Post by dogcatcher on Sept 29, 2007 15:06:58 GMT -4
Wildcats, Sea Dogs rivalry heats up
Largest cities and high profile business families make it a natural
By NEIL HODGE
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Saturday September 29th, 2007
Appeared on page C1
SAINT JOHN - Saint John Sea Dogs president Wayne Long is certain of one thing.
``Moncton is by far our biggest rivalry,'' he said as his club prepares to host the Moncton Wildcats in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action tonight at 7 p.m. at Harbour Station.
``I mean there were some games in our building last season when the Moncton fans may have been a little louder than our fans and that's certainly not going to happen again. It's a natural rivalry -- Moncton, Saint John, Robert Irving, Scott McCain.''
Irving owns Moncton, McCain is majority owner of Saint John and they come from the two most high profile business families in New Brunswick history. Moncton has won 13 of 16 lifetime games between these clubs in the regular season.
``We obviously have a lot of respect for the Moncton organization,'' said Long. ``Robert Irving and everybody down has done just a fantastic job building that franchise up and we look to be what they are some day.
``We feel that we haven't got a lot of respect from Moncton and we think it's time that they notice we're in the league. They've taken us for granted the past two seasons.''
Moncton won seven of eight games against Saint John in 2005-06. The Wildcats followed that up by winning six of eight meetings between these clubs last season.
``There's no question we've taken some of our worst beatings at the hands of Moncton,'' said Long. ``We came into the league as an expansion franchise in 2005-06 and we had to play eight games against Moncton which was hosting the Memorial Cup. They were No. 1 in the Canadian Hockey League rankings that season.
``That was a very difficult situation for us. We've taken our lumps, we're a better organization for it and now we're prepared to stand on our own two feet.''
Saint John, 3-2-0-0, is on a two-game winning streak. The Sea Dogs finished at or near the bottom of the league the past two seasons, but they're much improved this campaign.
Moncton is leading Saint John both in the standings and in attendance early in the season. The Wildcats are averaging 4,197 fans after four home games. The Sea Dogs are averaging 3,606 fans after three home outings.
Long figures there's usually 200 to 400 Moncton fans who make the trip to watch the Wildcats when they play in Saint John.
``I think the highway is pretty busy between us and Moncton on game night,'' he said. ``It's a great healthy rivalry. I think there's going to be more traffic on the highway on game night as the rivalry gets enhanced.
``I think the rivalry will really start this season. I mean we feel we're going to be very competitive. We hope to be in the thick of things. Let the fun begin. The real rivalry starts now that we know we've got a chance to win every night.''
The hockey rivalry between Moncton and Saint John is an extension of the business rivalry between the two cities.
``No question, there's a natural rivalry there whether it's jobs or job creation or which city is on the move,'' said Long. ``You know what, Saint John has got a lot of good things going for it now. It's going to go through some major growth over the next five years with all the energy projects.
``I think the pride of this community is really growing and as the city grows our team will grow. They kind of go hand in hand.''
Moncton passed Saint John and officially took over as New Brunswick's largest city in the 2006 census results, which were released earlier this year.
``We notice that stuff and Saint John has immense pride,'' said Long.
``We feel we've taken a backseat to a lot of the region for quite awhile and now it's our turn.''
Largest cities and high profile business families make it a natural
By NEIL HODGE
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Saturday September 29th, 2007
Appeared on page C1
SAINT JOHN - Saint John Sea Dogs president Wayne Long is certain of one thing.
``Moncton is by far our biggest rivalry,'' he said as his club prepares to host the Moncton Wildcats in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action tonight at 7 p.m. at Harbour Station.
``I mean there were some games in our building last season when the Moncton fans may have been a little louder than our fans and that's certainly not going to happen again. It's a natural rivalry -- Moncton, Saint John, Robert Irving, Scott McCain.''
Irving owns Moncton, McCain is majority owner of Saint John and they come from the two most high profile business families in New Brunswick history. Moncton has won 13 of 16 lifetime games between these clubs in the regular season.
``We obviously have a lot of respect for the Moncton organization,'' said Long. ``Robert Irving and everybody down has done just a fantastic job building that franchise up and we look to be what they are some day.
``We feel that we haven't got a lot of respect from Moncton and we think it's time that they notice we're in the league. They've taken us for granted the past two seasons.''
Moncton won seven of eight games against Saint John in 2005-06. The Wildcats followed that up by winning six of eight meetings between these clubs last season.
``There's no question we've taken some of our worst beatings at the hands of Moncton,'' said Long. ``We came into the league as an expansion franchise in 2005-06 and we had to play eight games against Moncton which was hosting the Memorial Cup. They were No. 1 in the Canadian Hockey League rankings that season.
``That was a very difficult situation for us. We've taken our lumps, we're a better organization for it and now we're prepared to stand on our own two feet.''
Saint John, 3-2-0-0, is on a two-game winning streak. The Sea Dogs finished at or near the bottom of the league the past two seasons, but they're much improved this campaign.
Moncton is leading Saint John both in the standings and in attendance early in the season. The Wildcats are averaging 4,197 fans after four home games. The Sea Dogs are averaging 3,606 fans after three home outings.
Long figures there's usually 200 to 400 Moncton fans who make the trip to watch the Wildcats when they play in Saint John.
``I think the highway is pretty busy between us and Moncton on game night,'' he said. ``It's a great healthy rivalry. I think there's going to be more traffic on the highway on game night as the rivalry gets enhanced.
``I think the rivalry will really start this season. I mean we feel we're going to be very competitive. We hope to be in the thick of things. Let the fun begin. The real rivalry starts now that we know we've got a chance to win every night.''
The hockey rivalry between Moncton and Saint John is an extension of the business rivalry between the two cities.
``No question, there's a natural rivalry there whether it's jobs or job creation or which city is on the move,'' said Long. ``You know what, Saint John has got a lot of good things going for it now. It's going to go through some major growth over the next five years with all the energy projects.
``I think the pride of this community is really growing and as the city grows our team will grow. They kind of go hand in hand.''
Moncton passed Saint John and officially took over as New Brunswick's largest city in the 2006 census results, which were released earlier this year.
``We notice that stuff and Saint John has immense pride,'' said Long.
``We feel we've taken a backseat to a lot of the region for quite awhile and now it's our turn.''
