Post by Hockey4Life on Aug 25, 2007 10:14:18 GMT -4
Bartos is a no-show at Titan training camp
PETER ASSAF
TITAN TRAIL
Published Saturday August 25th, 2007
Appeared on page C12
Sylvain Couturier is waiting for a phone call.
The general manager of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Acadie-Bathurst Titan admits he hasn't heard anything from Martin Bartos since the team opened training camp over a week ago.
"We are disappointed with the way it has turned out," Couturier said. "Martin talked to us over the summer and he was all excited about coming here. Then for the last three weeks I haven't heard anything from him."
Bartos was acquired by the Titan from the Saint John Sea Dogs for goaltender Maxime Joyal prior to the start of the 2006-2007 season. During his rookie season, the Czech Republic native scored 11 goals and added 17 assists in 43 games with the Sea Dogs. Last year, his first with the Titan, he finished third on the team in scoring with 81 points, including 24 goals. He added three goals and five assists in 12 playoff contests. The 19-year-old left winger was expected to be an important part of the clubs lineup this season.
"He doesn't return our calls, he doesn't answer our e-mails," Couturier said. "He hasn't asked for anything. If it was any kind of special demand (he had) at least we'd know it. But that's not even the case; it is just a case of completely ignoring the organization right now."
"I know there are players who have tried to call him as well and it seems like he doesn't want to talk to anybody right now," said the Titan GM. "From my understanding he is really disappointed about not being drafted, and I can understand that, but at the same point it is a little bit early for him to throw in the towel. He's only 19 and last year he had a good example in (Thomas) Beauregard who just signed a good contract with (the National Hockey League's) Montreal (Canadiens)."
Beauregard scored 71 goals as a 20-year-old with the Titan and recently inked a deal with the team's American Hockey League affiliate in Hamilton.
"It's never too late, especially with the talent he's got," said Couturier. "Hopefully he will call us and let us know what is going on."
Other than the team's frustration over the Bartos' situation, Couturier said he has been very pleased with the way things have gone in training camp. The Titan, who were scheduled to play a pre-season game in Lewiston, Maine last night, played three exhibition contests in as many nights at the K. C. Irving regional Centre earlier this week. Barely 48 hours after opening training camp, the Titan dropped a 7-3 decision to the Moncton Wildcats last Sunday before falling 8-5 to the Lewiston MAINEiacs on Monday. Acadie-Bathurst picked up its first pre-season win on Tuesday when they outscored the MAINEiacs 8-1.
"It was a hard training camp to start with. The first two days were off-ice and on-ice testing and then three games after the second day"¦but it went really well and we are really happy about that."
The Titan invited 55 players, including Bartos, to camp. That list included 16 players who call New Brunswick home. Of the remaining 33 players, 10 are from N.B. including captain Jordan Clendenning, who is originally from Woodstock and now lives in Fredericton; 20-year-old defenceman Mathieu Labrie of St. Quentin; defenceman Brad Tesink of Saint John; forward Daniel Basque of St. Isidore; and first round draft pick Cameron Critchlow of Fredericton. Other N.B. players still in camp are Patrick Louden of Bathurst; Remi Blanchard of Bas Caraquet; Kevin Landry of Caraquet; and Julien Rouselle of Miramichi.
The Titan are also expecting to hear from Cory Smearer of Dalhousie before the weekend is through.
"He is in the militia and he (had) a contract until Aug. 24," Couturier said. "He's supposed to call me as soon as he gets here"¦then we'll go from there."
In addition to saying goodbye to leading scorer Thomas Beauregard, 71-53-124, the Titan also saw head coach John Chabot leave the team to join the NHL's New York Islanders coaching staff. He was replaced by former Shawinigan Cataractes bench boss Denis Francoeur.
The Titan are in Lewiston for an 8 p.m. game tonight before heading to Moncton to play the Wildcats on Tuesday.
PETER ASSAF
TITAN TRAIL
Published Saturday August 25th, 2007
Appeared on page C12
Sylvain Couturier is waiting for a phone call.
The general manager of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Acadie-Bathurst Titan admits he hasn't heard anything from Martin Bartos since the team opened training camp over a week ago.
"We are disappointed with the way it has turned out," Couturier said. "Martin talked to us over the summer and he was all excited about coming here. Then for the last three weeks I haven't heard anything from him."
Bartos was acquired by the Titan from the Saint John Sea Dogs for goaltender Maxime Joyal prior to the start of the 2006-2007 season. During his rookie season, the Czech Republic native scored 11 goals and added 17 assists in 43 games with the Sea Dogs. Last year, his first with the Titan, he finished third on the team in scoring with 81 points, including 24 goals. He added three goals and five assists in 12 playoff contests. The 19-year-old left winger was expected to be an important part of the clubs lineup this season.
"He doesn't return our calls, he doesn't answer our e-mails," Couturier said. "He hasn't asked for anything. If it was any kind of special demand (he had) at least we'd know it. But that's not even the case; it is just a case of completely ignoring the organization right now."
"I know there are players who have tried to call him as well and it seems like he doesn't want to talk to anybody right now," said the Titan GM. "From my understanding he is really disappointed about not being drafted, and I can understand that, but at the same point it is a little bit early for him to throw in the towel. He's only 19 and last year he had a good example in (Thomas) Beauregard who just signed a good contract with (the National Hockey League's) Montreal (Canadiens)."
Beauregard scored 71 goals as a 20-year-old with the Titan and recently inked a deal with the team's American Hockey League affiliate in Hamilton.
"It's never too late, especially with the talent he's got," said Couturier. "Hopefully he will call us and let us know what is going on."
Other than the team's frustration over the Bartos' situation, Couturier said he has been very pleased with the way things have gone in training camp. The Titan, who were scheduled to play a pre-season game in Lewiston, Maine last night, played three exhibition contests in as many nights at the K. C. Irving regional Centre earlier this week. Barely 48 hours after opening training camp, the Titan dropped a 7-3 decision to the Moncton Wildcats last Sunday before falling 8-5 to the Lewiston MAINEiacs on Monday. Acadie-Bathurst picked up its first pre-season win on Tuesday when they outscored the MAINEiacs 8-1.
"It was a hard training camp to start with. The first two days were off-ice and on-ice testing and then three games after the second day"¦but it went really well and we are really happy about that."
The Titan invited 55 players, including Bartos, to camp. That list included 16 players who call New Brunswick home. Of the remaining 33 players, 10 are from N.B. including captain Jordan Clendenning, who is originally from Woodstock and now lives in Fredericton; 20-year-old defenceman Mathieu Labrie of St. Quentin; defenceman Brad Tesink of Saint John; forward Daniel Basque of St. Isidore; and first round draft pick Cameron Critchlow of Fredericton. Other N.B. players still in camp are Patrick Louden of Bathurst; Remi Blanchard of Bas Caraquet; Kevin Landry of Caraquet; and Julien Rouselle of Miramichi.
The Titan are also expecting to hear from Cory Smearer of Dalhousie before the weekend is through.
"He is in the militia and he (had) a contract until Aug. 24," Couturier said. "He's supposed to call me as soon as he gets here"¦then we'll go from there."
In addition to saying goodbye to leading scorer Thomas Beauregard, 71-53-124, the Titan also saw head coach John Chabot leave the team to join the NHL's New York Islanders coaching staff. He was replaced by former Shawinigan Cataractes bench boss Denis Francoeur.
The Titan are in Lewiston for an 8 p.m. game tonight before heading to Moncton to play the Wildcats on Tuesday.