Post by dogcatcher on Sept 14, 2007 6:09:54 GMT -4
New look, new hope
QMJHL Invigorated franchise opens season with a loss in Lewiston
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Friday September 14th, 2007
Appeared on page B12
SAINT JOHN - Looking over the roster of the 2007-08 Saint John Sea Dogs, Jacques Beaulieu likes what he sees.
He's embarking on his first full season with the dual title of head coach and general manager and the group he's put together is distinctively his.
"I think I put my stamp on (the team) after Christmas last year and made some moves this off-season," Beaulieu said just before Saint John's season opener in Lewiston, Me., Thursday night, a 4-1 setback to the Maineiacs. "So if someone was going to ask me, I'd say 'Yeah I put my stamp on it' and it's me who's making the decisions right now, so I've got to live with it."
In Thursday's contest, Stefano Giliati tallied two goals for Lewiston, including what proved to be the game-winner at 7:12 of the third period. Danick Hudon-Paquette and Marc-Andre Daneau also scored for the Maineiacs. Payton Liske notched the lone goal for the Sea Dogs.
So what exactly does Beaulieu's stamp look like? For starters, it's a team built from the back end with lots of quickness.
"We're happy with our speed and really happy with our (defence) and goaltending," Beaulieu said.
The blue-line will be the backbone of the squad with three first overall selections in the QMJHL entry draft - Alex Grant, Yann Sauve and Simon Despres - as well as Pascal Amyot, David Stich, Jeff McNeil, Anthony Pisano and Scott MacDonald.
Between the pipes, the Sea Dogs have a veteran in Travis Fullerton and two rookies in Swiss import Robert Mayer and Ontario native Troy Passingham. Fullerton has proven he's a quality goaltender in the QMJHL while Mayer is rated as one of the top prospects for the 2008 NHL entry draft.
While Saint John looks like it has a good mix to keep the puck out of the net, it's putting the puck in the net where question marks remain.
"We've just got to find a way to score goals and I think that will be our problem (this season)," Beaulieu said.
The team's two top scorers are back in Chris Di Domenico and Ryan Sparling. After that, the Sea Dogs will look to talented yet unproven players to fill the scoring void. Take for instance the trio of Liske, Keven and Francis Charland. All three were top 15 picks in the QMJHL and Ontario Hockey League entry drafts. Two of them (Francis Charland and Liske) have had injuries keep them on the sidelines while Keven Charland showed flashes of offensive prowess last season with 34 points in 60 games.
Then there's the brand new additions to the team and league in 2007 10th overall pick Steven Anthony and second-round pick Michael Kirkpatrick. Beaulieu has high praise for both, but said it will take time for them to adjust to the rigours of the QMJHL. Sparling echoes his coach's thoughts when it comes to the forwards.
"We're definitely going to be a hard-working, never-say-die team," the Cape Breton native said. "We've got some younger guys up front who are playing well and fitting in, but they've got some work to do.
"Overall we have some pretty crafty and smart players."
As for the team, Sparling said there's no excuses for the Sea Dogs this season.
"I think we've got a lot more confidence in ourselves and it's our third year, so we can't use the expansion team as an excuse any more."
So with his team in place and the season just around the corner, what does Beaulieu expect from the squad?
"We want them to stick to the game plan and execute. I think if we do that we'll surprise some teams and win our fair share of games," he said. "We're going to have our moments as a team, but we're still young."
QMJHL Invigorated franchise opens season with a loss in Lewiston
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Friday September 14th, 2007
Appeared on page B12
SAINT JOHN - Looking over the roster of the 2007-08 Saint John Sea Dogs, Jacques Beaulieu likes what he sees.
He's embarking on his first full season with the dual title of head coach and general manager and the group he's put together is distinctively his.
"I think I put my stamp on (the team) after Christmas last year and made some moves this off-season," Beaulieu said just before Saint John's season opener in Lewiston, Me., Thursday night, a 4-1 setback to the Maineiacs. "So if someone was going to ask me, I'd say 'Yeah I put my stamp on it' and it's me who's making the decisions right now, so I've got to live with it."
In Thursday's contest, Stefano Giliati tallied two goals for Lewiston, including what proved to be the game-winner at 7:12 of the third period. Danick Hudon-Paquette and Marc-Andre Daneau also scored for the Maineiacs. Payton Liske notched the lone goal for the Sea Dogs.
So what exactly does Beaulieu's stamp look like? For starters, it's a team built from the back end with lots of quickness.
"We're happy with our speed and really happy with our (defence) and goaltending," Beaulieu said.
The blue-line will be the backbone of the squad with three first overall selections in the QMJHL entry draft - Alex Grant, Yann Sauve and Simon Despres - as well as Pascal Amyot, David Stich, Jeff McNeil, Anthony Pisano and Scott MacDonald.
Between the pipes, the Sea Dogs have a veteran in Travis Fullerton and two rookies in Swiss import Robert Mayer and Ontario native Troy Passingham. Fullerton has proven he's a quality goaltender in the QMJHL while Mayer is rated as one of the top prospects for the 2008 NHL entry draft.
While Saint John looks like it has a good mix to keep the puck out of the net, it's putting the puck in the net where question marks remain.
"We've just got to find a way to score goals and I think that will be our problem (this season)," Beaulieu said.
The team's two top scorers are back in Chris Di Domenico and Ryan Sparling. After that, the Sea Dogs will look to talented yet unproven players to fill the scoring void. Take for instance the trio of Liske, Keven and Francis Charland. All three were top 15 picks in the QMJHL and Ontario Hockey League entry drafts. Two of them (Francis Charland and Liske) have had injuries keep them on the sidelines while Keven Charland showed flashes of offensive prowess last season with 34 points in 60 games.
Then there's the brand new additions to the team and league in 2007 10th overall pick Steven Anthony and second-round pick Michael Kirkpatrick. Beaulieu has high praise for both, but said it will take time for them to adjust to the rigours of the QMJHL. Sparling echoes his coach's thoughts when it comes to the forwards.
"We're definitely going to be a hard-working, never-say-die team," the Cape Breton native said. "We've got some younger guys up front who are playing well and fitting in, but they've got some work to do.
"Overall we have some pretty crafty and smart players."
As for the team, Sparling said there's no excuses for the Sea Dogs this season.
"I think we've got a lot more confidence in ourselves and it's our third year, so we can't use the expansion team as an excuse any more."
So with his team in place and the season just around the corner, what does Beaulieu expect from the squad?
"We want them to stick to the game plan and execute. I think if we do that we'll surprise some teams and win our fair share of games," he said. "We're going to have our moments as a team, but we're still young."