AHL Toronto Marlies

Leafs and Admirals Battle to 2-2 tie

Published on October 30, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Toronto Marlies News Release


Mention the future of the Toronto Maple Leafs' blue line and the names of Carlo Colaiacovo, Maxim Kondratiev, Brendan Bell and perhaps junior aged Ian White immediately come to mind.

Don't count out Jay Harrison.

The big rearguard scored his second goal of the season - matching his entire output of a year ago - in the leafs 2-2 tie with the Milwaukee Admirals Wednesday night in American Hockey League play before only 3,648 at Mile One Stadium.

More importantly the six foot three, 205 pound product of Whitby Ont.. played a solid, if unspectacular games in his own end mixing it up on a couple of occasions with anxious Milwaukee forwards who were crashing St. John's goaltender Sebastien Centomo's crease.

"I've talked to Jay a few times this year," said Leafs coach Doug Shedden, "and I told him if he's going to make it to the NHL, he's going to make it one way and that's be a big tough stay-at-home defenceman who'll move the puck.

"He'll get the odd chance to jump in, but don't look for that all the time. Look to be a safe player. They (Toronto) have guys they pay to get the goals."

Harrison enters his second year with the AHL Leafs, but will celebrate only his 21st birthday Monday.

The difference between Harrison, a member of Canada's 2001 World Junior Team, this and last is, simply put , confidence.

He's doing what Shedden asks - playing physical making the good outlet pass and when the opportunity presents itself jumping in on the play. Like Wednesday when he moved in from the left point and took a nice Kyle Wellwood feed and beat Wade Flaherty from about six feet out in the first period.

"He's been given the ball to run with," fellow rearguard Marc Moro said of Harrison. "He's a year older now and he's going to be given ice time in important situations. He's lovin' it and it's showing out there.

"He's been really consistent so far this year, playing hard and finishing his checks. That's the kind of player he's going to have to be to take it to the next level. And if guys are going to get in his face, he's not backing down."

Harrison will never be considered an offensive dynamo. His best season in junior was a 20 point effort with the OHL's Brampton Battalion three years ago.

But Harrison trusts Shedden, the former NHLer and his own abilities, knowing he'll never match the offensive skills of a Colaiacovo or a Karel Pilar, the other Leafs goals corer Wednesday night.

"Doug Shedden's a very smart man and he knows what it takes to get to the next level." Harrison said. "He's seen guys make it and he's seen guys not make it. I definitely take his word for it.

" I have to do what I'm good at. I'm not looking to compete with the Carlo Colaiacovos and the Karel Pilars. You can see the way those guys weave their magic out there. It's unbelievable. I have to do what I do well and that's play big and make the good first pass and be a very physical presence.

"I just want to quietly go about my business, develop an strive uphill. The good players will make it and I think I will so I have to trust the system and trust my hard work."

The Admirals got on the scoreboard first when Brad Tiley blasted a one-timer from the point past Centomo on a four on three Milwaukee advantage just over six minutes in to the game.

Harrison and Pilar gave St. John's the lead, but Mike Farrell knotted the score 4:55 into the third period.

The teams went to overtime for the second straight night, but there would be no replay of Tuesday night's result when Colaiacovo potted his first pro goal in the Leafs 3-2 victory.

That's because the highly-touted defenceman was in hospital, having his thumb examined after taking a slash from Farrell late in the second period.

However Shedden eventually received word there was no break and the rookie could be ready to go by the weekend when St. John's plays in Binghamton Saturday and Toronto Sunday.

Shedden admitted he was satisfied to come away from the brief two-game homestand with three points, but wasn't overly pleased with Farrell's marker.

The former Portland Pirate easily pushed rookie Kris Newbury off the puck in the corner and emerged untouched before beating Centomo for his second goal in as many nights.

"That was a rookie mistake by a guy that's trying to make the team," Shedden said of Newbury. "But the upside is (Harold) Druken got another game in, (Clarke) Wilm got another game in. At least those guys got a good night's work in."

Druken, the game's second star, turned in a solid effort in only his second game this year, creating a couple of good scoring chances. Wilm, a veteran signed by Toronto Monday, was again one of Sheddens' top penalty killers.

LEAFLETS

Rookie defenceman Brendan Bell and third year rearguard Chris Chartier were back in the St. John's line-up Wednesday night, after sitting out Tuesdays game as healthy scratches. They played in favor of fellow defenceman Pierre Hedin, Regan Kelly and David Turon. Kelly sat for the second straight game, while Turon missed his third straight start. Josh Holden missed his fourth straight game with an injured leg. Neither Luca Cereda nor Ben Ondrus have played this season with injuries... Kahlil Thomas was reassigned by the Leafs to Memphis of the Central League Wednesaday.. The Admiral's Landon Bathe is the son of former Philadelphia Flyer and Detroit Red Wing Frank Bathe... Milwaukee goaltender Wade Flaherty is a veteran of 120 NHL games with San Jose, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay, Florida, and Nashville. The Molson Cup three stars Wednesday 1. Karel Pilar, 2. Harold Druken, 3. Mike Farrell. The Grub Club hardest working player: Jay Harrison.

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American Hockey League Stories from October 30, 2003


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