Post by dogcatcher on Sept 21, 2007 6:14:41 GMT -4
Lights, camera, action!
QMJHL Team captain Alex Grant has matured from a raw rookie to a seasoned veteran since being chosen first overall in the 2005 draft. Tonight, will lead the Saint John Sea Dogs onto the ice for the home opener of Season No. 3 at 7:30 p.m. against the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Friday September 21st, 2007
Appeared on page B14
SAINT JOHN - The most important thing Saint John Sea Dogs captain Alex Grant did over the summer wasn't what you might expect.
It wasn't hitting the weights to keep in shape, attending his first National Hockey League training camp or skating at his agent's hockey school.
No, the most important thing Grant did was sit down in front of a computer and tell the Sea Dogs what it has meant to be part of the organization.
The e-mail he wrote expressed his thanks for all the team has done on and off the ice for him over the past two years. Everything was covered, from giving him plenty of ice time to develop as a player to treating him well outside the rink.
"I'm grateful for what they've done for me and I thought I should let them know," Grant said.
The message was received loud and clear by both head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu and team president Wayne Long.
"When we got that letter it showed us he was becoming a man and starting to appreciate the things around him that are making him better," Long said.
"It validated what we're doing as an organization and it showed us we're having an impact on these young guys' lives; and that makes it worthwhile."
Grant has come a long way from the 16-year-old Antigonish, N.S., product drafted first overall in the 2005 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League entry draft. However, the road to becoming one of the top defenceman in the league and captain of the team has had its share of ups and downs.
Take for instance the QMJHL draft. Grant was the third straight Nova Scotian taken with the first pick after James Sheppard and Sidney Crosby. Grant described the moment he heard his name called as "unbelievable.'' But all the elation was eventually overshadowed by the Quebec Remparts selecting Angelo Esposito with the 11th selection. Esposito was the consensus top player, but had said he was foregoing the QMJHL in favour of the American college route.
"From day one there was a lot of pressure on (Grant) from all the Esposito talk and the pressure of being the first pick on a bad expansion hockey team with a weak defence," Long said.
"I don't think anyone really appreciated how hard that was on him."
His first season was filled with the disappointment of being on a losing team and suffering through injuries. Grant missed significant time with a broken wrist and a nagging back problem, while the Sea Dogs managed just 15 wins in their inaugural season.
"It's always tough when you lose, especially when it's night after night after night," Grant said. "It takes a lot of confidence away from everybody, but we got through it as an organization."
Grant spent part of the off-season doing something most Canadian boys dream of - wearing the maple leaf as part of Team Canada at the under-18 Junior World Cup in the Czech Republic. He experienced something he hadn't found a lot in his first QMJHL campaign - winning - as Canada won gold in the event.
Grant said the experience was amazing and still has a hard time putting it into words.
"To be one of the 22 guys on the team was awesome and hopefully there (will) be more opportunities in the future," the third-year blue-liner said.
Saint John's second season brought change in the form of new head coach Beaulieu. The bench boss said he noticed a few things immediately about Grant.
"I thought he was full of raw talent, but didn't have much structure to his game," Beaulieu said. "I thought he was risky and really had no game plan."
Grant said he was too focused on offence during the first half of the season and things came to a head between him and Beaulieu on Oct. 22 when he was benched.
"I benched him because he really wasn't buying in (to the system)," Beaulieu said. "I think Alex was trying to do too much and trying to bring his stock up in the (NHL) draft by carrying the puck too long."
Grant said he had never been benched before and took it hard. He was quoted at the time as saying it "ticked me off" and that "I didn't feel I should have been benched."
He had a meeting with the coaching staff about the situation and showed one of his best traits in the very next game - resiliency. Grant scored a power-play marker and added a shootout tally in the Sea Dogs' 6-5 win over the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies four days after the benching.
What was a negative at the time turned out to be one of the best things that's happened to his career. Looking back, Grant said the benching was necessary and focused his game.
"(Beaulieu) has turned me into a more complete player for sure," he said. "Now I feel more confident in my own end and more stable, just a better player for a team to have."
Beaulieu described Grant's game in the second half of the season as structured and safe.
"He ended up scoring 12 goals by the end of the year and we were very happy with his progress," Beaulieu said.
The improvement in his play also helped him develop into a leader. While he wasn't named the captain until the late stages of this year's training camp, many felt the torch was passed to him by former captain David MacDonald after the final home game of the 2006-07 season. After some kind words to the crowd, MacDonald passed the microphone to Grant, who promised the Harbour Station faithful better times were ahead.
"Last year I didn't have an 'A', so it shows the change that went on since Christmas," he said. "This year I got the 'C' and I think it all started with (being benched)."
Heading into this season, Grant continued his tradition of having positives in the off-season. He was selected in the fourth round (118th overall) by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Grant said he hadn't spoken with the team prior to the draft and had no idea they were interested.
"I saw my name with Pittsburgh beside it and I was pretty thrilled. I don't think there's a better organization I could have gone to," he said. "They've got some young exciting players and hopefully I can be a part of that."
Beaulieu said he sees a lot of potential for Grant to turn pro.
"The light is getting brighter at the end of the tunnel for him to become a pro player," he said. "Personally, myself, I would sign him because I think there's a lot of upside to his game and he's only going to get better."
No matter what happens for Grant in the future, he'll always hold a special place in the Sea Dogs' organization.
"We still consider him our baby for lack of a better term," Long said. "He's the first guy and we're proud of him. He's a little extra special to the organization and we've always had the hope he would step to the forefront."
