Cat vs Cat (Or, How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love Centre Bionest)

On Friday night, the Wildcats make there way to the Centre Bionest in Shawinigan to face off against the Cataractes in an 8:30 Atlantic start. On the surface, this looks like less of a challenge than certain other games on the schedule. However, any good coach will tell you that you can't take any opposing team lightly and overlooking their place in the standings (which for the Cataractes is last, 40 points behind fifth place Moncton) is a step in the wrong direction. Plus, I'm sure more than a few Shawinigan players remember the results of the last meeting between these two teams back in November at the Coliseum, and how less than great things went for the Cataractes. Certainly, Moncton will be mindful of are all factors when it comes time for puck drop.

There is something else to keep in mind when it comes to Moncton playing in Shawinigan, That would be history... and the fact that until recently, it's been lousy.

A very long time ago, I happened to stumble upon a feature on the old Victoriaville Tigres website that allowed you to check the all-time record of any team in the Q against another since the Tigres started play in 1987 (it's no longer there and I miss that surprisingly valuable resource). Naturally, I started looking up the Cats record against various foes. I was somewhat surprised when I came to the realization that, at that time, Moncton had never won a game in Shawinigan. I knew that because Moncton had experienced more down years than up at that point due to being a recent expansion franchise, coupled with the Cataractes consistently rolling out teams ranging anywhere from good to dominant, there hadn't been alot of great moments at the (since abandoned) Jacques Plante arena. However, way back in the day before the current logjam of teams in the Maritimes, Shawinigan and Moncton were divisional rivals. You'd think that the law of averages would demand there be some measure of success up there. Turns out that save for a few ties (remember those things??), there was none.

On October 6, 2002, Moncton finally won a game in Shawinigan. Mathieu Betournay finished off an end to end rush by Evgeni Artukin to bring victory to the Cats at the Jacques Plante after seven long years. Then for a long time, nothing else save for one OT win the year Shawinigan had a mid-pack team and Moncton came within a game of winning a Memorial Cup (guess that was that law of averages thingy kicking in). It's just how it went for the Cats when they went on the road to face the Cats... and it was punctuated in their first game at the brand new Centre Bionest - a 7-0 whitewash for the home squad on National TV. Quite a fitting inaugural venture, one might say.

It would be another seven and half years from that first OT win - the 15th season in the league for the Moncton franchise - before they would win a game in regulation in the City of Electricity.

The crowds in Shawinigan had a reputation for many years for being intimidating. It was this crowd that no doubt played a big part in the Cataractes Memorial Cup triumph last spring. However, there comes a time when the crowd ceases to be the main factor and just not getting the friggin job done takes precedence.

To the Wildcats credit, once they got that first regulation time win under their belt, it was off to the rodeo. In fact, the Cats are now on a three game winning streak in Shawingian. Did the "ghosts" not make their way to the new building (in which case, they are severely directionally challenged... it takes a pretty sub-par ghost to get lost in Shawinigan)? Does new building equal clean slate for the visitors? Does the fact that travel isn't quite as grueling as it used to be thanks to the unbalanced schedule play that much of a factor? Is it a case of luck/unluck of the draw? Probably a bit of everything (except the ghost part...I think). All it means now is that given the state of both teams and recent history on their side, the Cats have a very strong chance at running their win streak to nine games if they enter this game with the right attitude.

But my god, did it ever take a long time to get wins in that city?

Speaking of tough tasks, the Dieppe Commandos have one this weekend. Actually, they have three... in a little over two and a half days. After facing the Tigers in Campbellton Friday night (whom Dieppe has been wildly successful against the past two years... however I just went on a spiel about law of averages, so....) it's off to Summerside for a date against that major junior team disguised as a Jr.A outfit called the Western Capitals on Saturday evening. The fun continues Sunday afternoon at the AJL against Woodstock... the team Dieppe is a) fighting with for second place in the Meek Division and b) the team whom Dieppe pulled off a most ginormous comeback against a couple weeks back. Wonder if the Slammers forgot about that yet? Either way, this weekend is the biggest test of the season for the Commandos... and all bets are off in terms of where they land when the final buzzer sounds. One thing I will be more than willing to bet given this team's post Christmas gameplay: all three opponents will be very much ready, especially as the stretch drive kicks into another gear.

Two Out Of Three Aint Bad

As if being named first star in each game of a three in three set isn't enough, Dimitrij Jaskin gets - for the second week in a row - first star honors in the whole great big QMJHL. Hard to argue with that logic considering big #26 essentially took on all comers and kicked opposing goalies in the nether regions to the tune of 11 points in four games. As the season goes on, it's also becoming more and more apparent that Jaskin is not only entertaining, he's an entertainer. Very few players in franchise history have been able to combine such an outstanding skill set with the ability to play to the crowd and show appreciation for the fans. Two other players that immediately come to mind in this department are Alexi Tezikov and Keith Yandle. These types of guys make it impossible for you to not have fun at the rink... they're going to cram the excitement down your throat... and they don't come around too awful much. Guess there's nothing better to do but sit back and enjoy it... although I am a bit concerned 'ol Dimitri might get a little extreme with a post-goal celebration and suffocate Ivan Barbashev in an overzealous bear hug or break Alex Dubeau's hand with a high five one of these nights.

Speaking of Mr.Dubeau, he takes home third star honors, going 3-0 with a 1.00 GAA and .962 Save percentage. It's been a real roller coaster season for the Cats' netminder. There have been a number of nights where you never knew what to expect from him. Results could vary from game to game and period to period... and a few bad goals still elude him. However, it seems that lately those goals have bothered him less and less. Yesterday afternoon against Quebec has to go down as his best example of bouncing back yet. After allowing a less than perfect shot off the stick of Nick Sorensen to slip through the wickets, Dubeau morphed into a true money goaltender for the next 40 minutes, making - among other stops - two huge saves on a Remparts 5 on 3 and a point blank toe save on Ryan Culkin to keep the game close when the Cats needed it most. A good friend of mine felt Dubeau deserved a star yesterday and frankly, I couldn't disagree. Outside of Jaskin, Dubeau was probably the biggest reason why the Cats took two points against Patrick and Co.

Simply put, Alex Dubeau has gained a fair amount of confidence these past few weeks. All you have to do is watch him to see it. What has caused it? The change in goaltending coaches? The fact that the team has shown confidence in him by upgrading the team at the deadline and retaining him as the number one guy between the pipes? I'd like to think it's perhaps a little of both. Many teams and players play lousy leading up to and during the Christmas trade period. Not only are players eager to get home and celebrate, they can be easily distracted by the flurry of movement most teams make as clubs buy, sell or tinker with the lineup. After the deadline, the message had to have been sent to Dubeau (either directly or indirectly) that he was the guy, the distractions were over and it was go time with him being a key player. Although it was highly unlikely that the Cats were going to offload and that Dubeau would be shipped out, I know if I was a kid in the Q, I wouldn't be able to keep from being just a tad anxious over what the future held at that time of year. Especially in an organization like Moncton, where Danny Flynn both treats his players fairly but also keeps his cards so close to his chest you couldn't read them with an X-Ray machine.

At this point, there's no reason to worry about where you'll be tomorrow if your anyone on the Wildcats. If you're Alex Dubeau, you've erased the month of December from the memory banks and just do your very best to go on a run for the next (hopefully) four plus months. So far, that's exactly what he and his teammates have done. But if, say, Jonathan Racine was to quietly look Alex in the eye and say "No more bad goals", just like Larry Robinson did to young Patrick Roy back in the '85-'86 season, that probably wouldn't hurt either.

In other news, if you loved that pass Alex Galchenyuk fired off on the second Habs goal yesterday against New Jersey, good news! You'll (hopefully) get to see more and more of it this season as the club has made it official neither he nor Brendan Gallagher (the man who finished off that play) aren't going anywhere except to pay for some crazy expensive rookie initiation meal at some awesome steakhouse somewhere in eastern North America. As well, PK is back with the CH, signing a two year deal. His ability to jump start the Montreal offense from the blueline will be particularly vital with the long term absence of Max Pacioretty, sidelined after undergoing an emergency appendectomy over the weekend. Now that he's undergone the procedure, does this mean he's able to go to the movies? Can someone please call Dr. Recchi to clarify?

Somewhere, An AHL Team is Missing It's Jaskin

The guy in the picture above is currently the best player in the QMJHL. He is immensely talented at both ends of the rink, he sees the ice like a pro and has a shot selection that's second to none. Oh, and he's super duper exciting to watch.

And today, he helped do something the Moncton Wildcats haven't done at home in over seven seasons - beat the Quebec Remparts.

Both teams were on the back end of a three-in-three. Usually, those games can get pretty sloppy, not to mention boring. In addition, les Remps were coming off an emotional, revenge-type win in Halifax last night. How would that affect their play today?

For the most part, it wouldn't. Patrick's boys are always hard skating, efficient passing outfits and that was still prevalent today. However, Quebec doesn't quite have that "scary" element they had for many years. The depth isn't quite there (and if Grigorenko sticks in Buffalo, it will be a major factor from here on out). They have a few good character guys like Jason Houde, Axel Rioux, Anthony Verret, etc, but they aren't quite as capable of that all hands on deck, full court press, pressure your defense into oblivion sort of game that Quebec has been quite successful at the last number of seasons. Not to mention what may or may not be going on behind closed doors in le Vieux Capital as the recent "Erne/Duclair" affair alludes to. This isn't quite a typical "Patrick Roy era" Remparts team, and today the Wildcats took full advantage of that.

