hockey123
03-11-2010, 06:45 AM
Top Dog looking ahead
COLUMN
Posted By BERNIE PUCHALSKI
Posted 1 hour ago
Mark Visentin isn't spending much time thinking about winning last week's Ontario Hockey League player-of-the-week honours.
"I'm trying not to focus too much on that. I'm trying to focus more on this weekend and winning," the 17-year-old Waterdown native said of being the first IceDogs player to win the award this season.
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Last week, Visentin went 3-0 with a goals-against average of 1.30 and save percentage of .963. In 52 games this season, he has a goals-against average of 3.09 and a save percentage of .909.
The 6-foot-1, 186-pounder has relished the opportunity to play a ton down the stretch for Niagara.
"It's fine. Obviously fatigue may come in, but fatigue is all mental and I'm running on adrenaline right now which is always good. Playing every game was my goal to do and obviously I'm enjoying it."
Visentin's fine play has put Niagara in charge of its own playoff destiny. Niagara is in seventh spot and four points up on ninth-place Oshawa with three games to play.
"That has kind of been our motto that we control our own destiny," Visentin said. "Obviously, last weekend was huge for us. We knew if we lost a couple of games we would have lost ground because everyone else won as well.
"Last weekend was crucial and we know we need to win this weekend as well to clinch a spot."
He says there wasn't any one turning point for the IceDogs this season.
"I think we just came together as a team. We started playing our own style of game instead of playing against the other team's style. We slowly got better and better and started believing we could win."
Having Visentin as the last line of defence certainly enhances that belief.
"His hard work, his commitment and the way he handles and prepares himself for games and practices has shown in the results," IceDogs head coach Mike McCourt said. "We challenged him to run with the ball down the stretch and he accepted that challenge and relished in it.
"All good goaltenders want that responsibility."
ANDREWS FINDS TOUCH
Johnson Andrews is starting to contribute a lot more than fisticuffs and a physical presence for the Niagara IceDogs.
After netting three goals in his first 53 games, the 19-year-old Niagara-on-the-Lake native has potted four goals in his past nine contests.
"I've been getting a couple more opportunities to get on the ice and put the puck in the net and I'm trying to make the most of every chance that I get," the 6-foot-1, 205-pounder said. "With Freddie (Hamilton) getting hurt, it kind of opened the door to me getting a little more ice time."
He said it's nice to start putting the puck in the net again.
"It's something that I did a lot when I was younger and I have had a little harder time doing it in my junior career so far. It's nice, but I've been contributing in other ways."
McCourt isn't sure additional opportunities are the sole reason for Andrews' recent success.
"You look at his production and it's going to the hard areas, going to the net and using his physical attributes. He's a big body and we've encouraged him to use that to his advantage. I think it's just starting to click for him a little more."
SICK BAY UPDATE
Super sophomore forward Freddie Hamilton, projected to be out of the lineup until the playoffs with an undisclosed upper body injury, will make an early return to the ice Thursday night against visiting Mississauga.
"When we lost him, everybody, to a man, picked up the slack and everybody did a little more and that's what you have to do," McCourt said. "But to get him back is certainly a shot in the arm.
"At this time of year, you certainly want to be adding as opposed to deleting guys. He plays in a lot of key situations and to have him for these last three games down the stretch is huge."
Forward Michael Hasson, out since breaking his wrist in a game Feb. 4 against London, is back at practice and started with minor contact Tuesday.
"He's getting close," McCourt said. "I think it's a bit of a confidence thing right now with him getting the strength and mobility back.
"When he feels 100% with it, he will be ready to go."
BIDS ALL IN
The Barrie Colts, Kingston Frontenacs, Mississauga St. Michael's Majors and the Windsor Spitfires have advanced in the bid process for the right to host the 2011 Memorial Cup.
They'll make presentations before the site selection committee April 14 with the announcement being made in Brandon in early May, before the start of the 2010 Memorial Cup.
ICEDOGS THIS WEEK
MISSISSAUGA THURSDAY
Mississauga St. Michael's Majors:Third in Eastern Conference with 40-19-4-2 record, including 3-6-0-1 in last 10 games. Road record is 20-10-3-0.
