Eagles Poised Well for Future
Published on January 18, 2013 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Cape Breton Eagles News Release
Sydney - The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles have emerged from the mid-season trading period with a younger team and an improved sense of direction.
"Going into the trade period we made the decision to add value to our team with players that we believe will make this team successful for many years to come. The opportunity to trade for some talented and promising young players came up. We will build around them," said Screaming Eagles General Manager and Head Coach Marc Andre Dumont whose team is now the youngest in the QMJHL with an age average of 17.75.
The roster now boasts five sixteen-year-old players that participated in the World under 17 Hockey Championship earlier this month including Alex Bureau, Zachery Moody, Clark Bishop, Nick Marois, and Timothe Simard. The team had to request a special permission to keep a 5th as the CHL rules only allow 4 sixteen-year-old players per team. Additionally, 16-year-old affiliate player Julien Pelletier is expected to make an impact on next year's roster.
"It's one thing to bring in some young guys, but we also made sure we could secure them reasonable ice time," said Dumont. "They have had and will be given time on the powerplay and the penalty kill, as well as playing against teams top lines. They will also get a chance to observe our older and more experienced players in those situations. That experience will serve us because one day, we believe these young guys will be the leaders of our team and will excel in those aspects of the game".
Eighteen of the team's 24 players are 18 years old or younger. The roster is made up of seven players that were drafted in the top two rounds, including two first round picks, and 15 players that were drafted in the top four rounds.
In addition to the team's young core, the Screaming Eagles also have four NHL drafted players including Loic Leduc (New York Islanders), Justin Hache (Phoenix Coyotes), Jakub Culek (Ottawa Senators), and David Honzik (Vancouver Canucks). Forward William Carrier is projected to be drafted early in the 2013 NHL Draft.
The Screaming Eagles are also well stocked with draft picks including 5 picks in the first 4 rounds of the 2013 draft including a high first round pick. In 2014, the Screaming Eagles have 5 picks in the first 3 rounds.
The team currently sits in 17th place but Screaming Eagles President Andre Cote feels that the standings don't tell the whole story of the team's progress.
"Right now the win-loss column is being skewed by a number of key player injuries," said Cote. "We will improve in this area as our team gets healthy and our young players gain valuable experience and maturity."
Cote acknowledged that the team has experienced a number of setbacks.
"The Screaming Eagles organization has dealt with a lot of issues over the course of this season; draft picks that did not report, high draft picks that did not make the team, and ultimately the release of both G.M. Pierre Roux and Head Coach Ron Choules," said Cote. "It was clearly obvious, as we proceeded through the early stages of this season, that the rebuilding process we started last year was not meeting the expectations of our fans, supporters and organization. Rather than make moves or make decisions for short term gains, we took a long term outlook approach with the hiring of Marc-Andre Dumont as the General Manager and Head Coach and the resetting of our roster during the Christmas trade period with a number of young and very talented players."
The ownership of the team remains committed to having major junior hockey in Cape Breton.
"Let me assure you, our fans and supporters, that we have persevered through the turbulence and the ownership group of the Screaming Eagles is more dedicated than ever to providing high flying Major Junior Hockey to our Cape Breton community long into the future," said Cote. "On behalf of the Team, I want to thank our fans and sponsors for their continued support. We will soar again."
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from January 18, 2013
- Eagles Poised Well for Future - Cape Breton Eagles
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