The Cats showed Quebec that they can be very effective on the rush, continuously gaining the numbers down low and keeping the Remparts guessing more often than not. This was also easily one of the best examples of consistent puck support seen at the Coliseum by the home team all year. Moncton's play without the puck was precise and patient. And the guy in the above pic? Once again, he would fit in well on some AHL lineup. His centerman is one of the craftiest players in the lineup, using an abundance of hockey sense to create something out of nothing in the offensive zone while remaining an outstanding checking center. Anybody who saw him chip the puck off the wall to himself while entering the Remparts zone in the third witnessed yet another reason why he brings a sorely needed element to this Cats team that insisted on making the run this year. In nets, Alex Dubeau would definitely like a mulligan on the second Remparts goal, but was certainly full marks on the afternoon as a whole. In fact, it was the saves he made after that goal that made him a force in this game, including a pair on an extended Quebec 5-on-3 that in retrospect was a turning point for the home squad. In a game in which he was arguably the biggest question mark, the Cats netminder made a statement of his own.

So make it eight straight for Moncton, who now head on the road next weekend to the exotic locales of Shawinigan and Drummondville for a pair of games. Next home date is just under a couple weeks from now against a fairly decent Halifax team - if you consider a team that ripped eight past the Cats last game uphere with out their top line, top dman and number one goalie "fairly decent". Guess we'll get to find out where things truly stand then.

St.Patrick's Day

Cats make it seven in a row on the backs of the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan last night, winning 4-2. The complete domination that was prevalent Friday night in Bathurst was less so. After a first period in which Moncton indeed dominated for stretches but were held to just one goal, Bathurst scored early in the second (their first goal in a little over four periods in this weekend home and home) and for the next 20 minutes were the better team. They used their speed, won the majority of battles for loose pucks and probably played closer to their full capabilities (which doesn't seem to happen in Bathurst much anymore for whatever reason, no matter who's behind the bench). The turning point (and most crucial goal this weekend so far) goes to Ivan Barbashev, who converted a centring pass late in the second and from that point on, it was back to business as usual for the home side. Moncton didn't go all full court press on Bathurst in the third, but certainly outplayed the Titan to seal the deal. Dannick Emond came up with the insurance goal early in the third. I mention this only because I may never get to say it again. Jacob Brennan was solid in defeat for Bathurst, keeping the score more than respectable after the first period, while I found Brayden Wood played one of his best games of the season on the back end.

Cats are back at it again today at 4PM against everybody's favourite Memorial Cup party crasher Patrick Roy and his Quebec Remparts.

Now, a few words about Patrick, and my chronological personal history, as a follower of both the Habs and the Q, regarding my feelings towards him.
 
When I first truly started to follow the Habs, Roy wasn't even the clear cut number one. There was a guy named Bryan Hayward in the mix who was not only challenging for that spot, but winning it. I was a Hayward fan. It's not that I disliked Roy, I just enjoyed watching Hayward more and wanted him to stick around because this is how 7 and 8 year olds and John Ferguson Jr. determine things when building teams in their minds.

Of course, Patrick stuck around... and that probably worked out for the best. He is pretty much the singular reason why there is a banner at the Bell Center that reads "Coupe Stanley Cup, 1992-93". For that I always appreciated what Roy brought to the table. I just wasn't a huge fan. I look at Manny Ramirez's days with the Red Sox in the exact same light. "Love what you did for us, but I just happen to enjoy watching this guy and this guy more. Nothing personal. Put down that knife. No I won't buy your barbecue."

Then came December of 1995. Anyone who even somewhat followed the Canadiens during that era when the interwebs were still in their relative infancy knew there was a powder keg forming throughout the fall.  Guess what went boom? Everyone knows the story, so it bears no repeating here. But I will say this... when Roy stopped by Ronald Corey on his way to the stool of shame that night at the Forum and - as we all found out the next day - said he had played his last game in Montreal - I can honestly say it was the first time ever that I was fully and completely in Patrick Roy's corner. Love him or hate him, he as well as any veteran star player should be owed some form of gratitude by those on their respective clubs that they provide service to. I'm not talking about material perks... I mean little things like not publicly embarrassing them in front of their home fans. This is what happened as Mario Tremblay came down with the biggest case of penis envy in NHL history and in the process, stripped the Montreal Canadiens of their primary competitive edge for the rest of the decade... and the next one as well. I still maintain that Roy would not have finished his career in Montreal. He would've gone somewhere... anywhere. I think life as a Hab would've eventually led to him finding a way out. However, it didn't have to go down the way it did.

I wasn't upset when he won the two cups in Colorado... he definitely didn't steal those away from the Habs. I was very happy for Joe Sakic and Ray Bourque in '96 and '01 respectively. He just went out and continued to win... something he probably wouldn't have had the luxury of doing in Montreal at those times. For me, it was a non-issue.

After his retirement in 2003, Patrick became more involved in the QMJHL team he had purchased a stake in back in the late '90s, the Quebec Remparts. Two seasons later, Patrick put himself behind the bench and led the Remparts to some sort of championship that I've erased from my memory. Go look it up on Wikipedia.

It was of course during that tournament that Roy became public enemy #1 in Moncton. He played mind games with the Wildcats, particularly coach Ted Nolan and goaltender Josh Tordjman. These two teams had seen alot of each other in the couple of weeks leading up the the Memorial Cup, having played in the Q finals. Roy knew he needed an advantage, any advantage, to gain the upper hand. He was willing to do whatever he needed to do and the fans hated him for it.

In the end, something worked. Was it him? Was it the luck of the draw that his team was better than the Wildcats on the last day of the CHL season? I think it was a bit of both... but definitely more the former than the later.

There was also the Patrick Roy that strolled around town that week in 2006 singing autographs and visiting disabled children. In the days since that tournament, I've had the opportunity to interview Roy and although distant, he was more that obliging to talk as long as I wanted. I had to wait for him to sign a few autographs first of course, but I guess that come with the territory when you are who he is.

Bottom line is, when you boo Patrick Roy today, boo him knowing full well that he is money in the bank for the Q. While other teams struggle mightily to balance the check book every month, he induces a boost of cash flow and sometimes controversy everywhere he goes. He's a smart hockey man who draws a large crowd. He teams are almost always competitive and play an exciting brand of hockey. And he's outspoken, not generic. What's not to appreciate about that?

It's been 25 years since I first realised who this guy was... and although I still don't hate him, I'm still not a huge fan. I appreciate what he did for the Habs. I appreciate what he's done for the Q (his eldest son and that one Sunday in May being exceptions). But whenever I hear the boos rain down from the stands at the Coliseum, I always think back to what Patrick himself said during the Memorial Cup in 2006. "They boo me during the games, but they always ask for my autograph afterwards." I think that sums it up better than anything. He's the guy Wildcats fans love to hate. Think about that while gobbling your timbits up this afternoon.

In other news, the Commandos attempted the whole comeback thingy once again, falling behind 4-1 in Truro, getting it back to 4-3 before ultimately losing 6-3. Next week's agenda for our local Jr.A guys? How about a 3 in 3 involving Campbellton (road), Summerside (road) and Woodstock (home). No one said life would be easy, guys.

Ode to 94

As great as it is to see the Wildcats continue their winning ways, it gets tough if you want to write about it. There's only so many ways to say "the third line was efficient", "the goaltending made the saves when required" (which I'm happy to say has been the case as of late) or "Dimitrij Jaskin gave (insert opposing defenders name here) an atomic wedgie on that play". Frankly, it can get old in the best way possible.

Last night was much of the same. A 5-0 win in Bathurst for the Wildcats in which they pretty much dominated. You don't outshoot a team 57-21 by accident. Even tough Bathurst is far from a powerhouse squad, beating any team to that degree in their own barn is an accomplishment.

Jaskin put up his standard three points (and is again stalking in the not-so-faraway distance of the top of the scoring race, five points off the lead) and new-ish powerplay member Christophe Lalonde chipped in with a pair with the man advantage. Seeing that Lalonde is now up to 17 goals on the year - which is more than quadruple his output of last season - reminds me of how he was acquired by the Cats, and the reaction afterwards.

Lalonde was a 16 year old coming off his rookie season with the Lewiston MAINEiacs back in 2011 when the club was disbanded by the league. The fact that the team was bleeding red ink outweighed keeping together what would've been a very strong club last season. When Moncton stepped up at pick #10, most of the big guns/premium pieces such as Dillon Fournier, Etienne Brodeur, Samuel Carrier and Michel Chaput were long gone. When the Cats selected Lalonde, the initial reaction was pretty neutral. All that was known by most was that he was a former second round pick in the QMJHL entry draft, he had a solid playoffs with a Lewiston club that made a surprising run to the league semi-finals and apparently Danny Flynn had received calls and messages from former MAINEiacs brass congratulating him on such a shrewd pick. Hey, that sounds pretty good now doesn't it?

Last year it was obvious that Lalonde was capable of playing in the Q... but the question became where and when would he peak? He was, like almost every player that's passed through here since Flynn came back to town, a responsible two way guy. Good wheels, not terribly strong on his skates and couldn't put the puck in the ocean (which described alot of players on last year's Cats team that was so anemic offensively, four goals could be considered an explosive night). There were alot of questions among those "experts" in the stands questioning if the selection of Lalonde was short-sighted. "Did we lose out on a free impact player?" "Is Flynn losing his touch?" "Is this kid ever going to mature into an impact player?"