Local content:None.
Leading scorers: Casey Cizikas 25-37-62; Devante Smith-Pelly 29-32-61; Jordan Mayer 29-18-47.
Top goalie:Chris Carozzi, 18-10-3-2, 0.915 save percentage; 2.40 goals-against average.
NHL picks:C Cizikas, fourth round, 92nd overall by New York Islanders in 2009; D Cameron Gaunce, second round, 50th overall by Colorado in 2008; D Brett Flemming, fifth round, 145th overall by Washington Capitals in 2009; D Tim Billingsley, second round, 189th overall by Phoenix in 2008; G Carozzi, sixth round, 154th overall by Atlanta in 2008.
Players in NHL mid-term North American rankings:Smith-Pelley, 67th-ranked skater; RW Gregg Sutch, 115th-ranked skater; D Alex Cord, 194th-ranked skater; G J.P. Anderson, 20th-ranked goalie.
Previous meetings:Lost 4-2 to Niagara Oct. 1; beat Niagara 4-0 Oct. 16; lost 3-2 to Niagara Nov. 5; defeated Niagara 3-0 Nov. 20; lost 3-2 to Niagara Dec. 20 and lost 2-1 to Niagara Jan. 21.
Top IceDogs vs. Mississauga:Alex Friesen 3-3-6; Andrew Agozzino 4-2-6; Reggie Traccitto 3-1-4.
Top Majors vs. Niagara:Cizikas 2-4-6; Gaunce 1-5-6; Jordan Mayer 3-2-5.
BELLEVILLE SATURDAY
Belleville Bulls:10th in the Eastern Conference with a 18-39-2-6 record, including 2-7-1-0 in last 10 games. Road record is 8-23-0-1. (Numbers don't include Belleville's game Wednesday against Oshawa.)
Local content:None.Leading scorers:Shawn Lalonde 12-37-49; Stephen Silas 4-40-44; Luke Judson 29-14-43.
Top goalie:Anthony Peters 7-18-3-0, .896 save percentage, 3.67 G.A.A.
NHL picks:D Lalonde, third round, 68th overall by Chicago in 2008; C Andy Bathgate, fifth round, 151st overall by Pittsburgh in 2009; RW Kyle DeCoste, fifth round, 147th overall by Tampa in 2008.
Players in NHL mid-term North American rankings:D Silas, 51st-ranked skater.
Previous meetings:Belleville defeated Niagara 5-2 Nov. 14 and 3-2 Nov. 27; and lost 4-3 Feb. 13
Top IceDogs vs. Belleville:Andrew Agozzino 4-0-4; Freddie Hamilton 1-2-3; Reggie Traccitto 0-3-3.
Top Bulls vs. Niagara:Bathgate 2-3-5; Lalonde 2-3-5; Judson and DeCoste 2-0-2.
AT MISSISSAUGA SUNDAYSee above.
PRO DOGS
Following are the stats of former Niagara IceDogs who have moved on to the pro ranks (skaters' stats are listed in order of games played, goals, assists, total points and penalty minutes. Goalies' stats are listed in order of record, goals against average and save percentage):
NHLLuca Caputi, Toronto Maple
Leafs: 8-2-2-4-2.
AHL
Matt Corrente, Lowell Devils: 33-4-14-18-59.
Michael Swift, Lowell Devils: 61-14-23-37-57.
Stefan Legein, Adirondack Phantoms: 55-21-5-26-30.
Drew Schiestel, Portland Pirates: 40-1-8-9-15.
Scott Fletcher, Providence Bruins: 13-0-0-0-32.
ECHLJeremy Smith, Cincinnati
Cyclones: 19-13-2, 2.62, .901.IHL
Sebastian Dahm, Bloomington Prairie Thunder: 7-9-1, 3.79, .885.
(bpuchalski@[NO EMAIL POSTING ALLOWED])
COLUMN
Posted By BERNIE PUCHALSKI
Posted 1 hour ago
Mark Visentin isn't spending much time thinking about winning last week's Ontario Hockey League player-of-the-week honours.
