Post by dogcatcher on Aug 25, 2007 7:07:21 GMT -4
Not exactly Swiss cheese
QMJHL: In fact, Robert Mayer of Switzerland appears to have very few holes in his game as he prepares for his first season with the Saint John Sea Dogs
ANDREW MCGILLIGAN
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL
Published Saturday August 25th, 2007
Appeared on page C12
SAINT JOHN - Two years ago, the closest Robert Mayer could get to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League was through a website.
The Swiss goaltender, the third overall pick in the 2007 Canadian Hockey League import draft by the Saint John Sea Dogs, would research the QMJHL and think about facing its shooters.
"I wanted to come over two years ago, but nobody wanted me," Mayer said.
Fast-forward to training camp and what seemed like a gamble two years ago is anything but for the Sea Dogs.
The team has done its homework and drafted what head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu calls a player who makes the game look very easy.
"Technically, he's very sound and he moves very well (in goal)," Beaulieu said.
He would know, since he's seen Mayer play five times, including his performance with Switzerland at the 2006 world under-18 tournament in Finland. The team also had Mayer visit the city earlier this year.
"On the ice, I know what he can do," Beaulieu said. "When we interviewed him we thought he was a great kid, not just a good player but a good person."
Between the pipes, fans can expect to see a technically sound goaltender. Sea Dogs goaltending coach Jim Fleming said it's obvious Mayer has had some good coaching along the way.
"His technique is as complete as it could be in everything he does," Fleming said. "He's always prepared to accept the puck and that's a huge thing. His perception of where the puck is very good as well."
While seeing the puck is one thing, Mayer is preparing himself for a few things he's never seen before. The netminder played in both the Swiss junior ranks and in the national A league, the top league in Switzerland, last season.
"In junior in Switzerland you play in front of like 20 people and it's mostly your family," he said. "Here, it will be a lot more."
He'll also play a longer schedule in the QMJHL, something he looks forward to as well as facing some tougher competition.
In order to prepare for the barrage of shooters he'll square up to, Mayer took in a hockey camp in Toronto the week before reporting to Sea Dogs camp.
"It was a good experience," he said. "There were some NHL goalies and players there like Mike Camalleri."
Besides his technically sound game, the goalie will have a few tricks up his sleeve. Mayer speaks several different languages including English, French and Czech. That means he can communicate with every player on the team in their native tongue, including defenceman David Stich.
Now that he's finally arrived and prepared to make his QMJHL debut, what's next for Mayer? The Swiss goalie will look to make an impression on the league and pro scouts in this his NHL draft year.
"While he's with us we want to help him move along and progress his way to the next level," Fleming said.
TRADE: The Prince Edward Island Rocket traded forward Francis Piché to the Shawinigan Cataractes for a sixth round pick in the 2008 QMJHL entry draft and a sixth round pick in the 2009 QMJHL draft. Piché was selected in the eighth round, 140th overall, by the Rocket in 2006. He played in one game last season and did not record a point.
QMJHL: In fact, Robert Mayer of Switzerland appears to have very few holes in his game as he prepares for his first season with the Saint John Sea Dogs
ANDREW MCGILLIGAN
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL
Published Saturday August 25th, 2007
Appeared on page C12
SAINT JOHN - Two years ago, the closest Robert Mayer could get to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League was through a website.
The Swiss goaltender, the third overall pick in the 2007 Canadian Hockey League import draft by the Saint John Sea Dogs, would research the QMJHL and think about facing its shooters.
"I wanted to come over two years ago, but nobody wanted me," Mayer said.
Fast-forward to training camp and what seemed like a gamble two years ago is anything but for the Sea Dogs.
The team has done its homework and drafted what head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu calls a player who makes the game look very easy.
"Technically, he's very sound and he moves very well (in goal)," Beaulieu said.
He would know, since he's seen Mayer play five times, including his performance with Switzerland at the 2006 world under-18 tournament in Finland. The team also had Mayer visit the city earlier this year.
"On the ice, I know what he can do," Beaulieu said. "When we interviewed him we thought he was a great kid, not just a good player but a good person."
Between the pipes, fans can expect to see a technically sound goaltender. Sea Dogs goaltending coach Jim Fleming said it's obvious Mayer has had some good coaching along the way.
"His technique is as complete as it could be in everything he does," Fleming said. "He's always prepared to accept the puck and that's a huge thing. His perception of where the puck is very good as well."
While seeing the puck is one thing, Mayer is preparing himself for a few things he's never seen before. The netminder played in both the Swiss junior ranks and in the national A league, the top league in Switzerland, last season.
"In junior in Switzerland you play in front of like 20 people and it's mostly your family," he said. "Here, it will be a lot more."
He'll also play a longer schedule in the QMJHL, something he looks forward to as well as facing some tougher competition.
In order to prepare for the barrage of shooters he'll square up to, Mayer took in a hockey camp in Toronto the week before reporting to Sea Dogs camp.
"It was a good experience," he said. "There were some NHL goalies and players there like Mike Camalleri."
Besides his technically sound game, the goalie will have a few tricks up his sleeve. Mayer speaks several different languages including English, French and Czech. That means he can communicate with every player on the team in their native tongue, including defenceman David Stich.
Now that he's finally arrived and prepared to make his QMJHL debut, what's next for Mayer? The Swiss goalie will look to make an impression on the league and pro scouts in this his NHL draft year.
"While he's with us we want to help him move along and progress his way to the next level," Fleming said.
TRADE: The Prince Edward Island Rocket traded forward Francis Piché to the Shawinigan Cataractes for a sixth round pick in the 2008 QMJHL entry draft and a sixth round pick in the 2009 QMJHL draft. Piché was selected in the eighth round, 140th overall, by the Rocket in 2006. He played in one game last season and did not record a point.
