to be in."
His players have a different take on the breakaway duel.
Rookie forward Steven Anthony said he's confident the Sea Dogs will pull out the extra point in the shootout.
"I like it and I like our teams chances in it," the first-year player said. "Our goalies are great in the shootout and we've got a lot of guys who can bury the puck."
As a fan of the game, he said the shootout adds excitement.
"It keeps you on the edge of your seat."
While skaters love breakaways, the shootout is another story for goaltenders. Sea Dogs backstop Travis Fullerton said the extra, extra frame is growing on him.
"I didn't like it much when it first came out because I wasn't very good at it," the 20-year-old said.
He's taken extra time to improve on the breakaway and, along with fellow goalie Robert Mayer, works with goaltending coach Jim Fleming on different variations of breakaways in practice.
"I'm getting better at it this year," Fullerton said. "It's like anything else, the more you work at it, the better you get and start to enjoy it."
The Riverview product has had no shortage of practice this season as he's been between the pipes for all five of the Sea Dogs' shootouts. The most memorable was a 24-shooter duel with Lewiston Maineiacs goalie Jonathan Bernier on Oct. 30.
Fullerton stopped nine of 12 shooters while Bernier stopped 10 of 12 for a 2-1 Maineiacs win.
"I knew it was going to be long," he said. "You just try and take it one shooter at a time, but it's not easy when you face 12 guys."
Since the shootout is not going away, Beaulieu said the team will incorporate it more in practice and film sessions.
"We need to practice more of it because we don't do it enough," the head coach said. "I'm starting to clip (National Hockey League) shootouts now to show moves and tendencies of players. Basically to show the guys how the pros do it."
PAINTING: The Sea Dogs will hold a raffle at Friday's game versus the Baie-Comeau Drakkar for a signed print of Holiday Ice, a painting by artist Shirley Deaville. The painting, which can be viewed on the Sea Dogs website, is signed by the artist, members of the Sea Dogs and former NHL player Danny Grant.
Fans interested in purchasing a copy of the painting can do so by clicking on the link on the team's homepage. Proceeds from the sale of the Holiday Ice prints will help support the Canadian Lung Association.