Lois
11-18-2008, 03:47 PM
The Standard
Tuesday November 18, 2008
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplayPhoto.aspx?img=%2fImages%2fContent%2 f45%2f2008%2f11%2fw1118200893403tpkgxt45kghxxx2xip xshgml1.jpg&w=300 (http://photos.stcatharinesstandard.ca/mycapture/enlarge.asp?image=21314508)
STAFF PHOTO BY BOB TYMCZYSZYN Alex Pietrangelo is back in Niagara IceDogs colours.
Towering presence
Alex Pietrangelo takes return to IceDogs in stride
Posted By JIM WALLACE , STANDARD STAFF
Posted 9 hours ago
<TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD style="WIDTH: 521px"></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Alex Pietrangelo doesn't plan to dumb down his game just because he's returned to the Niagara IceDogs. Quite the opposite, in fact -- he wants to improve.
The St. Louis Blues returned the NHL's fourth pick overall in the 2008 entry draft to the Ice- Dogs last week and rather than sulk about the move, the 6-foot- 4 King City native went out and collected three assists in his first game in an IceDogs' uniform this season in a 6-2 win over the Peterborough Petes.
"It was tough coming back and knowing I could be there (in St. Louis), but I have to make the best of it," he said prior to practice Tuesday at Jack Gatecliff Arena.
Pietrangelo made the best of his eight games with St. Louis. He was even in the plus-minus ratings and collected an assist while playing about 20 minutes a game.
But more than that, he brings a wealth of knowledge to pass on to his teammates.
Named team captain in the pre-season, Pietrangelo will carry the C for the rest of the season and do what he does best -- lead by example.
"I had two months in that atmosphere and it's good to bring it back," the 18-year-old said. "The young guys have a lot of questions for me, so I'm happy to answer them."
Pietrangelo, who was also named to play in next week's ADT Canada-Russia 2008 Challenge game at Jack Gatecliff Arena, said one of the first things he learned was have to go almost full tilt the whole game to keep up at the NHL level.
"When you're up there, you can't take any shifts off. You have to play 60 minutes. Guys are too good and take advantage of it (if you don't).
"It's go, go, go all the time." Pietrangelo said there's also a big difference in pace, adding, "You really don't realize it until you're there how quick the guys are.
"When you're up there, you're going just as fast because you have to keep up. If I didn't, I wouldn't have been there."
He added that it actually took being on the ice with the players to realize what it was like.
"It's a totally different experience."
General manager Dave Brown said he's already noticed a difference in the IceDogs players with Pietrangelo back.
"It's made an immediate impact in how we approach the game, our demeanour before and after the game," he said. "He's a pro and they're kind of watching what he does and following suit.
"He's a professional now and carries himself like a professional"
Brown said if there's any player who could handle the disappointment of returning to junior, it would be his team captain.
"I've said it a million times and I'll say it again, the best thing about Alex Pietrangelo is that he's a grounded, down-to-earth person, and that's the most refreshing thing."
Brown said as a leader, Pietrangelo will do all the things he needs to get back to the NHL.
"A week ago, he's riding 747s, got great meals, a great per diem, he's in big cities and 17,000 people at every game. And now, he's back in the Ontario Hockey League and he hasn't changed a thing about himself."
Brown said Pietrangelo kept track of the team by speaking with players, either by telephone or text messages, over the past few months.
"He was the leader of our hockey team, whether he was here or he wasn't here."
The big rearguard said he had no inkling last Wednesday's game in Buffalo would be has final game in a Blues uniform for a while.
"I didn't have any idea," he said. "It's always disappointing when something like this happens."
Still, he knows he's made the first step and is now driven harder to take the step back up and stay in the NHL.
"I have to stay in a good frame of mind," he said. "They want to see me succeed here as much as they want me to succeed up there.
"They sent me down here for a reason, so they're going to make sure they keep tabs on how I'm doing."
IceDogs fans get their chance to welcome Pietrangelo back Saturday night at Jack Gatecliff Arena against the Sudbury Wolves. The team plays the second of rare back-to-back home games Sunday afternoon against the Kingston Frontenacs.
