Post by dogcatcher on Nov 21, 2007 8:48:02 GMT -4
Scouts take note of sea dogs forward
QMJHL Stoddard joins Sauve, Amyot and Mayer on NHL draft radar
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Wednesday November 21st, 2007
Appeared on page B12
SAINT JOHN - When the National Hockey League's Central Scouting released it's ranking of Canadian Hockey League players for the 2008 NHL draft, the Saint John Sea Dogs were well represented.
The team had four players listed amongst the top 25 skaters and seven goaltenders in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. While many expected to see the names of defenceman Yann Sauve at No. 2, Pascal Amyot at No. 7 and backstop Robert Mayer with the goalies, it was the 24th-ranked player that turned some heads.
Sea Dogs forward Matthew Stoddard took the spot. Saint John head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu said he's happy to see so many players ranked.
"Whenever you can have one guy listed you're proud and it's good for the organization," he said. "The kids are growing up with the program right now and developing. We've potentially got four maybe even five guys that could be drafted into the National Hockey League."
As for the 24th-ranked QMJHL player, the bench boss said he was happy to see him get recognized.
"It was a bit of a surprise, but as of late he's played some pretty good hockey alongside (Chris Di Domenico) and (Ryan Sparling)," he said. "His defensive play is very good, he could be a late pick in the NHL."
Saint John acquired Stoddard during the Christmas trading period last season from the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. Going the other way in the deal was forward Jonathan Laberge.
"We had done some scouting before we made the trade," Beaulieu said. "We felt we were getting a good third maybe second line centre in our program for the following three years."
The 17-year-old appeared in 23 games last season for Saint John and had one goal and four assists. Everything was going according to plan this season with Stoddard skating on the third and fourth line as well as killing penalties. However, his role changed Nov. 3, the day after the Sea Dogs lost the first game of back-to-back contests in St. John's against the Fog Devils. Beaulieu promoted Stoddard to the top line alongside Di Domenico and Sparling.
"He was just doing everything we were asking him to do," Beaulieu said. "He was penalty killing properly and we decided to give him a carrot and let him see what he could do out there."
The trio responded helping the Sea Dogs earn a 5-2 win and combined for nine points. Stoddard had a goal and an assist in his top-line debut.
Since then, the Porter's Lake, Nova Scotia product has been a fixture on the line and has eight points in 24 contests on the year. Stoddard said the move to the top line took some adjusting.
"It's different than playing with (Brett) Gallant and (Mike) Thomas where it's more of a crash and bang style," he said. "With (Di Domenico) and (Sparling) we carry the puck and it's a little more offensive, which is a little more my style."
As for his name being listed by Central Scouting, he said it's nice but he's not thinking about it too much.
"It was kind of a surprise, but I don't worry about it much because it's not a (NHL) team ranking you," he said. "It's good for the confidence and makes you feel a bit better, I guess."
What does excite him is being part of young Sea Dogs team with room to grow.
"It's nice to have more than one guy ranked because you know you'll be together a while and grow together as a team."
CHALLENGE: Heading into tonight's Canada/Russia Challenge game, Saint John forward Chris Di Domenico has one point. The Sea Dogs leading scorer picked up an assist on a second period power-play goal in Monday's 6-4 loss to Russia. Saint John could have four players in the lineup tonight as rookie defenceman Simon Despres is expected to play. Blue-liners Alex Grant and Yann Sauve, along with Di Domenico, played in Game 1 of the two-game series Monday.
QMJHL Stoddard joins Sauve, Amyot and Mayer on NHL draft radar
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Wednesday November 21st, 2007
Appeared on page B12
SAINT JOHN - When the National Hockey League's Central Scouting released it's ranking of Canadian Hockey League players for the 2008 NHL draft, the Saint John Sea Dogs were well represented.
The team had four players listed amongst the top 25 skaters and seven goaltenders in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. While many expected to see the names of defenceman Yann Sauve at No. 2, Pascal Amyot at No. 7 and backstop Robert Mayer with the goalies, it was the 24th-ranked player that turned some heads.
Sea Dogs forward Matthew Stoddard took the spot. Saint John head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu said he's happy to see so many players ranked.
"Whenever you can have one guy listed you're proud and it's good for the organization," he said. "The kids are growing up with the program right now and developing. We've potentially got four maybe even five guys that could be drafted into the National Hockey League."
As for the 24th-ranked QMJHL player, the bench boss said he was happy to see him get recognized.
"It was a bit of a surprise, but as of late he's played some pretty good hockey alongside (Chris Di Domenico) and (Ryan Sparling)," he said. "His defensive play is very good, he could be a late pick in the NHL."
Saint John acquired Stoddard during the Christmas trading period last season from the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. Going the other way in the deal was forward Jonathan Laberge.
"We had done some scouting before we made the trade," Beaulieu said. "We felt we were getting a good third maybe second line centre in our program for the following three years."
The 17-year-old appeared in 23 games last season for Saint John and had one goal and four assists. Everything was going according to plan this season with Stoddard skating on the third and fourth line as well as killing penalties. However, his role changed Nov. 3, the day after the Sea Dogs lost the first game of back-to-back contests in St. John's against the Fog Devils. Beaulieu promoted Stoddard to the top line alongside Di Domenico and Sparling.
"He was just doing everything we were asking him to do," Beaulieu said. "He was penalty killing properly and we decided to give him a carrot and let him see what he could do out there."
The trio responded helping the Sea Dogs earn a 5-2 win and combined for nine points. Stoddard had a goal and an assist in his top-line debut.
Since then, the Porter's Lake, Nova Scotia product has been a fixture on the line and has eight points in 24 contests on the year. Stoddard said the move to the top line took some adjusting.
"It's different than playing with (Brett) Gallant and (Mike) Thomas where it's more of a crash and bang style," he said. "With (Di Domenico) and (Sparling) we carry the puck and it's a little more offensive, which is a little more my style."
As for his name being listed by Central Scouting, he said it's nice but he's not thinking about it too much.
"It was kind of a surprise, but I don't worry about it much because it's not a (NHL) team ranking you," he said. "It's good for the confidence and makes you feel a bit better, I guess."
What does excite him is being part of young Sea Dogs team with room to grow.
"It's nice to have more than one guy ranked because you know you'll be together a while and grow together as a team."
CHALLENGE: Heading into tonight's Canada/Russia Challenge game, Saint John forward Chris Di Domenico has one point. The Sea Dogs leading scorer picked up an assist on a second period power-play goal in Monday's 6-4 loss to Russia. Saint John could have four players in the lineup tonight as rookie defenceman Simon Despres is expected to play. Blue-liners Alex Grant and Yann Sauve, along with Di Domenico, played in Game 1 of the two-game series Monday.