Dogs shake things up
Published Tuesday October 7th, 2008
Trade Saint John ships 20-year-old forward(to Val-d'Or, brings in another from the OHL
SAINT JOHN - For the second year in a row, Jacques Beaulieu has made an early-season move to shake up the Saint John Sea Dogs lineup.
The Sea Dogs coach and general manager sent 20-year-old forward Francois Gauthier to the Val-d'Or Foreurs Monday along with a fifth-round pick in the 2009 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League entry draft. In return, the Dogs receive a first-round pick in the 2009 Canadian Hockey League import draft.
Gauthier was moved to make way for another 20-year-old forward, Kyle Paige, who the Dogs brought in as a free agent from the Ontario Hockey League's Kingston Frontenacs.
"He's a big guy that can skate very well and he has a high skill level," Beaulieu said of the six-foot-one, 191-pound native of Richmond Hill, Ont. "I wouldn't say he's a power forward, but he's a skilled, big forward."
An eighth-round pick of the Guelph Storm in 2004, Paige played more than 200 games in the OHL with Guelph, the Oshawa Generals and Kingston. Last year he tallied 15 goals and 34 points in 68 games, earning himself a five-game stint at the minor pro level with the Utah Grizzlies of the East Coast League.
Paige was invited to rookie camp with the Edmonton Oilers, where he scored a game-winning goal for the Oilers prospects in an exhibition game against college all-stars. He also got a taste of main camp with the Oilers before being re-assigned to Kingston, but he didn't fit into one of their three 20-year-old spots.
"I was kind of home waiting for something to happen. It turns out this happened and I'm here," said Paige. "I'm excited. It's going to be a good experience for me coming to a new league with new players."
Beaulieu also made moves to bring in 20-year-olds in the early going last year, acquiring Alexandre Picard on Sept. 18 and Scott Howes on Oct. 2. The pair combined for 65 goals and 138 points, and Howes led the team in playoff scoring with 26 points in 14 games as the Sea Dogs advanced to the league semifinal.
Beaulieu said the toughest part of this deal was parting with Gauthier, whose play had nothing to do with the trade.
"He liked it here, he was at home here, and he took it pretty hard," said Beaulieu. "It's sad, but it's part of the game and it's part of my job to make this hockey club better. I wish him all the best and I know he's going to do very well there."
Gauthier had five points in 10 games and stood in as the alternate captain with captain Alex Grant out for the first seven games. He was a key part of Saint John's penalty kill, which sits sixth in the league with an 81.7 per cent efficiency rate.
"It's always tough to see a teammate leave," said Grant. "He was a great guy to have on the team, and around the dressing room he was well liked. That's the business of hockey I guess, you're not always secure."
Beaulieu said Paige is a similar player to Gauthier, but brings more size than the five-foot-nine St-Jean-Chrysostome, Que., native. The move also puts the Dogs in better shape to fill their two import slots next year. He expects defenceman David Stich and goalie Robert Mayer to graduate to the pro ranks next season.
If Val-d'Or (0-7-1) continues to struggle, the pick could end up being a high one.
"I don't want to wish them bad luck, but we feel their pick is going to be better than ours," said Beaulieu.
Paige, who has never even been to the Maritimes before, arrived Sunday night and skated Monday. He should be in the lineup Wednesday when the Sea Dogs (4-6) host the Prince Edward Island Rocket (2-4-0-1) at 7 p.m.
"I think I'm a two-way forward. I can play a checking role and I can also play power play and hopefully put some points up," said Paige.
"He looked good out there," said Grant after getting a glimpse Monday. "He's a good skater, and he's got a good shot. Hopefully he can put the puck in the net a few times for us this year and work hard every night, which is what we need to get on a little run here."
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NOTES: Paige was drafted into the OHL the same year Sea Dogs forward Payton Liske went 12th overall to the Owen Sound Attack. Liske is the only player he knows on the Sea Dogs. Paige was selected ahead of goaltender Steve Mason, a Columbus Blue Jackets prospect who was the top goaltender and most valuable player at the 2008 World Junior Championship. €¦The Oilers re-assigned Paige to junior at the same time as Anthony Pisano, who remains on the Sea Dogs protected list but is playing with the Pictou County Weeks Crushers of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League. The six-foot-six, 245-pound enforcer is tied for third in the MJAHL with 61 penalty minutes in just six games.
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