Post by dogcatcher on Nov 17, 2007 9:00:22 GMT -4
Dog skates into Q spotlight
QMJHL: Saint John travels to Baie-Comeau, Que. tonight at 8 p.m
Andrew McGilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Saturday November 17th, 2007
Appeared on page C14
BAIE-COMEAU, Que. - Saint John Sea Dogs forward Alexandre Picard is a movie star - sort of.
The 20-year-old forward and his teammates will step on the ice tonight at 8 p.m. to take on the Baie-Comeau Drakkar in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action.
Picard played three seasons with Baie-Comeau and was a member of the team during the 2005-06 season when a documentary was filmed.
Quebec filmmakers Isabelle Lavigne and Stephane Thibault shot over 160 hours with the Drakkar in making the film Junior which premiered earlier this month at Montreal's documentary film festival.
Picard said it was an unusual experience being part of the project.
"It was a strange feeling having a camera following us everywhere - in the room and on the bus," he said. "It was a great experience and I can't wait to see the final movie."
The film was shot during the best season of his career when he notched 57 goals and added 43 assists for a 100-point campaign.
His scoring punch was the biggest factor in Sea Dogs head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu spending a few months getting a deal done to bring Picard to Saint John.
Sea Dogs fans were salivating at the numbers, but Picard showed only flashes of his scoring prowess during his first few games with Saint John. Part of the reason for his slow start, by his standards, was due to the lack of time on the ice in the pre-season. Awaiting a trade, Picard didn't skate in training camp.
"No camp was something difficult for me," he said. "The first few games, I wasn't at my best and now I'm in full game shape and the results are showing."
The Montreal native is also benefiting from finding some cohesion with linemates Scott Howes and Steven Anthony. The trio has provided a solid one-two offensive punch along with the top line of Ryan Sparling, Chris Di Domenico and Matthew Stoddard.
Picard credits the good mix on his line for the success.
"(Howes) is a good power forward and works hard in the corners," he said. "Anthony is a young guy with a lot of skill."
The trio's best night came against the Quebec Remparts on Wednesday when they combined for eight points. In that contest, Picard set a new Sea Dogs team record with five points in a game. The week prior, Howes tied the record with a four-point effort against the Halifax Mooseheads. The former Drummondville Voltigeur said tying the record was nice, but knew it would fall.
"When I tied (the record), I told Sparling it would be broken on this road trip," Howes said. "I just had a feeling. I don't know what it was."
As for playing his 20-year-old season alongside Picard, Howes said it's been fun so far.
"When you see him with the puck, it's hard not to stop and watch him," he said. "When (Picard) has the puck you get open because he's going to find you."
As for Picard's return to the arena where he made his QMJHL and film debut, he's looking forward to it.
"It's going to be a strange feeling sitting on the opposing bench, but I'll be fine with that," he said.
As for the movie, he's eager to see the results.
"I haven't seen it, but I want to see how I look on the TV screen."
RANKINGS: Four Saint John Sea Dogs players are ranked among the top 25 skaters and seven goaltenders in the QMJHL for the 2008 NHL entry draft in a list released by Central Scouting. Defenceman Yann Sauve is the top Dog in the No. 2 slot behind top ranked Mikhail Stephanovich of the Quebec Remparts. Fellow blue-liner Pascal Amyot sits in the seventh spot while forward Matthew Stoddard is ranked 24th.
As for the goaltenders, Swiss import Robert Mayer is ranked fourth. A couple of New Brunswick players made the list with Moncton's Kelsey Tessier ranked ninth among skaters with Cap-Pele's Patrice Cormier at 13.
QMJHL: Saint John travels to Baie-Comeau, Que. tonight at 8 p.m
Andrew McGilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Saturday November 17th, 2007
Appeared on page C14
BAIE-COMEAU, Que. - Saint John Sea Dogs forward Alexandre Picard is a movie star - sort of.
The 20-year-old forward and his teammates will step on the ice tonight at 8 p.m. to take on the Baie-Comeau Drakkar in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action.
Picard played three seasons with Baie-Comeau and was a member of the team during the 2005-06 season when a documentary was filmed.
Quebec filmmakers Isabelle Lavigne and Stephane Thibault shot over 160 hours with the Drakkar in making the film Junior which premiered earlier this month at Montreal's documentary film festival.
Picard said it was an unusual experience being part of the project.
"It was a strange feeling having a camera following us everywhere - in the room and on the bus," he said. "It was a great experience and I can't wait to see the final movie."
The film was shot during the best season of his career when he notched 57 goals and added 43 assists for a 100-point campaign.
His scoring punch was the biggest factor in Sea Dogs head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu spending a few months getting a deal done to bring Picard to Saint John.
Sea Dogs fans were salivating at the numbers, but Picard showed only flashes of his scoring prowess during his first few games with Saint John. Part of the reason for his slow start, by his standards, was due to the lack of time on the ice in the pre-season. Awaiting a trade, Picard didn't skate in training camp.
"No camp was something difficult for me," he said. "The first few games, I wasn't at my best and now I'm in full game shape and the results are showing."
The Montreal native is also benefiting from finding some cohesion with linemates Scott Howes and Steven Anthony. The trio has provided a solid one-two offensive punch along with the top line of Ryan Sparling, Chris Di Domenico and Matthew Stoddard.
Picard credits the good mix on his line for the success.
"(Howes) is a good power forward and works hard in the corners," he said. "Anthony is a young guy with a lot of skill."
The trio's best night came against the Quebec Remparts on Wednesday when they combined for eight points. In that contest, Picard set a new Sea Dogs team record with five points in a game. The week prior, Howes tied the record with a four-point effort against the Halifax Mooseheads. The former Drummondville Voltigeur said tying the record was nice, but knew it would fall.
"When I tied (the record), I told Sparling it would be broken on this road trip," Howes said. "I just had a feeling. I don't know what it was."
As for playing his 20-year-old season alongside Picard, Howes said it's been fun so far.
"When you see him with the puck, it's hard not to stop and watch him," he said. "When (Picard) has the puck you get open because he's going to find you."
As for Picard's return to the arena where he made his QMJHL and film debut, he's looking forward to it.
"It's going to be a strange feeling sitting on the opposing bench, but I'll be fine with that," he said.
As for the movie, he's eager to see the results.
"I haven't seen it, but I want to see how I look on the TV screen."
RANKINGS: Four Saint John Sea Dogs players are ranked among the top 25 skaters and seven goaltenders in the QMJHL for the 2008 NHL entry draft in a list released by Central Scouting. Defenceman Yann Sauve is the top Dog in the No. 2 slot behind top ranked Mikhail Stephanovich of the Quebec Remparts. Fellow blue-liner Pascal Amyot sits in the seventh spot while forward Matthew Stoddard is ranked 24th.
As for the goaltenders, Swiss import Robert Mayer is ranked fourth. A couple of New Brunswick players made the list with Moncton's Kelsey Tessier ranked ninth among skaters with Cap-Pele's Patrice Cormier at 13.