Those questions are being answered this year.

I feel alot of people who questioned Lalonde's worth probably forgot a key factor - he was 17 years old last year. It's often easy to overlook the fact that very few 17 year olds generate a significant impact at the major junior level. This is very much an 18 and 19 year old league. This year, Lalonde not only uses his speed but an increased level of strength to allow himself more time and space in all three zones. This leads to more confidence and better results. Lalonde also brings along the ever increasing reputation as a "shift disturber". The final result is a fine all purpose forward who can jump up to the top six if ever it was called for, can take a shift on the PK and powerplay units and can get in the head of the opposition. Those types of guys are incredibly valuable to any club. Not bad for a "free" player I'd say.

The Cats are back at it... right now, in fact. This time hosting the Titan, the game is still in the first. In fact Jaskin has just scored on the PP, making the Titan look like spectators in the process (in fairness, they should have to buy a ticket to be allowed to watch that sort of distribution). This sickly blogger is watching from the small screen with the golden tones of Gerry and Frank dancing through my medicated head... which makes it sound pretty good, actually. I highly recommend it.

In Truro, the Commandos try and take the positives out of their hard fought loss to the Summerside Western Capitals into tonight's game at the Colchester Legion Center. The last time Dieppe visited the Bearcats, this happened. Cross your fingers and take your chances, I suppose.

What the Scoreboard Didn't Tell You, and Other Tales of Excitement

If you were not at the AJL last night, once again you missed out on an outstanding game. For the statistical details, please go here. I'm not going to talk about that. I'm going to talk about what I saw from my perch that doesn't show up on the score sheet.

The story lines heading into this game have already been discussed on here. A Summerside team that could beat a handful of major junior teams looking for it's 13th straight win facing an up and coming Dieppe team that has for the most part played the Caps pretty close all year. A Caps team, of course, that currently holds claim to the Commandos former leading scorer (who also happens to be the league's leading scorer), making his first appearance against his old team since requesting - and receiving- a trade. Oh, and the Commandos are still missing their number one defenseman. Now, sometimes a game rife with background to this degree winds up being a dud. In fact, the last time I played up a battle between these two clubs, the Caps were dominant in a 5-1 Summerside win.

There were no such issues this time.

First things first, the Western Capitals are good. Extremely good. When you have a goalie with one of the highest winning percentages in the OHL this season on your bench, you're good. When, as a Jr.A team, roughly half your roster on any given night has major junior experience, you're good. When you're the third best team in the country at your level - out of 127 clubs - you're a rarely talented squad. A team of which it takes another special kind of team to even stay competitive with, let alone beat.

That Caps faced that team last night.

Early on, Summerside was very successful at getting the numbers down low, usually throwing all three forwards below the hash marks in an attempt to put the full court press on the home team. The Caps were in particular thriving on the quick pass from behind the net and collapsing for any loose pucks that may be available (a play that led to their first goal). The comment was made in the booth after the first - with Summerside ahead 2-0 - that the Commandos would have to cut off that lane in order to find some measure of success against the Caps. As well, they needed to turn up the pressure. Of course, such a thing is easy to discuss on air... but actually going out and doing it - and doing it against a team like that from Western PEI this season - is a formidable challenge. It was a challenge Dieppe rose up to in the second.

The Commandos team that skated out for the second was a notch above the team that skated off at the first intermission. They were more systematic, more aggressive in the offensive zone, angling off the onrushing Caps in their own zone and successfully taking away those lanes down low. Even when the Caps found an unlikely source in Wes Herrett to increase the visitor's lead to 3-0, you got the sense that the Commandos - who went right back to the game plan in spite of the increased deficit - would break through if they continued to keep the compete level at the same elevated level. They were rewarded. It wasn't pretty, but they earned what they got.

Long story short, by the midway point of the third, the game was tied at three on a shot from behind the goal line, a giveway from Caps goalie Jacob Riley from behind the net and yet another shot from behind the goal line. Noone said they had to be pretty... they just have to count. And make it count the Commandos did. Thank god goals are not rewarded on the basis of artistic merit.

Of course, the Caps were not to be denied on this night and a goal two minutes after Dieppe's equalizer from the stick of Jonathan Aubertin proved to be the winner. Great teams simply find a way to get the job done. However, teams that are teams will always make you earn every last point. I've seen enough in the last few weeks to say without conviction that the Dieppe Commandos of this season are one of those teams.

After the comeback game against Woodstock last week, combined with the strong, steady play the team has exhibited as of late, I'm not the least bit surprised at what this team accomplished last night. Adjusting the game plan, showing determination without (usually) crossing the line, finding a way to make the game interesting and, finally, displaying enough emotion at game's end to make it obvious to all in attendance that they were upset over the loss but not whiny about it. This team carries itself like a team that is experienced beyond it's years.

I always say that this Dieppe club could surprise almost any given opponent as the stretch drive and playoffs reach full swing... and although it does have something to do with the wealth of developing talent on the ice, the character displayed within this team gives me every reason to believe that as the season moves along and continues into next year, all bets will be off when opponents eyes a date with the Commandos on the calendar. If you aren't there to witness it, that truly is your loss.

Oh, and if you're wondering if things get any easier for Dieppe this week... the fact they play Fred Page Cup hosts Truro on the road Saturday night answers that question rather nicely.

The Cats are in Bathurst tonight, the first game of a three in three weekend. It's 1-0 Moncton as of this writing. Christophe Lalonde's powerplay goal (btw, could anyone imagine saying those words a year ago?) is the difference so far. In a season all about little battles along the way, this game in Bathurst represents yet another one for Danny Flynn and co. The last two game up in Bathurst have been rather disheartening affairs for the Cats. Much like earlier games against the Sea Dogs and Rocket, the prospect of earning two points off the backs of their neighbors from the north will be yet another important hurdle to clear for an ever improving Wildcats squad.

Oh and in the time in took me to write that paragraph, Dimitrij Jaskin was Dimitrij Jaskin... twice. And he's a 30 goal scorer as of now to boot. Can the Cats please get this guy an altered birth certificate... preferable one that reads "1995"? I mean, if Grigorenko can do it...

Finally, you want to know what's baffling about sports media today? The Yakupov goal and celebration (go youtube it for yourself but I can bet you've already seen it) was the lead story on Sportscenter tonight... and took up the first eight minutes of tonight's 7PM broadcast... the first of four times it was referenced (seven if you include the discussions on That's Hockey immediately afterwards). My thoughts? He's 18... he from another culture... kids are very different nowadays... and the NHL needs positive promotion more than ever right now. Also, it gets Theo Fleury on camera for another two or three minutes. Tell me again why this is not a good thing?

If it's Not One Island Team it's Another

Full marks to the Wildcats in their 6-1 victory over PEI last night. The effort from Moncton was actually at about the same level as the last time these two teams met at the Coliseum (also a 6-1 victory). There was nothing in terms of fisticuffs this time (and unlike last time)... and by the end of the game there was more emphasis placed on getting Yannick Veilleux the hat trick anyway (which he did). Priorities!

Dimitij Jaskin and Philipe Danault continued to show why the should probably be in a higher league by dictating the flow of the game on virtually every shift and racking up three and two points respectively. If there's one thing Danault does that I enjoy watching more than anything, it's protecting the puck in open ice. As soon as he gets the puck on his stick, he keeps his legs wider apart and pretty much cradles the puck on his stick. The closest I can come to describing it is that it's almost like watching a person in one of those races where you have to balance an egg on a spoon... someone whose an expert egg race balancer, that is. To do that as well as take on the increased defensive responsibility that a checking center absorbs makes him something special.

Then there's poor little Alex Dubeau... he's quickly going (once again) from the favorite whipping boy (and I will say that there have been times in which he needs to be better but some of the criticism was unwarranted) to a key factor in some of the more recent victories. As this team goes up, down and back up again it's becoming even more obvious that this team will live and die by goaltending. Fortunately, this recent string of weaker opponents appears to have been a boon for the Cats starting netminder. Last night, he passed what has pretty much been his hardest test of 2013 thus far with flying colors and stopped every puck thrown his way that he possibly could. This is what he must continue to do... and knowing that he can is comforting. Building on the success he's currently experiencing would be even more comforting. Hopefully he will do just that on Friday, when Moncton travels to Bathurst to face off against the Titan.

The focus now shifts from one island team to another as Dieppe plays host tonight to the Summerside Western Capitals at 7:30PM at the AJL. The Commandos are looking to build on a modest three game wining streak, while the Caps are looking to build on their slightly (and by "slightly" I mean "incredibly") less modest 12 game winning streak. Summerside hasn't tasted defeat since December 7th of last year in Woodstock. That was of course before they changed their personnel from "really good Jr.A roster" to "roster that could beat a few major junior teams". If you want an up close and personal look at players who've experienced the way of life in such wondrous OHL outposts as London or Sudbury, Ontario, come down to the rink tonight. This Caps team will be the most talented one you see all year at the AJL... but their opponent might be the most determined... and if you don't believe me, ask those aforementioned Woodstock Slammers.

