WellandDogsFan
09-14-2007, 08:31 AM
IceDogs bite Whalers; More than 2,000 fans take in OHL exhibition contest
Posted By JIM WALLACE
Posted 8 hours ago
Just as Luca Caputi tasted life in the National Hockey League this week, more than 2,000 fans at Jack Gatecliff Arena Thursday night had their first glimpse of how good the Niagara IceDogs might be.
Caputi returned Wednesday from the Pittsburgh Penguins training camp and sat out a game against the Owen Sound Attack, but was in uniform Thursday as the IceDogs crushed the Plymouth Whalers 10-1 in their final home exhibition game.
The 6-foot-3, 180-pound left winger collected three assists in two periods and showed why the IceDogs made him a second-round draft pick in 2004.
The gritty, physical style of play is exactly what the Penguins want to see all season, he said.
"They told me to come back and play the same way and they'll be monitoring me," said Caputi, who was the Penguins' fourth-round pick (111th overall) in the 2007 entry draft. "I'm just looking to play for an NHL contract."
Which also wouldn't be so bad, especially after spending a few days in the rookie camp.
"It gave me a little taste of something I'll cherish forever," he said. "It's a lot different. They act professionally on and off the ice, every pass is on the tape and they do the little things so well.
"You can make a living dumping the puck off the glass - a million dollars for doing that. I'd like to be one of those guys," he added with a grin.
Although he did skate with phenom Sidney Crosby during the summer months, the Penguins captain wasn't scheduled to show up until today - it's pretty obvious there's a roster spot for Crosby.
"You don't want to overwork that guy because they'll do that over the year," Caputi said with another smile.
IceDogs head coach Mario Cicchillo had mixed feelings about the 18-year-old Vaughan native returning to junior.
"I thought Pittsburgh would have brought him to the main camp," he said. "I feel sorry for him, but I'm happy for us because we've got him back."
The team also welcomed back Jordan Foreman from the Edmonton camp, Andrew Merrett from an injury and Chris DeSousa from a suspension. Still away are goaltender Andrew Loverock (Montreal), Matt Corrente (New Jersey), Stefan Legein (Columbus) and Drew Schiestal (Buffalo). Although they only led 1-0 after the first period, the IceDogs extended the margin to 7-0 in the second to win going away against last year's OHL champions, which lost the core of its team to graduation.
There was also a spirited fight involving 10 players - six from Niagara. When the dust settled, Alex Pietrangelo, Foreman, Vladimir Bessenov and St. Catharines Falcons rearguard Jeff Amadio were gone with game misconducts. Paul Gismondi was also assessed a game misconduct for coming off the bench and Caputi was hit with a 10-minute misconduct.
Mike Yovanic, who started the fight with Pietrangelo, Jozef Sladok and Emyle Morgan all were assessed fighting majors and game misconducts for their part.
There most certainly will be suspensions arising from the fight.
On the hockey side of the ledger, Mike Swift led the IceDogs to their first win under the Niagara banner with three goals and an assist. Reggie Traccitto added a pair and singles went to Niagara-on-the-Lake's Alex Friesen, Merrett, Foreman, Jason Bergeron and Steven Ceccanese.
Josh Bemis spoiled the shutout bid by scoring on Adrian Volpe, who replaced starter Jhase Sniderman midway through the game, in the third period.
The IceDogs outshot the Whalers 52-17, giving the fans a glimpse of what might be in the future.
"We're not going to score that many goals every night," Cicchillo said, "but this will be a very exciting hockey club to come here and watch."
jwallace@stcatharinesstandard.ca
Posted By JIM WALLACE
Posted 8 hours ago
Just as Luca Caputi tasted life in the National Hockey League this week, more than 2,000 fans at Jack Gatecliff Arena Thursday night had their first glimpse of how good the Niagara IceDogs might be.
Caputi returned Wednesday from the Pittsburgh Penguins training camp and sat out a game against the Owen Sound Attack, but was in uniform Thursday as the IceDogs crushed the Plymouth Whalers 10-1 in their final home exhibition game.
The 6-foot-3, 180-pound left winger collected three assists in two periods and showed why the IceDogs made him a second-round draft pick in 2004.
The gritty, physical style of play is exactly what the Penguins want to see all season, he said.
"They told me to come back and play the same way and they'll be monitoring me," said Caputi, who was the Penguins' fourth-round pick (111th overall) in the 2007 entry draft. "I'm just looking to play for an NHL contract."
Which also wouldn't be so bad, especially after spending a few days in the rookie camp.
"It gave me a little taste of something I'll cherish forever," he said. "It's a lot different. They act professionally on and off the ice, every pass is on the tape and they do the little things so well.
"You can make a living dumping the puck off the glass - a million dollars for doing that. I'd like to be one of those guys," he added with a grin.
Although he did skate with phenom Sidney Crosby during the summer months, the Penguins captain wasn't scheduled to show up until today - it's pretty obvious there's a roster spot for Crosby.
"You don't want to overwork that guy because they'll do that over the year," Caputi said with another smile.
IceDogs head coach Mario Cicchillo had mixed feelings about the 18-year-old Vaughan native returning to junior.
"I thought Pittsburgh would have brought him to the main camp," he said. "I feel sorry for him, but I'm happy for us because we've got him back."
The team also welcomed back Jordan Foreman from the Edmonton camp, Andrew Merrett from an injury and Chris DeSousa from a suspension. Still away are goaltender Andrew Loverock (Montreal), Matt Corrente (New Jersey), Stefan Legein (Columbus) and Drew Schiestal (Buffalo). Although they only led 1-0 after the first period, the IceDogs extended the margin to 7-0 in the second to win going away against last year's OHL champions, which lost the core of its team to graduation.
There was also a spirited fight involving 10 players - six from Niagara. When the dust settled, Alex Pietrangelo, Foreman, Vladimir Bessenov and St. Catharines Falcons rearguard Jeff Amadio were gone with game misconducts. Paul Gismondi was also assessed a game misconduct for coming off the bench and Caputi was hit with a 10-minute misconduct.
Mike Yovanic, who started the fight with Pietrangelo, Jozef Sladok and Emyle Morgan all were assessed fighting majors and game misconducts for their part.
There most certainly will be suspensions arising from the fight.
On the hockey side of the ledger, Mike Swift led the IceDogs to their first win under the Niagara banner with three goals and an assist. Reggie Traccitto added a pair and singles went to Niagara-on-the-Lake's Alex Friesen, Merrett, Foreman, Jason Bergeron and Steven Ceccanese.
Josh Bemis spoiled the shutout bid by scoring on Adrian Volpe, who replaced starter Jhase Sniderman midway through the game, in the third period.
The IceDogs outshot the Whalers 52-17, giving the fans a glimpse of what might be in the future.
"We're not going to score that many goals every night," Cicchillo said, "but this will be a very exciting hockey club to come here and watch."
jwallace@stcatharinesstandard.ca