Post by dogcatcher on Aug 20, 2007 6:45:00 GMT -4
Sea Dogs shake the rust
QMJHL Saint John opens training camp at Harbour Station
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Monday August 20th, 2007
Appeared on page B10
SAINT JOHN - Pascal Amyot, a second-year defenceman with the Saint John Sea Dogs, remembers what his first day of training camp was like as a rookie.
"I remember I was real nervous because I didn't know what to expect," Amyot said. "Now that I'm more comfortable I have to try and make the rookies feel more comfortable."
He seemed to be doing just that on Sunday at Harbour Station during the Dogs' first official day of training camp. For several drills, Amyot was paired with 2007 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League entry draft No. 1 pick Simon Despres.
For his part, Despres said he was a little rusty, but happy to be on the ice and meeting his new teammates.
"My goal is to progress with each practice," he said.
Rust or no rust, Amyot had some early praise for the rookie blueliner.
"I think he did really good," Amyot said. "The first one is always the toughest one, but I'm excited to have him on our team this year. I think he's a real good defenceman and a key to our future."
Jim Midgley, an assistant coach with the Sea Dogs, echoed Amyot's words.
"You could tell why (Despres) was the first overall pick," Midgley said. "He's a smooth player, good skater and has pretty good hands. He was nice to watch out there."
Fans who came out to practice, which was broken down by position, got their first look at Swiss goaltender Robert Mayer. Saint John selected Mayer third overall in the 2007 Canadian Hockey League import draft.
"It was good today," Mayer said. "There's a lot of good shooters here like (David) Stich."
As for the forwards, it was the players from the Maritime Junior A Hockey League who made an impression. Midgley said he liked the way Michael Kirkpatrick, the Sea Dogs second-round pick in 2007 and member of the Weeks Crushers of the MJAHL last season, played on day one.
Jordan Knox, one of the team's 20-year-olds, seemed to have brought his scoring touch from the MJAHL with him to the QMJHL. Knox showed good speed and pin-point accuracy with his shot during the afternoon skate.
Another player fans are anxious to see is Steven Anthony. The 10th overall pick in the 2007 QMJHL entry draft looked bigger than his 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame and showed flashes of speed and strength that could make him a player to watch.
Anthony said he's happy to be on the ice in a Sea Dogs jersey.
"It was exciting and we had a good pace out there," Anthony said. "I've been building up to this point all summer, now it's time to go."
Overall, Midgley said he and the other coaches were happy with the first day.
"The guys really had a lot of energy and you could tell that from the moment they got to the rink," he said. "Today was more about getting our feet wet, but I thought it was a good day."
The players were broken into blue and white teams and will practice for the next few days in those groups. The two squads will meet today for a scrimmage from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Fans are welcome to attend free of charge.
TRADE: The Rimouski Oceanic sent goaltender Guillaume Tartre to the Drummondville Voltigeurs for a 10th round pick in the 2008 QMJHL entry draft.
QMJHL Saint John opens training camp at Harbour Station
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Monday August 20th, 2007
Appeared on page B10
SAINT JOHN - Pascal Amyot, a second-year defenceman with the Saint John Sea Dogs, remembers what his first day of training camp was like as a rookie.
"I remember I was real nervous because I didn't know what to expect," Amyot said. "Now that I'm more comfortable I have to try and make the rookies feel more comfortable."
He seemed to be doing just that on Sunday at Harbour Station during the Dogs' first official day of training camp. For several drills, Amyot was paired with 2007 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League entry draft No. 1 pick Simon Despres.
For his part, Despres said he was a little rusty, but happy to be on the ice and meeting his new teammates.
"My goal is to progress with each practice," he said.
Rust or no rust, Amyot had some early praise for the rookie blueliner.
"I think he did really good," Amyot said. "The first one is always the toughest one, but I'm excited to have him on our team this year. I think he's a real good defenceman and a key to our future."
Jim Midgley, an assistant coach with the Sea Dogs, echoed Amyot's words.
"You could tell why (Despres) was the first overall pick," Midgley said. "He's a smooth player, good skater and has pretty good hands. He was nice to watch out there."
Fans who came out to practice, which was broken down by position, got their first look at Swiss goaltender Robert Mayer. Saint John selected Mayer third overall in the 2007 Canadian Hockey League import draft.
"It was good today," Mayer said. "There's a lot of good shooters here like (David) Stich."
As for the forwards, it was the players from the Maritime Junior A Hockey League who made an impression. Midgley said he liked the way Michael Kirkpatrick, the Sea Dogs second-round pick in 2007 and member of the Weeks Crushers of the MJAHL last season, played on day one.
Jordan Knox, one of the team's 20-year-olds, seemed to have brought his scoring touch from the MJAHL with him to the QMJHL. Knox showed good speed and pin-point accuracy with his shot during the afternoon skate.
Another player fans are anxious to see is Steven Anthony. The 10th overall pick in the 2007 QMJHL entry draft looked bigger than his 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame and showed flashes of speed and strength that could make him a player to watch.
Anthony said he's happy to be on the ice in a Sea Dogs jersey.
"It was exciting and we had a good pace out there," Anthony said. "I've been building up to this point all summer, now it's time to go."
Overall, Midgley said he and the other coaches were happy with the first day.
"The guys really had a lot of energy and you could tell that from the moment they got to the rink," he said. "Today was more about getting our feet wet, but I thought it was a good day."
The players were broken into blue and white teams and will practice for the next few days in those groups. The two squads will meet today for a scrimmage from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Fans are welcome to attend free of charge.
TRADE: The Rimouski Oceanic sent goaltender Guillaume Tartre to the Drummondville Voltigeurs for a 10th round pick in the 2008 QMJHL entry draft.