The biggest storyline in tonight's game is, of course, the return of former Commandos' center/league leading scorer/league MVP candidate Danny Chiasson. Of course, Chiasson was dealt back on December 21st after requesting a trade. Despite the obviously frustrating situation it caused for the Commandos, GM JF Damphousse and coach Jeff Leblanc have downplayed the situation as much as possible, even looking at the positives that have come out of the unfortunate situation. The biggest one being the play of Shane Dallaire on the top line. When you have three players who look like they've been playing the entire season together after only one game - which was the case for Dallaire, Joel Blanchard and Robbie Graham - you know you have something good going for you. How will the that top line - and Dieppe's second line - fare against one of the toughest defensive units in all of the Canadian Jr.A ranks? What extra element might the return of Chiasson bring to the game, both in the Dieppe dressing room as well as on the ice? Can the Commandos play the Caps as close as they had before they bolstered their lineup (their last meeting on November 23rd being the lone exception)? Tune in or come down to the AJL and find out for yourself.

One thing I can guarantee from my perch in the booth. If the Commandos fail to come out on top tonight, it won't be due to lack of effort. Or confidence. So please, join us. The hockey is good. The beer is cheap. If that's not an invitation with arms wide open, I don't know what is.

What to Expect When You're Expecting the PEI Rocket

Now, you can automatically hold Josh Currie pointless, or you can trade that for what's in the box!

If you're the Moncton Wildcats, the answer to that question is "beats the hell out of me!"

So, do we get this? Or this? Or something completely different, like this? (last link only works on certain browsers)

One thing we do know is this: The Rocket will be without this guy... and this guy... and this guy. All suspended because of actions during this game.

And of course, the last time these two teams faced, Moncton had not yet acquired this guy... nor was this guy in the lineup. That has all since changed.

I would be remiss to not mention that this is (potentially) the first game that this guy will face this guy since the former fed the latter a stick sammich in the last Cats home game before this guy came to town.

So please, join me and about 3,500 other people tonight at 7PM at this building for some of this and perhaps some of this and if we're lucky, a bit of this.

History Repeating?

Over the years, I've closely followed many a hockey team in this area. Some teams have been weak, some strong and still others have fallen anywhere in between. There are certain teams however, that seem to come up with some defining moment or statement game that, in hindsight, galvanizes the entire roster and proves to both them and the people that cheer them on that there might be more to that team's character and potential than what meets the eye. It doesn't happen every single season, but when it does, it almost always leads to further success.

In the local junior hockey scene, an early version of the Moncton Wildcats fit that description to a tee.

Back in the 1997-98 season, the Wildcats were a team on the rise. After missing the playoffs the season before, the franchise - then in it's third year - was on the road to what would lead to it's first post-season appearance. The youthful core of the franchise - including Simon Laliberte, David Comeau, Mirko Murovic, Morgan Warren, Alexandre Vigneault and JF Damphousse - was gradually improving while gaining more and more experience in the league. A fine mix of veterans such as Weston Fader, Sebastien Roger and Francois Cloutier augmented this youth movement, as did the impact of a duo of Euro dmen in Alexi Tezikov and Jan Horacek. Still, this was a team that had it's ups and downs. The same team that went winless in 11 games in October followed that up with a 7-2-2 run. December was much of the same up and down play. More often than not, Moncton found a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Then, it all turned around.

That Christmas, the Cats traded Stephen Quirk straight up to the Halifax Mooseheads for Todd Row. Row was an overager with the Moose, a Memorial Cup champion with the 1996 Granby Predateurs and a natural leader. Row was in the lineup on January 9, 1998 when the Cats played host to Rimouski. L'Oceanic had been - and to this day remain - a constant nemesis for Moncton. They were also a pretty friggin great team, as evidenced about four months later when they were participating in the league finals. On this evening however, the Cats gave the 'Nics all they could handle... and it looked like the two points would wind up in the coffers of the home squad... until a goal in the dying seconds by gritty Rimouski sniper Francis Belanger - like Row, acquired by his new team that Christmas - evened the back and forth game up at four aside. To OT we would go.

In countless situations up until this point, the Wildcats had broken. They had not yet won a game under these circumstances - in large part because that type of winning atmosphere was still very much being cultivated in the room. There was simply too much talent on the roster that was still adjusting to life in major junior. A big step in the right direction for that edition of the Cats came to a head that evening. 3:38 into extra time, the aforementioned Mr. Row fed a perfect pass to a trailing Sebastien Roger as he made his way into the slot. Love him or hate him, Roger and his 53 goals were vital to the club that season. The ensuing shot off his stick this night would become goal #34 on the year for him. It would also be a defining moment for that team. That night they proved to themselves and everyone else in the building that even though "their year" was a year or two away, they were nonetheless capable of winning now, and against a formidable opponent at that.

They would win in very similar fashion exactly one week later against the eventual regular season champion Quebec Remparts, this time tying the game at 1-1 with just under a minute to play in regulation before pulling off another OT victory on a goal by none other than Todd Row 3:55 into the extra session. Overall, the Cats played a very consistent brand of hockey from the night of that overtime win over Rimouski until the end of the regular season, to the tune of a .648 winning percentage. They rode that wave into the playoffs where behind the stellar netminding of Damphousse (who's not paying me to put that in here but he could if he wished), Moncton upset Chicoutimi in six games in round one before coming within a game of sneaking through to the league semi-finals during a round robin against - ironically - Rimouski and Quebec. However, it was that game against a challenging opponent nine days after New Year's in 1998 that set the tone for how that team conducted itself on the ice for the next three months.

This year's Dieppe Commandos remind me of that Wildcats team in a number of ways. Both teams were relatively young. Both teams had a number of players who were still learning how to win at this level. Both had up and down first halves of the season. Both were very exciting to watch, making up for a fairly young d corps with a pop-gun offense that kept them alive in many a game. And now, both have made a statement in an early January game against a very tough opponent. For the Commandos, that moment was yesterday afternoon at home against Woodstock, a game which saw the Commandos come from 6-3 down to score four unanswered and defeat the Slammers 7-6. The big difference between the two clubs was the business they conducted during the Christmas trade period. While the Cats added a valuable veteran in Row, the Commandos biggest move was actually trading their leading scorer Danny Chiasson to Summerside. Since that trade, this team seems to have resolved to show everyone who will watch that they will find a way to win with who remains on the roster. They've done a pretty good job of convincing people thus far, going 5-2 since resuming play on January 3rd and - despite a couple of wins that were high scoring affairs - exhibiting a higher level of confidence that says to those watching that no matter what the score, they are not about to roll over.

One other similarity between this year's Commandos and that year's Wildcats is the fact that this is not supposed to be their year. Dieppe is built for success (and will be aided moreso come June) to win next year. However, just like the '98 Cats, there is a feeling that perhaps they will adjust that learning curve a bit. The team as it stands right now - in spite of some unorthodox methods of victory - is starting to develop the feeling that they will give any opponent a run for their money. A feeling that will be tested to the utmost Thursday night when Summerside comes to town. If they lose, to be brutally honest, noone will be shocked. But if they happen to pull it off - even if they make the Caps sweat it out in a close affair - they will go one step further in proving to themselves a very valuable lesson about competing, confidence and paving the road to victory.

That lesson being: it's never to early to start learning.

Miracle on Melanson

At about 4:15 today, I was thinking of how I was going to put into words the impending victory by the visiting Woodstock Slammers over the Dieppe Commandos this afternoon. At that point, Woodstock was leading 6-3 and with the win, would create a huge eight point divide between the two clubs in the race for second place in the Meek Division. The game seemed to be firmly in the hands of the road team. That's not to say the Commandos were playing terrible. They were hanging tough against a formidable opponent, certainly not mailing it in. It was just a matter of the Slammers holding a decent sized lead as the clock slowly began to wind down.

Fortunately for Dieppe, the clock ticked off slowly enough... and before 5 o'clock had arrived, I was in a situation whereby I would have to greatly change the direction this post was headed in.

As I already stated, it's not like Dieppe was playing terrible. In terms of territorial play, it was pretty even. Both teams were full marks in regards to using their speed through the neutral zone and playing a very strong passing game. Both sides had their chances... Woodstock was just the more opportunistic team.

I mentioned the other day in this blog that Dieppe could surprise most any team this season despite their relatively young (for this league) roster. The thing about this young roster is the fact that in spite of their age, they still have plenty of experience behind them. A guy like Blanchard or Murray or Martin (just to name a few) have enough miles behind them in the MHL. They know how to play while facing a deficit. They also know when an opportunity arises for them to take control of a game that no one was really taking full control of, despite the score. Today was one of those days.

When Mark Simpson finished off a two on one break 6:26 into the third to bring the Commandos to within two, my main concern was not giving one right back to Woodstock in a game that had featured previous flurries of offense (two goals in 1:10 in the first... two in :39 in the second). Dieppe had done a decent job of keeping the Slammers out of most of the prime scoring areas for the majority of the third and did not waver from that in the least, forcing the Slammers into lower percentage shots from the outside in the hopes of getting a tip-in out front. Dieppe simply continued to give Woodstock just enough space in the defensive zone to allow them to get shots off... just not enough for them to be shots of the dangerous variety. After Alex Murray popped home a rebound to make it a 6-5 game with just under seven minutes to go, Dieppe put things into high gear. A minute later, Joel Blanchard forced the tie. Less than three minutes later, the most fitting player of all in my estimation, Matt Bernier, capped it off for the Commandos.

A couple weeks back I had made mention of Bernier looking more and more confident with the puck, while using his speed and sense to both become a more effective rusher as well as close the gap and keep opponents on rushes of their own to the outside as much as possible. With Justin MacDonald still sidelined and Joslin Gallant out with illness, the Commandos were down to five defensemen for this game, thus increasing the role and the minutes played by Bernier, who actually made this team as a forward back in September. All he did was make the most of the time given to him, not to mention the space afforded him on the powerplay as he had a clear shooting lane in which to put the puck past Sam Renault and deliver the knockout punch to the Slammers in the biggest victory so far this season for Dieppe.

