Post by Hockey4Life on Aug 23, 2007 11:42:06 GMT -4
Turning heads
QMJHL Twenty-year-old American has been one of the most impressive players in Sea Dogs' camp so far
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Thursday August 23rd, 2007
Appeared on page B14
SAINT JOHN - It's not hard to spot Tony Resendes during scrimmages at the Saint John Sea Dogs training camp.
And it's not because he's the only one wearing a red helmet.
More often than not, a big hit or highlight reel goal has left fans scrambling to look at their list of players on the blue or white team. Anyone who's watched one of the intra-squad games will know who Resendes is.
"Right now he's having a good camp, catching everyone's eye," said Sea Dogs head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu. "He's definitely noticeable out there."
The only problem is his age. Resendes is one of four 20-year-olds in camp along with Travis Fullerton, Jordan Knox and Francis Charland. Under Quebec Major Junior Hockey League rules, a team can carry no more than three 20-year-olds.
Resendes said he was aware of the situation coming into camp and figures to let his play speak for itself.
"I know they can't carry more than three, so I have to just work hard and try and beat out one of the three," he said in a Boston accent.
Resendes grew up in Boston and played last season in the Atlantic Junior Hockey League where he was named the league's most valuable player and a first-team all-star after a collecting 35 goals and 42 assists in 44 games with the Northern Mass Cyclones.
As for being the underdog, he said he's used to the underdog growing up in Boston.
"Growing up in the city I hung around a lot of bigger guys who never gave me credit, I had to earn it," Resendes said. "So I learned how to handle myself, fight for things and all that stuff."
He translated those lessons onto the ice. The Massachusetts-born forward is a combination of speed, agility and grit packed into a five-foot eight-inch, 160-pound frame.
"My game is mostly built around speed, getting around guys as quickly as I can and playing all over the ice," he said.
He's shown those attributes in camp and at times it seems like there's no way to slow him down.
"I don't get tired that easy, so I can go pretty good out there," Resendes said.
As for his size, both he and Beaulieu don't consider it something that could hold him back.
"In the NHL nowadays they're looking to the smaller guys with the rules changes," Resendes said.
Beaulieu said it's nice to have big bodies on the blue-line to take away time and space, but up front is another story. Resendes has a blend of skill, speed and creativity that made him a player the Sea Dogs pursued over the summer.
"He was unsure if he was going to pursue NCAA or come here, so we chased him a bit," Beaulieu said.
Now the question becomes which one of the 20-year-olds will be the odd man out?
Among the forwards, Beaulieu said all three are skilled and skate well.
"It's really a matter of weeding it out and picking the best three to fit the team."
QMJHL Twenty-year-old American has been one of the most impressive players in Sea Dogs' camp so far
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Thursday August 23rd, 2007
Appeared on page B14
SAINT JOHN - It's not hard to spot Tony Resendes during scrimmages at the Saint John Sea Dogs training camp.
And it's not because he's the only one wearing a red helmet.
More often than not, a big hit or highlight reel goal has left fans scrambling to look at their list of players on the blue or white team. Anyone who's watched one of the intra-squad games will know who Resendes is.
"Right now he's having a good camp, catching everyone's eye," said Sea Dogs head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu. "He's definitely noticeable out there."
The only problem is his age. Resendes is one of four 20-year-olds in camp along with Travis Fullerton, Jordan Knox and Francis Charland. Under Quebec Major Junior Hockey League rules, a team can carry no more than three 20-year-olds.
Resendes said he was aware of the situation coming into camp and figures to let his play speak for itself.
"I know they can't carry more than three, so I have to just work hard and try and beat out one of the three," he said in a Boston accent.
Resendes grew up in Boston and played last season in the Atlantic Junior Hockey League where he was named the league's most valuable player and a first-team all-star after a collecting 35 goals and 42 assists in 44 games with the Northern Mass Cyclones.
As for being the underdog, he said he's used to the underdog growing up in Boston.
"Growing up in the city I hung around a lot of bigger guys who never gave me credit, I had to earn it," Resendes said. "So I learned how to handle myself, fight for things and all that stuff."
He translated those lessons onto the ice. The Massachusetts-born forward is a combination of speed, agility and grit packed into a five-foot eight-inch, 160-pound frame.
"My game is mostly built around speed, getting around guys as quickly as I can and playing all over the ice," he said.
He's shown those attributes in camp and at times it seems like there's no way to slow him down.
"I don't get tired that easy, so I can go pretty good out there," Resendes said.
As for his size, both he and Beaulieu don't consider it something that could hold him back.
"In the NHL nowadays they're looking to the smaller guys with the rules changes," Resendes said.
Beaulieu said it's nice to have big bodies on the blue-line to take away time and space, but up front is another story. Resendes has a blend of skill, speed and creativity that made him a player the Sea Dogs pursued over the summer.
"He was unsure if he was going to pursue NCAA or come here, so we chased him a bit," Beaulieu said.
Now the question becomes which one of the 20-year-olds will be the odd man out?
Among the forwards, Beaulieu said all three are skilled and skate well.
"It's really a matter of weeding it out and picking the best three to fit the team."
or TONY TONY TONY!!! 
