Post by dogcatcher on Sept 27, 2007 6:30:15 GMT -4
Sea Dogs primed for rematch
QMJHL Saint John downed P.E.I. 6-3 in their first meeting on Sept. 16
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Thursday September 27th, 2007
Appeared on page B7
SAINT JOHN - Despite being just the fifth game of the season, it's safe to say tonight's Quebec Major Junior Hockey League game between the Saint John Sea Dogs and Prince Edward Island Rocket beginning at 7 p.m. at Harbour Station will be highly anticipated.
That's what happens when teams rack up 101 penalty minutes in their first meeting, a 6-3 road win for the Sea Dogs. In addition to the bad blood fostered in the first meeting, tonight's game features four of the leagues top scorers in Saint John sniper Chris Di Domenico and Rocket forwards Geoff Walker, Brett Morrison and Martin Latal. Add to that the return of Brett Gallant to the Saint John line up after serving a two-game suspension for a high stick against the Rocket. Gallant fought two players at once during the game, something he described as a first.
Shutting down the high-octane P.E.I. trio and staying out of the penalty box will be two keys to victory for the Sea Dogs.
"We have to play our game and not worry about the foolishness," said Saint John head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu.
After the Sept. 16 game in P.E.I., he said several of his players were jumped and accused the Rocket of "goonery."
"We need to play good disciplined hockey," the Saint John bech boss said, but added the Sea Dogs have players who can mix it up if need be.
Forward Mike Thomas, who plays a physical style of game, stressed that the team use their heads during the game.
"You have to have emotion during the game, but it has to be controlled and hopefully good things come from that," the second-year player said.
A more pressing concern for Beaulieu and the Sea Dogs is trying to shut down the Rocket big three in Morrison, Latal and Walker. Saint John did a good job of that in the first meeting with the line only accounting for one goal and frustrating Walker who racked up 14 minutes in penalties.
The Sea Dogs coach will give the task of holding the P.E.I. line in check to his top defensive pairing of Yann Sauve and Alex Grant.
The opportunity is something the Sea Dogs captain relishes.
"I find that type of opportunity exciting," Grant said. "At the end of the night if I shut them down and we win the game, then I feel like I've done my job."
Beaulieu stressed the job won't solely fall on the rear guards, but rather a strong all around effort is key. Things he mentioned specifically were good defensive zone coverage to limit scoring chances, plug the gaps in the neutral zone to limit their speed and face-offs.
"Winning face-offs against that line is key because if we win they don't have the puck," he said.
Saint John is back on home ice Saturday for a 7 p.m. game against its provincial rival the Moncton Wildcats.
QMJHL Saint John downed P.E.I. 6-3 in their first meeting on Sept. 16
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Thursday September 27th, 2007
Appeared on page B7
SAINT JOHN - Despite being just the fifth game of the season, it's safe to say tonight's Quebec Major Junior Hockey League game between the Saint John Sea Dogs and Prince Edward Island Rocket beginning at 7 p.m. at Harbour Station will be highly anticipated.
That's what happens when teams rack up 101 penalty minutes in their first meeting, a 6-3 road win for the Sea Dogs. In addition to the bad blood fostered in the first meeting, tonight's game features four of the leagues top scorers in Saint John sniper Chris Di Domenico and Rocket forwards Geoff Walker, Brett Morrison and Martin Latal. Add to that the return of Brett Gallant to the Saint John line up after serving a two-game suspension for a high stick against the Rocket. Gallant fought two players at once during the game, something he described as a first.
Shutting down the high-octane P.E.I. trio and staying out of the penalty box will be two keys to victory for the Sea Dogs.
"We have to play our game and not worry about the foolishness," said Saint John head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu.
After the Sept. 16 game in P.E.I., he said several of his players were jumped and accused the Rocket of "goonery."
"We need to play good disciplined hockey," the Saint John bech boss said, but added the Sea Dogs have players who can mix it up if need be.
Forward Mike Thomas, who plays a physical style of game, stressed that the team use their heads during the game.
"You have to have emotion during the game, but it has to be controlled and hopefully good things come from that," the second-year player said.
A more pressing concern for Beaulieu and the Sea Dogs is trying to shut down the Rocket big three in Morrison, Latal and Walker. Saint John did a good job of that in the first meeting with the line only accounting for one goal and frustrating Walker who racked up 14 minutes in penalties.
The Sea Dogs coach will give the task of holding the P.E.I. line in check to his top defensive pairing of Yann Sauve and Alex Grant.
The opportunity is something the Sea Dogs captain relishes.
"I find that type of opportunity exciting," Grant said. "At the end of the night if I shut them down and we win the game, then I feel like I've done my job."
Beaulieu stressed the job won't solely fall on the rear guards, but rather a strong all around effort is key. Things he mentioned specifically were good defensive zone coverage to limit scoring chances, plug the gaps in the neutral zone to limit their speed and face-offs.
"Winning face-offs against that line is key because if we win they don't have the puck," he said.
Saint John is back on home ice Saturday for a 7 p.m. game against its provincial rival the Moncton Wildcats.