For the Commandos, that potential eight point deficit in the race for second place has been narrowed to a very achievable four. The more I watch the Slammers, the more I feel the Commandos have the potential to beat them at their own game. This is not the RBC Cup finalist Slammers that forced their will upon opposing teams all last season. The compete level and work ethic of this club has to be higher in order to win. They have to dig and grind for goals a little more and often, it isn't pretty but it's effective. If these two teams meet in the playoffs (which seems more and more likely) and the Commandos can gain an edge in nets - one of the few areas in which a series between these two could be decided - all bets would be off in a seven game series. Today's third period was a classic example of a team on a mission... and it's games like today's that make me feel fortunate to be in broadcasting.

A side note to this game: Alex St-Arnaud's stats line with the Commandos now reads as follows: 2-0, 5.50 GAA, .831 Sv Pct. You couldn't make something like that up.

Dieppe gets back to work on Friday night as Summerside comes to the AJL in a 7:30 showdown. This Caps team will pretty much look nothing like the Summerside team that last visited Dieppe back on November 23rd. However, on a positive note the Commandos will probably be familiar with how to best defend the Caps' top scorer.

In Saint John, the Wildcats showed everyone that getting one win over a team whom you've struggled against can be a huge step in the right direction. The Saulnier line scored in a five on five situation for the first time in nine games, eleven different players registered at least a point and Alex Dubeau kept the Sea Dogs at bay while things were still close, making 23 saves in a 7-0 win for the Cats. As tough as it is to continuously slug through games against lower ranked clubs, it has been a haven of sorts for the Cats as they both collect valuable points to stay in the mix with the other teams in the upper echelon of the Q as well as allow them to boost the confidence of those key players in the Moncton lineup. The Cats are back at it Wednesday night against - god help us - PEI.

Finally a crappy day for baseball yesterday got even worse. After the announcement in the morning of the passing of longtime Orioles manager Earl Weaver, the St. Louis Cardinals announced in the evening the passing of Hall of Fame outfielder/first basemen Stan Musial. For many years the National League's all time leader in hits, he played in an era that spanned from before the US's entry into World War Two until a few months before the assassination of JFK. He was also the owner of one of the most incredible statistical anomalies in all of sports. Of his 3,630 hits, 1,815 came at home, 1,815 were collected on the road. As it was stated in Ken Burns' outstanding documentary "Baseball", "He didn't care where he was, he just hit." For St.Louis, a city that loves it's baseball as much or more than any locale in the world, "The Man" will be sorely missed.

A Bad Day for Eagles, Tigers and Orioles

The Wildcats did the expected last night, defeating the Screaming Eagles 6-3. I said beforehand that it would be a surprise if this game was exciting, and I was correct. However, that's not a knock on either team. Seldom does it occur when a team closer to the top of the standings faces off against a team in the basement and it can be categorised as "exciting" - unless of course you're following the bottom feeder and are hoping for an upset. Nonetheless, you have to play them all... and two points are two points... and there certainly were some positives displayed on the part of the home team last night.

What else can you say about the line of Jaskin, Danault and Barbashev? There is not a more dominant line in the league in the admittedly short time since they've been thrown together. Of course, you're not going to get 30 points out of them in each three game span, but I feel there's not a team in the CHL that wouldn't have their hands full lined up against them. They've kept opponents guessing time and again in their own zone and the chemistry displayed between the three is a treat to watch. I'm very eager to see what these three can do against a top flight team. I have a feeling I won't be disappointed. Lucas Batt was a success in his debut, going in hard on the forecheck and looking more mature than your typical 16 year old playing major junior. Teamed up with Stephen Johnson and Ross Johnston, he managed a couple of decent scoring chances, one of which resulted in his first goal as a Cat. I look forward to seeing what he can bring to table in an increased role in the years to come.

I was less of a fan of how the foot was taken off the gas pedal in the final forty minutes, however. Although I understand the reasoning behind not wanting to run up the score, trying to avoid injury, etc. letting up while trying to maintain momentum is so difficult. I found too often the balance tilted more in the Screaming Eagles' favour than I would've liked to have seen. That being said, I would be lying if I said I was concerned. Last night was the fourth consecutive game against a team in 13th place or lower in the overall standings. Sunday's game in Saint John will make it five in a row. At some point, a schedule like this become as redundant and it is potentially beneficial. I also take comfort in the fact that there are still more positives to be derived from these games than negatives. As imperative as it is to secure these points against clearly weaker opponents, it would not be the worst thing in the world to see this team matched up against a legitimate contending team - something that will not occur until January 27th when Quebec comes to town.

Speaking of les Remparts... how would you like to have faced Sir Patrick after last night's game?

The Commandos picked up yet another big two points last night in Northern NB, defeating Campbellton 3-2. Alex Murray's goal midway through the third period allowed Dieppe to rally from 2-1 down to secure the victory behind a 28 save effort from Connor Wilkinson. Part of what makes this Commandos team interesting to watch - as well as habitually dangerous to most opposing teams - is their depth up front. Despite losing their top scorer at Christmas, they can still roll out two solid scoring lines... and on any given night, one or the other (or both) is more than capable of doing damage. Last night, the top line of Dallaire, Graham and Blanchard got things started, while the second line of Murray, Simpson and Cahill finished the job. The Commandos also remain perfect against Campbellton in this year's season series, holding a 4-0 advantage. As much as this team has next year to look forward to in terms of being a force in the MHL, they've given those who follow them many reasons to believe that if the chips fall in their favour, they could give teams fits this year as well.

On the flip side, one team that has given the Commandos fits is their next opponent, the Woodstock Slammers. The Slammers, currently second in the Meek division, are 3-0 against third place Dieppe this season, those six points representing the gap between the two clubs in the standings. If the Commandos hold out any hope of attaining that second spot in the Meek division standings - which would equal home ice advantage for Dieppe in round one of the MHL playoffs... and, ironically, see them face off against Woodstock if the season ended today - the drive has to start tomorrow afternoon against their Western NB rivals. One of the biggest of all regular season games among Meek division teams, Dieppe and Woodstock do battle in a 2:30 start at the AJL.

The puck hasn't even dropped on the NHL season yet and already I'm tired of all the "hockey's back" tripe being slung around the Internet. I'm pretty sure the game I've been watching since September was not underwater rugby. I also love how in the span of a month, my Twitter feed has gone from alot of "I'm never watching the NHL again" to "OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG it's back it's back it's back!!!!!!!!!!!". As a person who is also looking forward today's startup I feel the need to ask, is a little subdued middle ground too much to ask for? Another question: is Mike Richard's going to bring his dog out on the ice for the Kings' Stanley Cup Banner raising ceremony?

I think I speak for both my labrador retrievers when I say "I sure hope so"!

Finally, the baseball world is saddened by the passing of Earl Weaver, manager of the Baltimore Orioles during their heyday in the 1970's. There may never have been a man that got more out of his team or displayed so much passion for the game before or since. As well, if you enjoy a good baseball story, look up any number of them online involving this guy... because almost everyone who ever met him has one. As a result of his passion and personality in general, he also managed to become the incidental favourite of many a fan. This video should explain why. I would ordinarily simply post the video on here but given that this could be viewed by anyone, and despite it's ummmm.... "raciness", it's gets my point across better than anything. As much as I try and avoid anything that would be classified NSFW, this one you might not want to play with the speakers blaring. Consider that your warning. He was right about one thing in that video, however... he did make it to the Hall of Fame. Take that, Bill Haller!

A Few Quick Notes On Tonight's Game and Other Assorted Topics

Cats and Eagles... 7PM... Coliseum... a few observations:

- I will be surprised if this game is anything close to entertaining. I hope I'm wrong , but it almost feels like the Cats will be able to use this game to test out their new and improved lineup against a deeply rebuilding (still) Screaming Eagles team. Good as time to experiment, I suppose. One of those games where if it is exciting, it's probably for the wrong reasons.

- If you do happen to enjoy this game, do yourself a favor and venture out to the AJL on Sunday for the Commandos/Slammers game... because either Jr.A club would probably fare all right against Cape Breton at this point, sadly. 2:30 start in Dieppe, by the way.

- The Cats will be without the services of Connor Garland, who suffered a hand injury against Saint John on Wednesday night. That might be the most unfortunate side note to this game, as I would have truly enjoyed seeing Garland - who has seen his icetime understandibly reduced due to the return of Dimirtij Jaskin and the acquisition of Phillip Danault - get the opportunity to perhaps see some prime minutes against the Eagles.

- Tonight should mark the Cats debut of forward Lucas Batt, acquired from Victoriaville on deadline day. The 16 year old is a native of Lewisporte, NL (also the hometown of Cats assistant coach Darryl Seward). Hopefully, this debut is as successful as the last time a 16 year old player made his Wildcat debut after being acquired from Victoraville.

- Quebec and Blaineville will be without the services of Mikhail Grigorenko (Buffalo) and Stefan Matteau Jr (New Jersey) respectively for at least the next couple weeks as both have reportedly made the NHL out of training camp. Jonathan Huberdeau has also made the Florida Panthers, in a not terribly surprising turn of events. Should Grigorenko and Matteau manage to stick, the Remparts and Armada will certainly suffer huge blows to the rosters of their contentious clubs. I would think neither has tremendously high odds, though if I was to bet on one staying up, it would have to be Grigorenko, although Matteau might be the more "NHL ready" player between them, if that makes any sense.