"He's the face of our franchise and we couldn't feel better about it."
QMJHL Team captain Alex Grant has matured from a raw rookie to a seasoned veteran since being chosen first overall in the 2005 draft. Tonight, will lead the Saint John Sea Dogs onto the ice for the home opener of Season No. 3 at 7:30 p.m. against the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Friday September 21st, 2007
Appeared on page B14
SAINT JOHN - The most important thing Saint John Sea Dogs captain Alex Grant did over the summer wasn't what you might expect.
It wasn't hitting the weights to keep in shape, attending his first National Hockey League training camp or skating at his agent's hockey school.
No, the most important thing Grant did was sit down in front of a computer and tell the Sea Dogs what it has meant to be part of the organization.
The e-mail he wrote expressed his thanks for all the team has done on and off the ice for him over the past two years. Everything was covered, from giving him plenty of ice time to develop as a player to treating him well outside the rink.
"I'm grateful for what they've done for me and I thought I should let them know," Grant said.
The message was received loud and clear by both head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu and team president Wayne Long.
"When we got that letter it showed us he was becoming a man and starting to appreciate the things around him that are making him better," Long said.
"It validated what we're doing as an organization and it showed us we're having an impact on these young guys' lives; and that makes it worthwhile."
Grant has come a long way from the 16-year-old Antigonish, N.S., product drafted first overall in the 2005 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League entry draft. However, the road to becoming one of the top defenceman in the league and captain of the team has had its share of ups and downs.
Take for instance the QMJHL draft. Grant was the third straight Nova Scotian taken with the first pick after James Sheppard and Sidney Crosby. Grant described the moment he heard his name called as "unbelievable.'' But all the elation was eventually overshadowed by the Quebec Remparts selecting Angelo Esposito with the 11th selection. Esposito was the consensus top player, but had said he was foregoing the QMJHL in favour of the American college route.
"From day one there was a lot of pressure on (Grant) from all the Esposito talk and the pressure of being the first pick on a bad expansion hockey team with a weak defence," Long said.
"I don't think anyone really appreciated how hard that was on him."
His first season was filled with the disappointment of being on a losing team and suffering through injuries. Grant missed significant time with a broken wrist and a nagging back problem, while the Sea Dogs managed just 15 wins in their inaugural season.
"It's always tough when you lose, especially when it's night after night after night," Grant said. "It takes a lot of confidence away from everybody, but we got through it as an organization."
Grant spent part of the off-season doing something most Canadian boys dream of - wearing the maple leaf as part of Team Canada at the under-18 Junior World Cup in the Czech Republic. He experienced something he hadn't found a lot in his first QMJHL campaign - winning - as Canada won gold in the event.
Grant said the experience was amazing and still has a hard time putting it into words.
"To be one of the 22 guys on the team was awesome and hopefully there (will) be more opportunities in the future," the third-year blue-liner said.
Saint John's second season brought change in the form of new head coach Beaulieu. The bench boss said he noticed a few things immediately about Grant.
"I thought he was full of raw talent, but didn't have much structure to his game," Beaulieu said. "I thought he was risky and really had no game plan."
Grant said he was too focused on offence during the first half of the season and things came to a head between him and Beaulieu on Oct. 22 when he was benched.
"I benched him because he really wasn't buying in (to the system)," Beaulieu said. "I think Alex was trying to do too much and trying to bring his stock up in the (NHL) draft by carrying the puck too long."
Grant said he had never been benched before and took it hard. He was quoted at the time as saying it "ticked me off" and that "I didn't feel I should have been benched."
He had a meeting with the coaching staff about the situation and showed one of his best traits in the very next game - resiliency. Grant scored a power-play marker and added a shootout tally in the Sea Dogs' 6-5 win over the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies four days after the benching.
What was a negative at the time turned out to be one of the best things that's happened to his career. Looking back, Grant said the benching was necessary and focused his game.
"(Beaulieu) has turned me into a more complete player for sure," he said. "Now I feel more confident in my own end and more stable, just a better player for a team to have."
Beaulieu described Grant's game in the second half of the season as structured and safe.
"He ended up scoring 12 goals by the end of the year and we were very happy with his progress," Beaulieu said.
The improvement in his play also helped him develop into a leader. While he wasn't named the captain until the late stages of this year's training camp, many felt the torch was passed to him by former captain David MacDonald after the final home game of the 2006-07 season. After some kind words to the crowd, MacDonald passed the microphone to Grant, who promised the Harbour Station faithful better times were ahead.
"Last year I didn't have an 'A', so it shows the change that went on since Christmas," he said. "This year I got the 'C' and I think it all started with (being benched)."
Heading into this season, Grant continued his tradition of having positives in the off-season. He was selected in the fourth round (118th overall) by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Grant said he hadn't spoken with the team prior to the draft and had no idea they were interested.
"I saw my name with Pittsburgh beside it and I was pretty thrilled. I don't think there's a better organization I could have gone to," he said. "They've got some young exciting players and hopefully I can be a part of that."
Beaulieu said he sees a lot of potential for Grant to turn pro.
"The light is getting brighter at the end of the tunnel for him to become a pro player," he said. "Personally, myself, I would sign him because I think there's a lot of upside to his game and he's only going to get better."
No matter what happens for Grant in the future, he'll always hold a special place in the Sea Dogs' organization.
"We still consider him our baby for lack of a better term," Long said. "He's the first guy and we're proud of him. He's a little extra special to the organization and we've always had the hope he would step to the forefront."
"He's the face of our franchise and we couldn't feel better about it."
