Post by dogcatcher on Aug 20, 2007 6:47:48 GMT -4
Time to get rid of 'expansion' label
Junior hockey Team president says upcoming season will be 'coming out party' for Sea Dogs
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Monday August 20th, 2007
Appeared on page C1
SAINT JOHN - Dolor Comeau is in his spot at Harbour Station.
Between section E and D behind one of the nets. It's Aug. 19, but he's inside the arena to watch members of the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League make their first strides on the ice as part of training camp.
"I've got my season tickets right here," Comeau said.
Next to him is his brother Luke, who has season tickets for the first time.
The pair are busy scrutinizing the talent they'll be watching and following for the next few months.
"We came out to see what the team might look like this year," Luke Comeau said. "They picked up some good players for this year."
Scattered throughout the building are various players waiting for their turn on the ice, parents, billets of players and a few fans taking in the first skate of the season.
Dolor Comeau's wife and other family members join him in his spot as the players pick up the pace as coaches and members of the organization watch their every move.
Wayne Long, president of the Sea Dogs, is also in attendance. He's seen the enthusiasm and optimism grow around the team over the summer.
"I think this season will be our coming out party, so to speak," Long said.
"I think it's time to wash the expansion label away from our franchise."
The team is starting its third season of play and expectations are higher than in the past. Some people are talking about the team's making the playoffs for the first time in its short history. The city hasn't seen playoff hockey at Harbour Station since the Saint John Flames of the American Hockey League left town in 2003.
A winning team and a playoff run could help the team endear itself to the city and help erase memories and comparisons to the Flames.
"I think it goes hand in hand," Long said of the relationship between the on-ice product and public support. However, the team will continue to expand its outreach into the community to help make this happen. "We realize it's a privilege to play in a great hockey city like Saint John and we want to do our part," he said.
Last season the Sea Dogs spent a lot of time throughout the Greater Saint John area as part of their community work. Long said the team logged more than 1,000 hours in the community and he's hoping to surpass that this season.
"We did a lot of things last season like visiting schools and hospitals, we were involved with minor hockey," Long said. "This year we want to challenge some of the leaders on our team to go above and beyond what they did last season."
In addition to the work in the community last season, the team will add to its charity work. One new wrinkle will be the goalposts at Harbour Station.
"Every time we hit the goalpost at home this season we'll make a donation to Ronald McDonald House," Long said.
A nice gesture, but for Comeau and the rest assembled on the sunny Sunday afternoon, they hope the puck finds the twine rather than the iron.
Junior hockey Team president says upcoming season will be 'coming out party' for Sea Dogs
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Monday August 20th, 2007
Appeared on page C1
SAINT JOHN - Dolor Comeau is in his spot at Harbour Station.
Between section E and D behind one of the nets. It's Aug. 19, but he's inside the arena to watch members of the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League make their first strides on the ice as part of training camp.
"I've got my season tickets right here," Comeau said.
Next to him is his brother Luke, who has season tickets for the first time.
The pair are busy scrutinizing the talent they'll be watching and following for the next few months.
"We came out to see what the team might look like this year," Luke Comeau said. "They picked up some good players for this year."
Scattered throughout the building are various players waiting for their turn on the ice, parents, billets of players and a few fans taking in the first skate of the season.
Dolor Comeau's wife and other family members join him in his spot as the players pick up the pace as coaches and members of the organization watch their every move.
Wayne Long, president of the Sea Dogs, is also in attendance. He's seen the enthusiasm and optimism grow around the team over the summer.
"I think this season will be our coming out party, so to speak," Long said.
"I think it's time to wash the expansion label away from our franchise."
The team is starting its third season of play and expectations are higher than in the past. Some people are talking about the team's making the playoffs for the first time in its short history. The city hasn't seen playoff hockey at Harbour Station since the Saint John Flames of the American Hockey League left town in 2003.
A winning team and a playoff run could help the team endear itself to the city and help erase memories and comparisons to the Flames.
"I think it goes hand in hand," Long said of the relationship between the on-ice product and public support. However, the team will continue to expand its outreach into the community to help make this happen. "We realize it's a privilege to play in a great hockey city like Saint John and we want to do our part," he said.
Last season the Sea Dogs spent a lot of time throughout the Greater Saint John area as part of their community work. Long said the team logged more than 1,000 hours in the community and he's hoping to surpass that this season.
"We did a lot of things last season like visiting schools and hospitals, we were involved with minor hockey," Long said. "This year we want to challenge some of the leaders on our team to go above and beyond what they did last season."
In addition to the work in the community last season, the team will add to its charity work. One new wrinkle will be the goalposts at Harbour Station.
"Every time we hit the goalpost at home this season we'll make a donation to Ronald McDonald House," Long said.
A nice gesture, but for Comeau and the rest assembled on the sunny Sunday afternoon, they hope the puck finds the twine rather than the iron.