"I'm trying not to focus too much on that. I'm trying to focus more on this weekend and winning," the 17-year-old Waterdown native said of being the first IceDogs player to win the award this season.
<script language="javascript">fctAdTag("bigbox",MyGenericTagVar,1);</script><script type="text/javascript" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/can.en.smc.stcatharinesstanda/sports;subz1=sports;tile=3;sz=300x250;pos=1;cat=sports;rb=sbs;hp=1;ord=5011265414?"></script>
Last week, Visentin went 3-0 with a goals-against average of 1.30 and save percentage of .963. In 52 games this season, he has a goals-against average of 3.09 and a save percentage of .909.
The 6-foot-1, 186-pounder has relished the opportunity to play a ton down the stretch for Niagara.
"It's fine. Obviously fatigue may come in, but fatigue is all mental and I'm running on adrenaline right now which is always good. Playing every game was my goal to do and obviously I'm enjoying it."
Visentin's fine play has put Niagara in charge of its own playoff destiny. Niagara is in seventh spot and four points up on ninth-place Oshawa with three games to play.
"That has kind of been our motto that we control our own destiny," Visentin said. "Obviously, last weekend was huge for us. We knew if we lost a couple of games we would have lost ground because everyone else won as well.
"Last weekend was crucial and we know we need to win this weekend as well to clinch a spot."
He says there wasn't any one turning point for the IceDogs this season.
"I think we just came together as a team. We started playing our own style of game instead of playing against the other team's style. We slowly got better and better and started believing we could win."
Having Visentin as the last line of defence certainly enhances that belief.
"His hard work, his commitment and the way he handles and prepares himself for games and practices has shown in the results," IceDogs head coach Mike McCourt said. "We challenged him to run with the ball down the stretch and he accepted that challenge and relished in it.
"All good goaltenders want that responsibility."
ANDREWS FINDS TOUCH
Johnson Andrews is starting to contribute a lot more than fisticuffs and a physical presence for the Niagara IceDogs.
After netting three goals in his first 53 games, the 19-year-old Niagara-on-the-Lake native has potted four goals in his past nine contests.
"I've been getting a couple more opportunities to get on the ice and put the puck in the net and I'm trying to make the most of every chance that I get," the 6-foot-1, 205-pounder said. "With Freddie (Hamilton) getting hurt, it kind of opened the door to me getting a little more ice time."
He said it's nice to start putting the puck in the net again.
"It's something that I did a lot when I was younger and I have had a little harder time doing it in my junior career so far. It's nice, but I've been contributing in other ways."
McCourt isn't sure additional opportunities are the sole reason for Andrews' recent success.
"You look at his production and it's going to the hard areas, going to the net and using his physical attributes. He's a big body and we've encouraged him to use that to his advantage. I think it's just starting to click for him a little more."
SICK BAY UPDATE
Super sophomore forward Freddie Hamilton, projected to be out of the lineup until the playoffs with an undisclosed upper body injury, will make an early return to the ice Thursday night against visiting Mississauga.
"When we lost him, everybody, to a man, picked up the slack and everybody did a little more and that's what you have to do," McCourt said. "But to get him back is certainly a shot in the arm.
"At this time of year, you certainly want to be adding as opposed to deleting guys. He plays in a lot of key situations and to have him for these last three games down the stretch is huge."
Forward Michael Hasson, out since breaking his wrist in a game Feb. 4 against London, is back at practice and started with minor contact Tuesday.
"He's getting close," McCourt said. "I think it's a bit of a confidence thing right now with him getting the strength and mobility back.
"When he feels 100% with it, he will be ready to go."
BIDS ALL IN
The Barrie Colts, Kingston Frontenacs, Mississauga St. Michael's Majors and the Windsor Spitfires have advanced in the bid process for the right to host the 2011 Memorial Cup.
They'll make presentations before the site selection committee April 14 with the announcement being made in Brandon in early May, before the start of the 2010 Memorial Cup.