- In a rare instance of me discussing Bruins news, Dougie Hamilton has reportedly made the Bruins out of camp. Although my sometimes color commentator Craig Eagles may not totally agree with the decision (based on his earlier tweet recommending Hamilton stay in Niagra for another year while the B's pursue Wade Redden), I would've been surprised had he not stayed in Beantown. Bruins brass has been higher on the offensive dman than any other prospect they've drafted in the last number of years, save Tyler Seguin. He's already mature and responsible on the blueline at 19. I admittedly do not get to watch the Ice Dogs too much but from all that I took in this season, it feels as if Hamilton was - despite still giving an excellent effort in the OHL - laying in wait until the NHL season finally started He's too advanced in too many facets of the game not to be in the pros right now and - much like a guy like Matt Dumba in Minnesota - is going to gain more from the experience of being in the NHL and getting his feet wet this year than he is continuing on at a level at which he has little else to personally prove.

- Commandos are in Campbellton tonight to take on the Tigers. Dieppe is perfect against Campbellton this season and usually finds a way to flex it's offensive muscles against a Tigers team that would seemingly have no luck if it didn't have bad luck. The Tigers have been stripped of their top three forwards in Grant West (traded to Truro), Andrew Meredith (signed by Bathurst) and Robert Pelletier (traded from Gatineau to Bathurst and now a regular with the Titan). The hard luck December the Tigers suffered made making the playoffs in the MHL go from an uphill battle to climbing a wet, slippery cliff with very few footholds.

Views on the Prospects Game... and Why I Should Stay Away From the Coliseum More Often

My venturing out into the snowy night bound for Halifax resulted in a less than stellar drive there and back (you know it's going to be a fun drive when the Cobequid Pass is one of the better stretches of road you encounter) as well as the chance to bear witness to Team Orr's 3-0 victory over Team Cherry in the annual CHL Top Prospects Game. Team Orr simply was the most composed squad, strongest on the puck in all three zones and the winner of both the very tight goaltending duel and the majority of races for loose pucks. They certainly made it feel like they had playing together for more than two days.

There are two things that people should automatically be warned about before watching any of these types of prospects games. The team's are brought together just days in advance and the prep time is minimal (partially by necessity  partially by design). As well, no matter who does what in one of these types of games, generally the top four or five players on most people's lists will remain in those slots. I've found more often than not that these are the games where the 10th ranked kid can get himself alot more noticed than the first or second ranked player... they are the guys who aren't making big headlines.Guys who for one reason or another need to be found out rather than the player finding you. There were a few great examples on the ice for both clubs.

From Team Orr, Laurent Dauphin was more than deserving of player of the game for his side. The best Q prospect on the ice last night, he was full marks for his two point performance, using quick feet and hands to wreak havoc in Team Cherry's zone most of the night. Not a bad performance for a player who originally wasn't supposed to be there. Anthony Duclair and Adam Erne were dangerous with the puck on their stick at every turn. Nikita Zadarov was the best defenseman on either side, the huge Russian from the London Knights punishing the opposition physically while displaying outstanding pose with the puck. Whoever picks this dman in the NHL draft could very well get a steal of a deal.

On Team Cherry, Ryan Hartman was one of the biggest attempted game changers for the guys in red last night, combing strong puck movement, physical presence and even a well timed scrap with Kirby Rychel (which yielded less than desired results for Hartman) to try and keep his club within striking distance. Jordan Subban gets my vote for strongest skater among Cherry's squad. A handful of players make you take notice simply from their strong work on the blades and for sure the 5'9" Subban was the best example out there last night. In nets, Tristan Jerry was simply outstanding. More than deserving of his player of the game nod, he simply shut the door on the hard charging Team Orr the entire second half of the game and looking more and more confident with each save. Perhaps noone made the most of their time on the ice at the Metro Center last night than the young Edmonton Oil Kings netminder.

Meanwhile, I might stop watching the Wildcats and Sea Dogs at the Coliseum... they seem to do better when I'm out of province. The Danault/Barbashev/Jaskin line continued to sizzle and Alex Dubeau bounced back from a shaky home performance Saturday night against Gatineau in the Cats' 7-1 victory over Saint John, their first win vs their provincial rival in five tries this season. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of that game as a person who wasn't in attendance had to be the fact that Moncton was full marks in looking beyond the record and roster of their opponent. In games against teams that are less talented on paper, getting past that bad habit is usually half the battle. They will get more experience in this discipline Froday night when they host the 17th place Screaming Eagles tomorrow night at 7.

The Commandos get back in the swing of things as well on Friday night, travelling to Campbellton to tackle the Tigers at 7:30. The Commandos are perfect against the Tigers these past two seasons and are looking to keep ahead of Miramichi in the hunt for third place in the Meek division and a date with the Woodstock Slammers in round one of the MHL playoffs. As tough as Woodstock would be to face in the post season, the other option is less than appealing. All the more reason for the wins to keep coming their way for Dieppe.

To answer some of the "viewer mail" from my last entry, I would mention the name of the first player drafted in Alpines history, but I wouldn't want his head to swell so large that he couldn't get through the door to our broadcast booth at the AJL. I will say that he was selected in the long defunct "Maritime/USA draft", which was held just before the regular midget draft. As well, the fact that Joe Robinson, who is indeed a good friend and is a gold mine for anyone who wishes to learn something - anything - about the game that you may not have known when you walked into the rink, was an honorary captain for the 1994 CHL All-Star Game. I will add it to the long list of things I probably should ask him about.

Going Prospecting... and Letting the Dogs In

The Cats are back in action tonight at the Coliseum. They host the Sea Dogs in the make-up of a game that was originally scheduled on December 30th but was postponed due to inclement weather. This turn of events has given Moncton the opportunity to face a Saint John team that's recently been purged of much of it's proven talent. Since their last matchup against Moncton on New Year's Eve, the Dogs have dealt forwards Stephen McAulay, Ryan Tesink and Aiden Kelly. As well, Jonathan Huberdeau - who was in Ufa, Russia the last time these two teams met - has since been granted an extended stay in the hockey hotbed known as South Florida thanks to Dale Tallon, Kevin Dineen and the hockey comedy duo of Bettman and Fehr. What does all this mean? Cats might win in a shootout this time. Remember, the Dogs have basically turned the Wildcats into a vending machine for points these last three seasons... plus the ever dangerous Noah Zilbert still lurks in the shadows of the Saint John roster.

I will not have the pleasure of taking this game in however, as I am soon making my way down to Halifax for the CHL Top Prospects Game. As a fan of exhibition matches between top level teams that is more playoff atmosphere than All-Star Game, I must say I'm looking forward to this event, as are the thousands of people in Halifax who just this season realised junior hockey existed again after a mysterious 4-6 year disappearance.

Although it's mostly lost to history now, before the Top Prospects Game came to be in the late 1990's, virtually the only exclusive CHL showcase event outside the Memorial Cup was the CHL All-Star Game. The third edition of this game was held at the Coliseum on February 1, 1994. Instead of Team Cherry vs. Team Orr, the squads were split into the "OHL/WHL Selects" (which would ironically pass nicely for "Team Cherry" anyway) vs. the QMJHL/Atlanic Selects". The O/W won 9-7, North Bay Centennials winger Jeff Shevalier leading the way with two goals and a helper. Notables on the Ontario/Western roster included Jamie Storr, Norm Maracle, Brendan Witt, Ed Jovanovski, Darcy Tucker, Jeff Friesen, Mike Peca, Jason Allison, Jeff O'Neill and future Saint John Flame Marty Murray. The Quebec/Atlantic roster featured, among others, Manny Fernandez, Eric Fichaud, Daniel Goneau, Mathieu Dandenault and future Fredericton Canadiens Alexi Lojkin and Martin Gendron. It also marked the first appearance behind the bench at the Coliseum for Ted Nolan, who was co-coach of the Ontatio/West contingent along with Brent Pederson. On the Q/Atlantic bench were two names that would become very familiar to junior hockey fans - and hockey fans in general - around this region: Guy Chouinard and Michel Therrien.

The game was hugely successful, with 6,380 fans cramming into the Moncton Coliseum (which back then still had those spectacular 1973 sunset orange lower bowl seats) to get what was for many their first taste of junior hockey at it's highest level since the split between Jr.A and major junior had been created more than two decades earlier. Of course at that time, Moncton was still an AHL city. The Hawks were going through a solid if unspectacular regular season at that point and the rumblings were becoming louder and louder that the parent club Winnipeg Jets were about to pull the plug on their affiliation with the city. Of course, many people at the time simply assumed that another NHL club would slide in to fill the void, as had happened no less than four times already in the city's AHL history.

In the end, the eighth place overall Hawks played out of their minds in April and May, reaching the Calder Cup finals before bowing out to what seemed to be an inhuman Olaf Kolzig and his Portland Pirates in six games. Winnipeg relocated it's affiliation to Springfield, MA, and that other NHL club never came to the rescue (unless you count the St.Louis Blues writing a letter to a potential investor saying "Good luck but no way in hell we're going there see you in Worcester, suckers" to be a rescue mission).

