hockey123
11-18-2009, 03:33 AM
Friesen makes IceDogs tick
Posted By BILL POTRECZ, Standard Staff
Posted 10 hours ago
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The Niagara IceDogs didn't need to lose Alex Friesen to discover how valuable he was to their lineup.
The IceDogs have always considered the 18-year-old Niagara-on-the-Lake native a key component to their success. But after winning just one of four games without Friesen in the lineup, it's become even more clear the feisty forward is what makes the IceDogs tick.
"It's a big hole to fill," Niagara head coach Mike McCourt said of Friesen's absence. "He's brings that leadership and the intangibles. He works so hard.
"It's tough to replace that, but it's an opportunity for other guys to get more minutes and make a bigger contributions."
Friesen, who had 11 goals and 33 points in 64 games last season, already had 12 goals and 24 points in just 20 games when he was injured in a game against the Erie Otters Nov. 6. Friesen hurt his shoulder when he was hit by Otters' defenceman David Shields with a clean, open-ice hit.
"It was a little disappointing," Friesen said. "I thought we were kind of getting on a roll.
"Whenever you go down, it's not a good thing. You always want to be there to help your team. Watching the games in the last thing you want to do.
"It happens. It's hockey and you have to work hard to get back."
Friesen laid low last week and was held out of practice, but was back on the ice Tuesday. He worked out hard with athletic therapist Pete Dobbin before the rest of the team hit the ice.
Friesen reported some general soreness in the shoulder, but is hopeful of getting back in action this weekend.
Niagara, 8-12-2-2, has a rare Thursday off this week. The IceDogs are in Mississauga (17-4-1) Friday and home to Peterborough (11-2-0) Saturday.
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Friesen, who was relatively injury-free last season, said timing is the biggest obstacle to overcome.
"Your timing is always a little off Friesen said. "Earlier in the season, I missed a couple of practices and then played that weekend and it was tough. It takes a couple of games to get back into it.
"Missing a week of practice, the timing is going to be off a little."
Friesen said he doesn't particularly enjoy watching his teammates play.
"It drive me nuts, I don't like to watch it," he said. "Obviously, I do watch it.
"I want to pick out some things to tell our players or give some input back. I don't want to sit there and do nothing and not watch the game. I want to have something to do with it."
Friesen said his availability Friday will likely be a game-time decision.
"It's got to be where you're not second-guessing yourself if you go to hit someone or take a hit or shoot," he said.
McCourt said the team will be careful with Friesen.
"Pete (Dobbin) does a great job … as long as you can't re-injure it." McCourt said. "We don't want a setback."
Ice chips: Niagara forward Freddie Hamilton was ranked 17th among OHL skaters and goaltender Mark Visentin was ranked the No. 1 OHL netminder by NHL Central Scouting in the OHL's preliminary rankings for the 2010 NHL draft.… Justin Shugg of Windsor, a Niagara Falls native, was ranked 11th.… Former St. Catharines Falcons centre Riley Sheahan, now at Notre Dame, was the lone CCHA (Central Collegiate Hockey Association) player with an A ranking.… The IceDogs have allowed 94 goals through 24 games, the most of any team in the Central Division. Only Owen Sound (105) and Belleville (95) have given up more.… Friesen leads the IceDogs in plus-minus with a plus-14. Johnson Andrews brings up the rear at minus-11.
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Posted By BILL POTRECZ, Standard Staff
Posted 10 hours ago
<TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD style="WIDTH: 521px"></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
The Niagara IceDogs didn't need to lose Alex Friesen to discover how valuable he was to their lineup.
The IceDogs have always considered the 18-year-old Niagara-on-the-Lake native a key component to their success. But after winning just one of four games without Friesen in the lineup, it's become even more clear the feisty forward is what makes the IceDogs tick.
"It's a big hole to fill," Niagara head coach Mike McCourt said of Friesen's absence. "He's brings that leadership and the intangibles. He works so hard.
"It's tough to replace that, but it's an opportunity for other guys to get more minutes and make a bigger contributions."
Friesen, who had 11 goals and 33 points in 64 games last season, already had 12 goals and 24 points in just 20 games when he was injured in a game against the Erie Otters Nov. 6. Friesen hurt his shoulder when he was hit by Otters' defenceman David Shields with a clean, open-ice hit.
"It was a little disappointing," Friesen said. "I thought we were kind of getting on a roll.
"Whenever you go down, it's not a good thing. You always want to be there to help your team. Watching the games in the last thing you want to do.
"It happens. It's hockey and you have to work hard to get back."
Friesen laid low last week and was held out of practice, but was back on the ice Tuesday. He worked out hard with athletic therapist Pete Dobbin before the rest of the team hit the ice.
Friesen reported some general soreness in the shoulder, but is hopeful of getting back in action this weekend.
Niagara, 8-12-2-2, has a rare Thursday off this week. The IceDogs are in Mississauga (17-4-1) Friday and home to Peterborough (11-2-0) Saturday.
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Friesen, who was relatively injury-free last season, said timing is the biggest obstacle to overcome.
"Your timing is always a little off Friesen said. "Earlier in the season, I missed a couple of practices and then played that weekend and it was tough. It takes a couple of games to get back into it.
"Missing a week of practice, the timing is going to be off a little."
Friesen said he doesn't particularly enjoy watching his teammates play.
"It drive me nuts, I don't like to watch it," he said. "Obviously, I do watch it.
"I want to pick out some things to tell our players or give some input back. I don't want to sit there and do nothing and not watch the game. I want to have something to do with it."
Friesen said his availability Friday will likely be a game-time decision.
"It's got to be where you're not second-guessing yourself if you go to hit someone or take a hit or shoot," he said.
McCourt said the team will be careful with Friesen.
"Pete (Dobbin) does a great job … as long as you can't re-injure it." McCourt said. "We don't want a setback."
Ice chips: Niagara forward Freddie Hamilton was ranked 17th among OHL skaters and goaltender Mark Visentin was ranked the No. 1 OHL netminder by NHL Central Scouting in the OHL's preliminary rankings for the 2010 NHL draft.… Justin Shugg of Windsor, a Niagara Falls native, was ranked 11th.… Former St. Catharines Falcons centre Riley Sheahan, now at Notre Dame, was the lone CCHA (Central Collegiate Hockey Association) player with an A ranking.… The IceDogs have allowed 94 goals through 24 games, the most of any team in the Central Division. Only Owen Sound (105) and Belleville (95) have given up more.… Friesen leads the IceDogs in plus-minus with a plus-14. Johnson Andrews brings up the rear at minus-11.
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