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1301698
<!-- Updated by Sunjoyo on July 18, 2008, as per Mantis Bug Request on July 17, 2008-->
Tuesday November 18, 2008
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplayPhoto.aspx?img=%2fImages%2fContent%2 f45%2f2008%2f11%2fw1118200893403tpkgxt45kghxxx2xip xshgml1.jpg&w=300 (http://photos.stcatharinesstandard.ca/mycapture/enlarge.asp?image=21314508)
STAFF PHOTO BY BOB TYMCZYSZYN Alex Pietrangelo is back in Niagara IceDogs colours.
Towering presence
Alex Pietrangelo takes return to IceDogs in stride
Posted By JIM WALLACE , STANDARD STAFF
Posted 9 hours ago
<TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD style="WIDTH: 521px"></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Alex Pietrangelo doesn't plan to dumb down his game just because he's returned to the Niagara IceDogs. Quite the opposite, in fact -- he wants to improve.
The St. Louis Blues returned the NHL's fourth pick overall in the 2008 entry draft to the Ice- Dogs last week and rather than sulk about the move, the 6-foot- 4 King City native went out and collected three assists in his first game in an IceDogs' uniform this season in a 6-2 win over the Peterborough Petes.
"It was tough coming back and knowing I could be there (in St. Louis), but I have to make the best of it," he said prior to practice Tuesday at Jack Gatecliff Arena.
Pietrangelo made the best of his eight games with St. Louis. He was even in the plus-minus ratings and collected an assist while playing about 20 minutes a game.
But more than that, he brings a wealth of knowledge to pass on to his teammates.
Named team captain in the pre-season, Pietrangelo will carry the C for the rest of the season and do what he does best -- lead by example.
"I had two months in that atmosphere and it's good to bring it back," the 18-year-old said. "The young guys have a lot of questions for me, so I'm happy to answer them."
Pietrangelo, who was also named to play in next week's ADT Canada-Russia 2008 Challenge game at Jack Gatecliff Arena, said one of the first things he learned was have to go almost full tilt the whole game to keep up at the NHL level.
"When you're up there, you can't take any shifts off. You have to play 60 minutes. Guys are too good and take advantage of it (if you don't).
"It's go, go, go all the time." Pietrangelo said there's also a big difference in pace, adding, "You really don't realize it until you're there how quick the guys are.
"When you're up there, you're going just as fast because you have to keep up. If I didn't, I wouldn't have been there."
He added that it actually took being on the ice with the players to realize what it was like.
"It's a totally different experience."
General manager Dave Brown said he's already noticed a difference in the IceDogs players with Pietrangelo back.
"It's made an immediate impact in how we approach the game, our demeanour before and after the game," he said. "He's a pro and they're kind of watching what he does and following suit.
"He's a professional now and carries himself like a professional"
Brown said if there's any player who could handle the disappointment of returning to junior, it would be his team captain.
"I've said it a million times and I'll say it again, the best thing about Alex Pietrangelo is that he's a grounded, down-to-earth person, and that's the most refreshing thing."
Brown said as a leader, Pietrangelo will do all the things he needs to get back to the NHL.
"A week ago, he's riding 747s, got great meals, a great per diem, he's in big cities and 17,000 people at every game. And now, he's back in the Ontario Hockey League and he hasn't changed a thing about himself."
Brown said Pietrangelo kept track of the team by speaking with players, either by telephone or text messages, over the past few months.
"He was the leader of our hockey team, whether he was here or he wasn't here."
The big rearguard said he had no inkling last Wednesday's game in Buffalo would be has final game in a Blues uniform for a while.
"I didn't have any idea," he said. "It's always disappointing when something like this happens."
Still, he knows he's made the first step and is now driven harder to take the step back up and stay in the NHL.
"I have to stay in a good frame of mind," he said. "They want to see me succeed here as much as they want me to succeed up there.
"They sent me down here for a reason, so they're going to make sure they keep tabs on how I'm doing."
IceDogs fans get their chance to welcome Pietrangelo back Saturday night at Jack Gatecliff Arena against the Sudbury Wolves. The team plays the second of rare back-to-back home games Sunday afternoon against the Kingston Frontenacs.
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1301698
<!-- Updated by Sunjoyo on July 18, 2008, as per Mantis Bug Request on July 17, 2008-->