For an entire season after the departure of the Hawks, the Coliseum was left without a major tenant. Finally, in 1995, a group of investors, in part remembering the success of the CHL All-Star game, established a franchise that never really existed. The following season, the Wildcats set up shop in the Coliseum and everything was just A-OK and we all lived happily ever after and I don't know what you mean by this "Alpines" thing because that was clearly a figment of your imagination unless you mean the AHL Alpines because they happened but they happened only a very little bit and who is this Roddie MacKenzie fellow you speak of? Is he one of the redwiggers?

Also, don't forget (because you know there are absolutely no reminders out there already) the NHL is back up and running with regular season games starting this Saturday. Of course, it wouldn't be the start of the season without Habs vs. Leafs. If the Leafs are able to dress a full roster (I vote they just stop holding practises because of a rash of injuries and really what's the point?) and the Habs are able to get Scott Gomez in that cargo crate to wherever he needs to go in time, it should be a heck of an opening night.

A Win is a Win

I honestly didn't know what to expect going into yesterday afternoon's tilt between Dieppe and the Metro Shipbuilders. On one hand, Metro had a grand total of four wins to their credit all season going into this matchup. They were in the midst of an eight game losing streak and had gotten trounced in about the most thorough fashion possible the night before in Summerside. Oh, and they were dressing 13 skaters. On the other hand, they had roared out to a 3-0 lead against Dieppe in each of the previous three meetings between the two clubs this season, only to lose each time. In theory, Dieppe should win with relative ease. In reality, history says to expect the unexpected.

And of course, the unexpected happened. The Commandos won, 6-5, and just as the score indicates, it wasn't your typical, garden variety kind of win.

This gets my vote for most back and forth game of the season. There may have only been 13 skaters dressed for Metro, but they were 13 very determined players. As cliche as it sounds, Metro played a great road game. They certainly showed more patience and energy than a short-staffed last place team, they made the most of their chances when they got them and did a very good job at affording themselves extra time and space in Dieppe territory. Dieppe's breakouts were more effective overall, create the most dangerous chances around the Metro cage, but the top line of Dallaire, Graham and Blanchard appeared snakebitten by and large. Not to worry however, as the offensive prowess of Joslin Gallant and Cody Taker was there to pick up the slack. Yeah... it was one of those games.

By the midway point of the second it became perfectly clear that Dieppe's key to victory was going to be simply outlasting their opponent. They did... but barely. This game played out like some sort of cheesy horror movie. As soon as the intended victim appeared to in the clear, out of nowhere the villain would once again appear, each time in more and more absurd fashion. Mitchell Jones' goal to tie things up at five was not only a complete fluke, it was one of those type of goals that can deflate a team in a hurry. To the Commandos credit, they kept focus, came out strong the next handful of shifts, hemmed the Shipbuilders in their own zone for extended periods and were rewarded for their efforts with just under three and half minutes to go when Zach Cahill zipped a wrister on the rush from around the right faceoff circle past Metro goalie Maxim Feener for the game winner - a goal that Feener, who kept the Ships alive on more than one occasion - clearly wanted back.

For Dieppe's part, they weren't at the same level as they were against Miramichi last Sunday... but it certainly wasn't the worst game they've played this season, either. They just had time on their side, and they took advantage of that fact. Most importantly, this was the sort of game that once upon a time gave birth to the term "you win as a team, you lose as a team". This was most definitely a team effort. It was also enough of an effort to get Alex St-Arnaud the win in his first game in the MHL in a season and a half.

The Commandos are back at it Friday night when they travel to Campbellton to take on the Tigers in a 7:30 start. Last time Dieppe ventured into New Brunswick's far north, they won 8-4 and the bus caught fire on the way home. Hopefully only one of those things happens again this weekend.

Congrats to the Moncton Flyers on becoming the 2013 Atlantic Ice Jam tournament champions yesterday, coming back from 3-1 down after the first to defeat the Valley Wildcats 5-3. The 18-4-1-1 Flyers are back to their regular season schedule Saturday at 7:30PM when they host the Cornwall Thunder at the Red Ball Internet Center.

Finally, although I totally understand why the Canadiens have decided to make Scott Gomez stay home for the season, am I the only one who can envision this backfiring on the Habs? I mean, if this happened to Dustin Penner, I certainly wouldn't bet against it happening to 'ol Scotty boy.

Czech Mate!

Dimitrij Jaskin the Moncton Wildcats defeated Gatineau 5-3 last night, improving their record to 26-16-1, good for 7th place in the Q. In terms of territorial play, it was no contest. Moncton held the edge in puck possession, quality chances and overall play in all three zones. Based on the performance in nets, had the goaltenders been reversed the score could've been much more one-sided as Robert Steeves bailed his teammates out numerous times. It was quite obvious throughout the game that the O's were suffering from fatigue, this being their third game in four nights. They made the best of their situation, took advantage of a couple of defensive miscues and managed to get a couple of pucks past Alex Dubeau that I'm sure he'd want back. In the end, the better rested and more talented Wildcats prevailed... but man, did that ever feel like a closer game than what it should've been.

This game was a strong confirmation that this team will go as far as Dimirtij Jaskin will take them. Don't get me wrong, there were a number of bright spots out there last night. The Wildcats third line as it stands right now is certainly one of the very best in the league, as it has been for the last two months. Almost every time Mark Tremaine, Chris Lalonde and Ryan Penny step out on the ice, they dictate the tempo of the game and either maintain momentum for the Cats or steal it back from the opposition. Ivan Barbashev, moved to the left side on what I'm trying hard not to simply refer to outright as the first line with the acquisition of Phil Danault, had one of his stronger outings during a season in which he's progressively looked more and more comfortable on the ice. The defence as a whole were a strong unit, keeping opposing shots to the outside as much as possible while effectively controlling the breakout (except for when the brand new five forward powerplay unit was thrown out there, of course). However, Jaskin took control of this game when it was unnecessarily slipping away. Alot of players that have arrived in Moncton over the years could easily be labelled as "exciting". However, there are very few - if any - that have combined such a high level of excitement with the same level of effectiveness - particularly in the clutch - as #26 on the right side for Moncton has.

So, should the fact that this one player has continuously pulled the team's collective posterior out of the fire be a concern? In a way, yes... in another way, no. For me, I feel his play, as well as that of the top three line in general, should be viewed as an opportunity to spread the duties assigned to certain players around more than before.

As much as I appreciate what the Saulniers and their various linemates have brought to the table over the last three and half seasons, it's obvious they are no longer the "go to" guys for the game breaking offensive performance any contending team needs in order to survive. However, how much of this is connected to their use in key defensive situations as well?

Since the beginning of their 18 year old seasons, Allain and Alex have been the first players looked upon in powerplay situations as well as five on five. More often than not, they've also been the first over the boards for penalty killing duties, key defensive zone draws and any number of key late game situations. After so long, this responsibilty has to become taxing on any player. I'm not writing this to downgrade the twins, nor am I nessecarily bringing it up to question how they have been utilised by the coaching staff. What I am saying - or at least am hopeful for - is that with the acquisition of a more than legit second top centerman in Danault as well as the continual rise to prominence of the third line in all situations, perhaps the time has come that the reliance on the Saulniers to be the key factors on offense once again should be highlighted, while the reliance on them in certain other situations should be less pressing. This team could bring to the forefront a deeper arsenal on both sides of the puck that I feel is there already.

One thing I will say regarding the twins directly is this, however. They have an awesome kid centering their line. He wears #67 and Gerry Green is not exaggerating when he has in the past referred to him as a "bear". His name is Yannick Veilleux and sometimes, it feels like he gets lost in the shuffle when out there with his linemates. I'd like to see that line work with each other a little more consistently than they do now. It would make a ton of difference in the way opponents would have to strategize against this team night in and night out.

Over at the AJL this afternoon, the Commandos play host to the Metro Shipbuilders in a 2:30 start. The Commandos are looking for a positive outing after dropping a 4-1 decision in Woodstock on Friday night, while the Shipbuilders are just looking for anything that closely resembles a positive. Metro currently sits dead last in the MHL with a record of 4-32-0-1, they're in the throws of an eight game losing streak, they were trounced in Summerside last night by the score of 7-1 while being outshot by a mind-numbing count of 71-15, they traded their former top scorer - JP Harvey - at the deadline (ironically, to Summerside... he had a goal and an assist for his new team last night) and they're playing in front of the most paltry home crowds in the league. All signs point to the MHL leaving the Halifax Regional Municipality next season, the next two months being the Shipbuilders attempt at playing out the string as best they can.

However, they have had the uncanny ability to push the Commandos to the brink in each of their previous three meetings this season. They held a 3-0 lead over Dieppe during the Commandos home opener back on September 15th, only to lose 5-4 in a shootout. They once again led Dieppe 3-0 in their second meeting of the season at the Sportsplex on October 23rd, eventually falling by a final score of 7-4. Finally, on December 4th in Dartmouth, the Shipbuilders held a - you guessed it - 3-0 lead midway through the first before the Commandos came storming back, peppering Metro goalie Maxim Feener with 59 shots in a 6-4 victory for the road team. Can the road weary Ships make life interesting for Dieppe in this fourth and final regular season meeting? Time will tell.

Also this afternoon, the Moncton Flyers will attempt to defeat a familiar foe in yet another tournament final as the East Coast Ice Jam comes to an end this afternoon in Bedford. The 2PM start pits the Flyers against the Valley Wildcats, no strangers to each other this weekend or this season. It was the Wildcats that took the Flyers to OT in the Monctonian final in November before falling 3-2 to the hometown squad, the first Monctonian win by the host club since 1984. On Thursday night the Flyers prevailed once again over their Nova Scotia foes in the round robin by a final score of 5-4. The Flyers are hoping to build off the momentum of their - to this point - undefeated play, their most recent win a 4-2 semi-final decision over Rothesay Netherwood. For the Wildcats, they're simply hoping the third time's the charm.