ICEDOGS THIS WEEK
MISSISSAUGA THURSDAY
Mississauga St. Michael's Majors:Third in Eastern Conference with 40-19-4-2 record, including 3-6-0-1 in last 10 games. Road record is 20-10-3-0.
Local content:None.
Leading scorers: Casey Cizikas 25-37-62; Devante Smith-Pelly 29-32-61; Jordan Mayer 29-18-47.
Top goalie:Chris Carozzi, 18-10-3-2, 0.915 save percentage; 2.40 goals-against average.
NHL picks:C Cizikas, fourth round, 92nd overall by New York Islanders in 2009; D Cameron Gaunce, second round, 50th overall by Colorado in 2008; D Brett Flemming, fifth round, 145th overall by Washington Capitals in 2009; D Tim Billingsley, second round, 189th overall by Phoenix in 2008; G Carozzi, sixth round, 154th overall by Atlanta in 2008.
Players in NHL mid-term North American rankings:Smith-Pelley, 67th-ranked skater; RW Gregg Sutch, 115th-ranked skater; D Alex Cord, 194th-ranked skater; G J.P. Anderson, 20th-ranked goalie.
Previous meetings:Lost 4-2 to Niagara Oct. 1; beat Niagara 4-0 Oct. 16; lost 3-2 to Niagara Nov. 5; defeated Niagara 3-0 Nov. 20; lost 3-2 to Niagara Dec. 20 and lost 2-1 to Niagara Jan. 21.
Top IceDogs vs. Mississauga:Alex Friesen 3-3-6; Andrew Agozzino 4-2-6; Reggie Traccitto 3-1-4.
Top Majors vs. Niagara:Cizikas 2-4-6; Gaunce 1-5-6; Jordan Mayer 3-2-5.
BELLEVILLE SATURDAY
Belleville Bulls:10th in the Eastern Conference with a 18-39-2-6 record, including 2-7-1-0 in last 10 games. Road record is 8-23-0-1. (Numbers don't include Belleville's game Wednesday against Oshawa.)
Local content:None.Leading scorers:Shawn Lalonde 12-37-49; Stephen Silas 4-40-44; Luke Judson 29-14-43.
Top goalie:Anthony Peters 7-18-3-0, .896 save percentage, 3.67 G.A.A.
NHL picks:D Lalonde, third round, 68th overall by Chicago in 2008; C Andy Bathgate, fifth round, 151st overall by Pittsburgh in 2009; RW Kyle DeCoste, fifth round, 147th overall by Tampa in 2008.
Players in NHL mid-term North American rankings:D Silas, 51st-ranked skater.
Previous meetings:Belleville defeated Niagara 5-2 Nov. 14 and 3-2 Nov. 27; and lost 4-3 Feb. 13
Top IceDogs vs. Belleville:Andrew Agozzino 4-0-4; Freddie Hamilton 1-2-3; Reggie Traccitto 0-3-3.
Top Bulls vs. Niagara:Bathgate 2-3-5; Lalonde 2-3-5; Judson and DeCoste 2-0-2.
AT MISSISSAUGA SUNDAYSee above.
PRO DOGS
Following are the stats of former Niagara IceDogs who have moved on to the pro ranks (skaters' stats are listed in order of games played, goals, assists, total points and penalty minutes. Goalies' stats are listed in order of record, goals against average and save percentage):
NHLLuca Caputi, Toronto Maple
Leafs: 8-2-2-4-2.
AHL
Matt Corrente, Lowell Devils: 33-4-14-18-59.
Michael Swift, Lowell Devils: 61-14-23-37-57.
Stefan Legein, Adirondack Phantoms: 55-21-5-26-30.
Drew Schiestel, Portland Pirates: 40-1-8-9-15.
Scott Fletcher, Providence Bruins: 13-0-0-0-32.
ECHLJeremy Smith, Cincinnati
Cyclones: 19-13-2, 2.62, .901.IHL
Sebastian Dahm, Bloomington Prairie Thunder: 7-9-1, 3.79, .885.
(bpuchalski@[NO EMAIL POSTING ALLOWED])