SEA DOGS' QUARTET MAKES IMPRESSION
Published Thursday November 19th, 2009
QMJHL: Four Saint John players identified by NHL Central Scouting
SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs' success has led to some valuable exposure for several players in their draft year.
NHL Central Scouting recently released its preliminary rankings of Quebec Major Junior Hockey League skaters. Four Sea Dogs - Stanislav Galiev, Danick Gauthier, Stephen MacAulay and Kevin Gagne - are among the 25 players listed.
"Any time you have team success, more people watch you,'' Saint John head coach Gerard Gallant said. "That's what's going on with our team. We have some good players here and there's good team success.''
Proof of that success is a 13-game winning streak the Sea Dogs (21-4-1-0) carry into Friday night's game in Drummondville against the Voltigeurs (19-4-0-1). Aside from owning the best record in the QMJHL, Saint John is second in this week's Canadian Hockey League Top 10 rankings. Drummondville is fourth on the list, which is compiled by a panel of NHL scouts.
While Gallant understands the excitement that comes from extra attention, he's keeping an even keel.
"As a coach, I don't put a lot of stock into (rankings),'' he said. "We try to tell the kids to play their game and don't try to go out there and do something you're not capable of doing.
"If they (scouts) like you and they see what you're doing (within) a team game, the kids will get looked at and they'll get their chances. It's all about the team and if you work hard for your team, good things will happen after that.''
Galiev, a 17-year-old winger, is ranked seventh on the Central Scouting list. And while the Russian has seven goals and 22 points, he believes there's plenty of room for improvement as he progresses toward the 2010 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles.
"I (want to) play better in the D zone and (be) more physical and more aggressive,'' Galiev said. "It's good (to be ranked seventh), but I need to keep working hard.''
The 18-year-old Gauthier, who's ranked eighth, has chipped in with 13 points. But he's most proud of making strides in improving his overall game.
"I think maybe my defensive play is better (than last year),'' the 6-foot-2, 183-pound centre said. "I've worked hard on that and I'm going to try to get even better.''
MacAulay's defensive play has helped his stock as well. The 17-year-old forward admits he was a bit surprised to be on the list.
"I think my size (6-2, 171) probably doesn't hurt,'' said MacAulay, ranked 18th. "I grew quite a bit and gained a few pounds this past summer, and I'm playing more this year and getting more of a chance to show what I can do.
"It's a bit of extra motivation to know that your teammates appreciate what you're doing and other people, too. Hopefully, it leads to getting drafted and getting a shot.''
Gagne, a 5-8, 166-pound defenceman, is pleased that talent evaluators are noticing his skill more than his size.
"It's pretty exciting,'' the 17-year-old Edmundston native said about being ranked 25th. "I had a pretty good start to the season, so it's certainly nice to be considered (for the rankings). But I have to keep working hard and keep proving to them that I can play.''
Gagne, a 16-year-old rookie last season, came to training camp this year with plenty of motivation.
"Coming into the season I knew more about what to expect and how to prepare myself,'' he said. "This summer I trained really hard.''
BEST EVER: The Sea Dogs' No. 2 ranking is the highest the team has ever placed on the CHL's Top Ten list. Following are this week's complete rankings: 1. Windsor Spitfires, OHL (19-3-0-2); 2. Saint John, QMJHL (21-4-1-0); 3. Saskatoon Blades, WHL (18-3-0-2); 4. Drummondville Voltigeurs, QMJHL (19-4-0-1); 5. Barrie Colts, OHL (16-4-0-1); 6. Tri-City Americans, WHL 17-5-0-0); 7. Calgary Hitmen, WHL (18-6-0-0); 8. Mississauga St. Michael's Majors, OHL (17-4-1-0); 9. Kitchener Rangers, OHL (15-4-1-2); 10. Victoriaville Tigres, QMJHL (17-7-0-1).
SECOND STRAIGHT: The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League defeated Russia 8-3 to win the second game of the Subway Super Series Wednesday night in Shawinigan, Que. Buffalo Sabres prospect Luke Adam potted a pair of goals and added two assists for the QMJHL, while singles came from Kelsey Tessier, Gabriel Bourque, Marc-Olivier Vachon, Philippe Cornet, Jacob Lagace and Nicolas Deschamps. Kirill Petrov, Maxim Kitsyn and Nikita Pivtsakin replied for Russia. Adam gave the QMJHL a 1-0 lead at 2:05 of the first period, before goals by Petrov and Kitsyn gave Russia a 2-1 lead it took into the first intermission. Tessier's power-play goal tied the tilt 2-2 at 5:07 of the second stanza and Adam's second gave the hosts a 3-2 lead at 8:19 of the middle session. Bourque made it 4-2 just past the halfway mark of the second and Vachon scored on the power play just before the 13-minute mark for a three-goal lead. Pivtsakin's man-advantage marker pulled Russia within two just over a minute later, but Cornet's power-play tally gave the QMJHL a 6-3 lead at 16:13 that stood through 40 minutes. Lagace made it 7-3 at 4:22 of the third period. Deschamps notched another power-play marker at 17:38 of the final frame to complete the scoring.
SIDELINED: Moncton Wildcats forward Kirill Kabanov is scheduled to undergo surgery today to repair a wrist injury from late last season, according to the club's website. The 17-year-old Russian is expected to miss 10-12 weeks.
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