Finally, if you were disgruntled at the actions of Gary Bettman and Donald Fehr during the lockout, it could've been worse apparently. Replace Fehr with Eric Cole and you're probably still looking forward to the end of the dispute.

Tonight is the First Game of the Rest of Your Season

Reading this will help with whatever comes your way from now until May... that, and rum.

All aboard the train to contention! First stop, the Moncton Coliseum, where the newly constituted Wildcats face their first test against the Gatineau Olympiques in a 7PM start. The never ending storyline on the Cats has been historically crappy home scheduling due to the multi-purpose Coliseum being contracted out for any number of sporting events, trade shows, teamsters meetings, etc. However, the stars have certainly aligned in favour of the arena's main tenant as tonight's tilt represents their only game in a 12 day span. Plus, they get to ease into things perhaps a bit more against a Gatineau team that has made a home for itself towards the bottom of the standings, partly due to circumstance.

The 'Piques come into tonight's game in 14th place, four games under .500 but still sporting a modest two game winning streak after a dominating victory in Cape Breton on Wednesday and a hard fought win over PEI last night. No matter where they are in the standings, you have to be leery of Gatineau. They still have one of the best coaches in entire CHL in Benoit Groulx and strong leadership on the ice with the likes of Thomas Hyka, Garbiel Bourret and in my estimation one of the most underrated players in the league, captain Taylor Burke. This Olympiques squad, slated to be one of the more contentious teams going into the season, has found itself spinning it's wheels at times. One of those reasons has potentially been rectified with the recent return of number one goaltender and Moncton native Robert Steeves, who had been lost since the first week of training camp with a knee injury.

What it all adds up to is for this "final look" Wildcats squad, now featuring newly acquired Phillip Danault and with World Junior returnee Dimitij Jaskin back in the lineup, this Gatineau squad may represent the best possible test coming out of the gate post-deadline day. How they fare against this team, who are better than their record indicates, should be a good measuring stick by which to gauge how they should look against most of the teams in the league, save the top 4 or so.

In Woodstock last night, the Slammers handed a 4-1 loss to the Dieppe Commandos. The top line of Graham, Dallaire and Blanchard accounted for the only Dieppe offence, while Woodstock certainly spread the wealth with eight players factoring into the scoring, including most recent additions Brennan Saulnier, Carlos Amestoy and former Mooseheads defenseman Steve Gillard.

Gillard, of course, became the "fourth overager" in Halifax last weekend after the Moose acquired forward Stephen McAulay from Saint John. I first had the chance to watch Gillard in his final season with the midget AAA St.John's Fog Devils. The team was the Newfoundland representative at the midget Atlantics tournament in Saint John that spring and out of all players on that St.John's roster, he impressed me the most. Even more than another 16 year old who is well known in junior hockey circles today - forward Zach O'Brien. Gillard was to the Fog Devils what Pierre Durepos was to the New Brunswick representative - and eventual tournament champion - Moncton Flyers during that tournament. An all purpose defenseman, steady in all three zones and incredibly poised and patient while eating up a ton of minutes on the back end. Although he was playing against players 14-16 years old that weekend, it was obvious even then that he would have no problem adapting to the older age group - and higher talent level - of major junior. Gillard did just that, quietly and effectively for three and a half seasons in Halifax.

He had been with that Mooseheads squad during some of their worst seasons and had only recently been rewarded for that patience before the club was forced to cut ties with him in what truly is the ugly side of the game. According to all accounts, Gillard took the setback in stride, wished his old teammates the best of luck and did what any understanding player would do - he immediately made tracks for his new home in Woodstock, without complaint. That type of professional attitude is something sorely missed at all levels of the game - and something that will no doubt be missed by the Mooseheads, both on and off the ice. If there's a player on an MHL team outside of Dieppe that I wish nothing but the best for from now until the end of the season, it's the former #44 of the Mooseheads. He gives the Slammers a dimension that other top flight teams sometimes find hard to possess amongst all their skill - a professional attitude and a calming influence in all situations.

As for the Commandos, they play host to the Metro Shipbuilders tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 at the AJL. Dieppe will be looking to get back into the win column while Metro will really, really, really be trying to do so. With only four victories to this point in the season, victories have unfortunately been few and far between for the Ships.

Over at the Levesque, les Aigles snapped a seven game losing streak with a big 4-3 win over Acadia last night. Pier-Anotine Dion's goal early in the third proved to be the difference as U de M improved to 8-8-3 on the season, tied for fifth place with UPEI. They'll be looking to make it two in a row tonight at 7PM as U de M hosts seventh place Dalhousie.

The Moncton Flyers continue to... well, fly... at the East Coast Ice Jam Tournament in Halifax, finishing 3-0 in round robin play after a 3-1 win over Cape Breton West yesterday and in the process, forgoing the wildcard round. This allows them to move directly to a quarter final matchup against Miramichi at 6:15 this evening.

So, pick your poison... find a rink and step inside. After this weekend we'll be all about that league that saves itself at the last minute because it loves it's fans so much (and because Donald Fehr had finally had the appropriate amount of face time as per CBA guidelines). Enjoy what we have around here while the choice is at it's easiest.

Time's Up, Pencils Down, Put Your Future Considerations Away

Today at 10PM marks the MHL trade deadline. The Commandos remained quiet on deadline day after acquiring defenseman Jeff Krichew from Amherst yesterday as well as welcoming back goaltender Alexandre St-Arnaud after finding himself the odd man out in Val d'Or. JF Damphousse is content to "let the kids play", allowing his still young lineup to gain valuable experience while setting the table up for what should be a powerful squad next season.

The epicenter for today's action was in Summerside, where the revolving door was open much of the day. Out are defenseman Dale Deon to Whitecourt of the AJHL and center Justin Thomas to the Metro Marauders (as well as that all-to-familiar Jr.A trading chip called "future considerations"). Coming into the fold are former Metro winger JP Harvey, gritty forward Luke Warner from Bridgewater and defenseman Michael Crocock from the Pembroke Lumber Kings. Certainly, the three acquisitions bring their own dimension to Summerside's lineup. Harvey possesses a solid set of wheels and a pretty wicked release. Warner's not going to get you 30 goals, but he'll make his new team seem that much bigger and create that much more real estate on the ice with his strong, steady physical presence. Meanwhile, Crocock brings a reputation as an effective two way man on the blueline with 12 points in 37 games with the Lumber Kings, where he was named to one of the defense slots for Team Canada East at this fall's World Jr.A Challenge in Yarmouth, where he was guided in part by former Pembroke bench boss - and Canada East assistant - Sheldon Keefe. As if Jr.A hockey wasn't already interesting enough on the island this season, things just got that much more intriguing for Billy and Co. It all adds up to possibly the most eventful second half in MHL history.

The Caps will get plenty of time to test out the new lineup early as they face off in Campbellton tomorrow night against the Tigers at 7:30 before heading back home to tackle recent trading partners, the Metro Shipbuilders on Saturday night at 7.

In Truro, the upcoming Fred Page Cup hosts received a boost with the acquisition of Mitchell Robillard from St-Leonard of the QJAAAHL. The 19 year old forward from St-Eustache, Quebec has been an offensive presence with 70 points in 72 games over the past two seasons with St-Leonard. For good measure, Robillard accounted for three goals in nine games with the Blaineville-Boisbriand Armada this season and his resume also includes a previous stint with the Drummondville Voltigeurs. The presence of the latest Bearcats import will hopefully add balance to a Truro team known mostly for their defensive prowess.

Meanwhile in New Glasgow, the Pictou County Weeks Crushers just upped their level of competitiveness by being the most recent recipient of a major junior player caught in the unfortunate numbers game. Wildcats winger Mitch Deruelle cleared waivers in the QMJHL yesterday and has been reassigned to the MHL. For the 19 year old Deruelle, he goes back to the team he averaged roughly a point per game with over the past two seasons. Had it been any other year, Deruelle would've remained a Cat. For that matter, the fact he was waived through the league leads me to believe that was almost by design as the New Waterford native can clearly play at the major junior level. The numbers game, combined with ties to the Crushers organization gives Pictou County not only a much needed boost to offense, particularly after the trade of Brennan Saulnier to Woodstock, but a surefire top end 20 year old player next year.

In Halifax, the Flyers are off to a fast start at the East Coast Ice Jam tournament. They started their day with a 3-1 victory over Rothesay Netherwood. Commandos affiliate Michael Poirier broke the ice for the Flyers in the second period, while current Wildcats and Western Capitals property Alex Bradley collected two points in the win. As of this writing, Moncton leads the Valley Wildcats 5-4 as that contest reaches it's latter stages. This has the makings of perhaps the marquee matchup of the round robin portion of the tournament, as Moncton defeated Valley 3-2 in OT on November 18 to capture their first Monctonian tournament win since 1984. The Flyers cap off their round robin tomorrow as they face off against Cape Breton West at 11:30AM.

Back home, the Cats take on Gatineau Saturday at 7, UdeM plays back to back home games against Acadia and Dalhousie tomorrow and Saturday respectively, while the Commandos, after hitting the road to Woodstock tomorrow night, head back home to face Metro Sunday at 2:30. Stay tuned; this weekend, just like any other, should be a great one for hockey in Greater Moncton.