Post by dogcatcher on Sept 5, 2007 6:08:18 GMT -4
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
QMJHL Missing four of their top players, Sea Dogs host Lewiston tonight at 7:00 p.m.
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Wednesday September 5th, 2007
Appeared on page B12
SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs will face off against the defending Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champion Lewiston Maineiacs tonight in pre-season action at Harbour Station at 7 p.m. without four of their top players.
Chris Di Domenico, Brett Gallant, David Stich and Alex Grant are attending National Hockey League training camps and won't be in the lineup. Their absence will be tough for the young squad, but does provide opportunity.
Some of the younger players will pick up extra ice time and get a chance to skate in power-play and penalty-killing situations.
"There will definitely be some kids who will be put in positions they haven't been in before," said Saint John head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu. "It's a good audition for some of them."
As for the missing four veterans, Beaulieu said the team has been working hard on its systems in practice, something the veterans are already familiar with.
"It will be nice to see how the younger guys adjust and to see if they execute the systems the way we want them to," he said.
Two guys who will see some extra ice time tonight are defenceman Anthony Pisano and forward Nicholas Pard.
For Pisano, he knows what will get him noticed with the extra time.
"My role is to go out there and throw the body around, be a big physical presence and drop the mitts," Pisano said.
"I'm a bigger guy out there, so I have to take care of business and protect all the little forwards."
Beaulieu said the team feels fortunate to have found an 18-year-old enforcer in Pisano.
"With Anthony, he's pretty tough, but he can also play the game," Beaulieu said.
Pard has already been in a similar situation as tonight's game. Last season he was called up to play in two games during the second half of the season. He described the experience as having a positive impact when he arrived in Saint John for training camp.
"Having seen the speed of the game last year and getting to know some of the guys took a lot of pressure off me this time," Pard said.
Beaulieu describes Pard as a good up and down forward with a knack around the net.
"We're really excited about him and he's had a good camp so far," the bench boss said. "We hope he can adjust to the league and the grind; and play some good hockey for us."
Pard said he's going to take the same approach tonight as he did during his two-game audition last year.
"It's not going to be easy, but any time I get a chance to show what I can do, I'm going to take it," he said.
NEW TICKET OFFER: Individual game tickets for regular season Saint John Sea Dogs games will go on sale Monday as well as a new ticket package.
The Sea Dogs All-Star Mini-Pak is comprised of 10 Saint John home games featuring the P.E.I Rocket, Lewiston Maineiacs, Halifax Mooseheads, St. John's Fog Devils, Acadie-Bathurst Titan, Drummondville Voltigeurs, Victoriaville Tigres and Moncton Wildcats.
The price of the mini-pak starts at $97 for adults and $66 for students. Canadian Automobile Association Members will receive a 10 per cent discount on the package when they present their membership card at the time of purchase.
For more information contact the Sea Dogs' office at 657-DOGS (3647).
HOME GROWN: Michael Ward of Shippagan will be patrolling the Harbour Station blue-line tonight as a member of the Lewiston Maineiacs. The defenceman is a seventh-round draft pick (197th overall) of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2007 NHL entry draft.
SURVIVORS: Michael Cormier, who was part of the Sea Dogs' training camp, is one of two Saint John players still with the Moncton Gagnon Beavers of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League following the latest round of cuts.
Marshall Worden of Saint John is also still on the roster heading into the final week of the pre-season. The Beavers will host the Miramichi Timberwolves on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Tim Horton's 4-Ice Centre.
QMJHL Missing four of their top players, Sea Dogs host Lewiston tonight at 7:00 p.m.
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Wednesday September 5th, 2007
Appeared on page B12
SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs will face off against the defending Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champion Lewiston Maineiacs tonight in pre-season action at Harbour Station at 7 p.m. without four of their top players.
Chris Di Domenico, Brett Gallant, David Stich and Alex Grant are attending National Hockey League training camps and won't be in the lineup. Their absence will be tough for the young squad, but does provide opportunity.
Some of the younger players will pick up extra ice time and get a chance to skate in power-play and penalty-killing situations.
"There will definitely be some kids who will be put in positions they haven't been in before," said Saint John head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu. "It's a good audition for some of them."
As for the missing four veterans, Beaulieu said the team has been working hard on its systems in practice, something the veterans are already familiar with.
"It will be nice to see how the younger guys adjust and to see if they execute the systems the way we want them to," he said.
Two guys who will see some extra ice time tonight are defenceman Anthony Pisano and forward Nicholas Pard.
For Pisano, he knows what will get him noticed with the extra time.
"My role is to go out there and throw the body around, be a big physical presence and drop the mitts," Pisano said.
"I'm a bigger guy out there, so I have to take care of business and protect all the little forwards."
Beaulieu said the team feels fortunate to have found an 18-year-old enforcer in Pisano.
"With Anthony, he's pretty tough, but he can also play the game," Beaulieu said.
Pard has already been in a similar situation as tonight's game. Last season he was called up to play in two games during the second half of the season. He described the experience as having a positive impact when he arrived in Saint John for training camp.
"Having seen the speed of the game last year and getting to know some of the guys took a lot of pressure off me this time," Pard said.
Beaulieu describes Pard as a good up and down forward with a knack around the net.
"We're really excited about him and he's had a good camp so far," the bench boss said. "We hope he can adjust to the league and the grind; and play some good hockey for us."
Pard said he's going to take the same approach tonight as he did during his two-game audition last year.
"It's not going to be easy, but any time I get a chance to show what I can do, I'm going to take it," he said.
NEW TICKET OFFER: Individual game tickets for regular season Saint John Sea Dogs games will go on sale Monday as well as a new ticket package.
The Sea Dogs All-Star Mini-Pak is comprised of 10 Saint John home games featuring the P.E.I Rocket, Lewiston Maineiacs, Halifax Mooseheads, St. John's Fog Devils, Acadie-Bathurst Titan, Drummondville Voltigeurs, Victoriaville Tigres and Moncton Wildcats.
The price of the mini-pak starts at $97 for adults and $66 for students. Canadian Automobile Association Members will receive a 10 per cent discount on the package when they present their membership card at the time of purchase.
For more information contact the Sea Dogs' office at 657-DOGS (3647).
HOME GROWN: Michael Ward of Shippagan will be patrolling the Harbour Station blue-line tonight as a member of the Lewiston Maineiacs. The defenceman is a seventh-round draft pick (197th overall) of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2007 NHL entry draft.
SURVIVORS: Michael Cormier, who was part of the Sea Dogs' training camp, is one of two Saint John players still with the Moncton Gagnon Beavers of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League following the latest round of cuts.
Marshall Worden of Saint John is also still on the roster heading into the final week of the pre-season. The Beavers will host the Miramichi Timberwolves on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Tim Horton's 4-Ice Centre.