A timid response.

   If you haven't been to a QMJHL game in a few years, one of the things you will notice is that fighting is way down. What used to be a common occurrence, part and parcel of most games, has slowly but steadily been disappearing over the last decade. 

    An example of this changing reality, a paradigm shift if you will, can be seen in an incident which occurred in last night's tilt at Le Colisée between the Val d'Or Foreurs and the Quebec Remparts.

   Before going on, please take a moment to view this short clip.

   Other than the ugly and blatant knee-on-knee hit that was delivered on the Remparts' star 16 year old rookie Anthony Duclair by Val d'Or defenceman Alex Filiatrault, do you notice anything about this particular sequence?

   If you are an older hockey fan, like me, there is a good chance that you noticed that the response to the hit by Duclair's teammates might be qualified as somewhat reserved. Polite, even. In fact, the only Remparts gloves to be found on the ice are those of Duclair himself as he writhes in pain on the ice. 

   Now, have a look at this other knee-on-knee hit on another star Remparts rookie, 17 year old Nick Sorensen. This time the hit was delivered by Baie-Comeau's veteran forward Jonathan Lessard back on October 28th.

  

   Do you see any similarities? Well for one, they both occurred on the Remparts' home ice, second, they both involve highly talented rookie players, and third, the response by the Quebec players cannot be qualified as being very energetic. The fact that in the last frame of the clip, Jonathan Lessard is seen, standing, unmolested, over the injured Sorensen, speaks, at least to me, volumes.

   Now there will be plenty who will say that fighting has no place in hockey and that all it accomplishes is an escalation in violence and that it has no real tactical or strategic value for a team.

   Others will say that there are rules in place to protect the players and that we should simply let the referees and league officials apply those rules and every thing will be fine. 

   The reality is that hockey is, and always has been, a violent game. How can it not be? It is played on a hard surface, in an enclosed area, by men on skates, with sticks, shooting a hard puck, all at high speed. Physical contact is not only inevitable, it is part and parcel of the way the game is played.

   It is also a game where teamwork is an essential element for success. One of the basic tenets of teamwork, is that individual players are expected to look out for their teammates. 

   While I know that my view is widely seen as coming from another time, another generation, most successful hockey teams over the years have had a "One for all, all for one" mentality. You attack one of us, you attack all of us.

   This is not to say that all teams should behave like marauding bands of thugs, but opponents need to know that you will stick up for each other and deliver a response when teams start taking liberties with your players.  This is particularly true on your home ice in front of your own fans.

   When looking at the response of the Quebec Remparts to blatant assaults on two of their young star players, one can't help but think that they look a little like the little kid who runs to the teacher or to his mommy whenever something goes wrong. You see a lot of pointing and hear lots of complaining, but not much else.

   "If you can't beat them in the alley, you can't beat them on the ice", this was true when Hall of Fame coach and general manager Conn Smythe said it decades ago, and it's still true now.

   While hits such as those delivered by Lessard and Filiatrault have no place in the game and must be punished, one thing is clear. Teams can certainly come in to Le Colisée and expect to be able to manhandle the Remparts. All they will do is cry to the refs.

* Note: Jonathan Lessard was suspended for 15 games for his hit on Nick Sorensen who is out for the season. Anthony Duclair's injury is less severe that originally feared. He will likely miss 7 to 10 days. No word as of this writing on supplementary discipline to Alex Filiatrault.

  

The future is bright.

   There's an old adage in hockey that says that quite often the best trade you make, is the one that you don't. 

   As we watched players like Morgan Ellis, Brandon Gormley, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, and Logan Shaw head for new teams with hopes of playoff success, you have to think that the PEI Rocket received some calls inquiring about the availability of their star 19 year old forward, Ben Duffy.

   Duffy, for those who may not know, recently became the franchise's career leading scorer, and is presently in 5th spot in this season's QMJHL scoring race with 59 points in 41 games. On many nights he has been one of the only, if not the only, bright spots on a young Rocket squad looking to find it's way.

   He has proven himself, night in and night out, to be the kind of player that most coaches dream about. A low maintenance type of guy, who just goes out there, plays hard, and produces on a consistent basis. On a young team such as the PEI Rocket, that type of leadership can pay off handsomely as they strive to establish a competitive and winning mindset.

   To be sure there will be some who say the PEI club missed an opportunity to pick up some interesting prospect, either in terms of players already in the league or in terms of high draft picks. It is a fair argument. But not one to which I happen to subscribe. To have a clear view of this, one must take a good look and see what the Rocket now has in hand.

    In goal, the tandem of 18 year old (he'll turn 19 next week) Maxime Lagacé and 17 year old Antoine Bibeau, gives the team a solid presence in the nets. While Lagacé has carried to bulk of the load, Bibeau has shown that he can be relied up should the call come. His win last night in Halifax against MacKinnon, Frk, et al, shows that.

   On the blue line, the club counts players who are developing, and will continue to develop in to fine hockey players. At only 16 years of age, Ryan Graves is showing that not only can he play in the league, but will likely become one of its top d-men. At only 18, Jimmy Oligny is continuing to improve. Dane Phaneuf, whom the Rocket signed for nothing, has proven himself to be a valuable addition. He is only 17 years old. Add to that Michael Abbott, 18, and recent addition Tyrone Sock, also 18, and it's easy to understand why there is justification for optimism in regards to the squad of Rocket rearguards.

   Up front, Josh Currie and Victor Provencher are both 18 and are expected to continue to develop. 16 year old Yan-Pavel Laplante has shown that he will become a force in this league. 17 year old Matthew Bursey, picked up earlier this season in a trade with Shawinigan, is quickly becoming a fan favourite, with his combination of high energy play and skill.

   The Rocket also count on two excellent European players. 18 year old Matej Beran, a 6'5" 210lbs center, is the club's second leading scorer, picking up an impressive 44 points in his first 41 games on North American ice. 18 year old defenceman, Tomas Pavelka, has played well as he continues to adapt to his new surroundings. He is the club's second highest scoring defenceman, behind 20 year old Marc-André Lévesque.

   As of this writing, the PEI Rocket sits in 17th place in the QMJHL, 2 points out of the final playoff spot, with two games in hand. To be sure, the first few months of the season have been trying at times. As with all young teams, putting together a consistent effort over the course of a full 60 minutes has been a challenge. Let's face it, putting together a consistent effort over the course a full 60 minutes is a challenge for most hockey teams. 

   But there have been bright spots. You can point to some positive performances. A come from behind win in OT at the Robert Guertin Arena against the Olympiques comes to mind. As does the recent streak of 4 wins against Maritime Division opponents.You could also point to the fact that this team doesn't quit, a trait that will pay off on the long run.

   Yes, the future is bright in PEI for Gordie Dwyer and his Rocket. Keeping Ben Duffy not only gives them a very real shot at making the playoffs this year, it gives them the opportunity to start next season with one of the best 20 year olds in the league. A 20 year old who will lead what promises to be a team to be reckoned with a solid core of young players who will continue to develop.