Reul signs with Adler Mannheim

Press Release

Two years ago, when Denis Reul was outgrow the boy eagle project, it changed to North America for two years and played for the junior team of the Boston Bruins. In the past season, the greatly grown defender five graduated games for the AHL team of the Boston Bruins, the Providence Bruins. At the end of the last season, the 20-year-old decided to return to Germany and to stand the challenge DEL.

Denis Reul was born on the 29th of June 1989 in market speech joke and signed a biennially contract at the eagles. It is both at the eagles and in the Heilbronner falcons in the 2nd national league game justified. At the eagles, Denis Reul receives the back number 29.

The 2008 Draft

What a difference a year makes.  Last off-season the talk was the draft would be one of the best in team history.

Overall, the future looks bright for this team. When you add the likes of Zack Phillips and Zach Shannon who were the second and third round picks respectively, we could be looking at 2012 to make a run. They will make a brief appearance to training camp before heading to Lawrence Academy in Massachusetts.

That’s from one of my posts after the draft last year. It was a dissappointing year you can say.

I also had a poll and the results looked like this:

Results of How Do You Rate Lewiston’s Draft?

A-12 votes 60%
B- 3 votes 15%
C- 1 vote 5%
D- 0 votes 0%
F- 4 votes 20%

Garrett Clark had the most hype coming into the season. He played at the pretigious Shattuck-St. Mary’s and was North Dakota’s youngest recruit. For a 16-year-old defenseman, you don’t expect them to put up numbers. At the same time, nine points and taking bad penalties aren’t going to cut it.

Michael Chaput season was loss to a injury. There was a lot of hype and people were saying he was better then Stefan Chaput. He should be back and show his talent this season.

In the post I linked above, I said Etienne Brodeur would have the biggest impact last season. He won it almost by default. He had 10 goals and 22 assists in all 68 games.

We expected Zach Phillips, Zach Shannon, and Travis Moore to play somewhere else in 2008 and come to town this season.

Phillips and Moore expressed the NCAA route. Phillips committed to UMass Amherst during the uncertainity of the franchise. Basically, it was his way to say I want to be traded because he has signed with Saint John.

I know some fans aren’t too pleased we traded away three of our first six picks in 2008 but talking to Don MacAdam last week he want players who want to be here. He want draft picks to come in and force Roger and himself to keep them on the team.

The 6’3 netminder is ready to come in to challenge for the number selection.

“I don’t want to come in there and make any enemies, but I really want to go in there and battle for the No. 1 job,” Kennedy said to the Sun Journal.

“We wouldn’t want a guy come in with any other attitude then that,” says MacAdam on Kennedy’s comment.

This a new era for the team. No matter how good or hyped a player is, if he doesn’t want to be here, bring someone in that does.

(Nathan also covers the Maineiacs for the Maine Hockey Journal. He also started the World of Junior Hockey. His email is fourniern@students.nescom.edu.)

Boston doesn’t sign Reul

The Boston Herald is reporting the Boston Bruins won’t be signing Denis Reul.  The Bruins had until today to sign the 2007 5th round selection.  He will be eligible to enter the 2009 NHL Draft which will be held on June 26th-27.

Eric Gelinas did very well at the combine from all reports.  He finished in the top ten in two categories.

Pull strength top 10

1. Kyle Palmieri, Notre Dame, 309
2. Kenny Ryan, Boston College, 296
3. John Moore, Colorado College, 286
4. Josh Birkholz, Minnesota, 281
5. William Wrenn, Denver, 280
6. Jordan Caron, QMJHL, 279
7. Victor Hedman, Sweden, 276
8. Eric Gelinas, QMJHL, 269
9. Corban Knight, North Dakota, 267
10. Nick Leddy, Minnesota, 263

Fatigue index

1. Brayden McNabb, WHL, 37.1
2. Burke Gallimore, WHL, 39.0
3. Kenny Ryan, Boston College, 39.9
4. Taylor Beck, OHL, 40.4
5. Nazem Kadri, OHL, 40.7
6. Drew Shore, Denver, 40.8
7. Cassidy Mappin, WHL, 40.8
8. Mike Lee, Roseau and SCSU, 41.0
9. Mac Bennett, Michigan, 41.1
10. Eric Gelinas, QMJHL, 42.3

In other news, Samuel Carrier, who’s apart of the proposed deal with Quebec, will tryout for Canada’s Under-18 team.   Garrett Clarke who appears to heading to Halifax isn’t invited. The team will play in the Ivan Hlinka Tournament in August.  It’s the same tournament Jonathan Bernier won his Under-18 Gold Medal in his draft year.

Hockey Canada also announced the summer World Junior Camp roster.  No Lewiston Maineiacs are invited eight QMJHL players have been invited including Luke Adam, a Buffalo Sabres prospect.

Paul Byron who played for the Gatineau Olympiques, has signed with Buffalo Sabres.  Chances are he could be in Portland next season.

Maineiacs’ 2009-2010 Schedule

2009

Friday, Sept. 11 Lewiston @ Chicoutimi 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 13 Lewiston @ Quebec 2 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 18 Lewiston vs. Baie-Comeau 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 19 Lewiston vs. Baie-Comeau 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 25 Lewiston @ Montreal 7:35 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 27 Lewiston vs. Chicoutimi 4 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 1 Lewiston vs. Drummondville 7 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 4 Lewiston vs. Quebec 4 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 9 Lewiston @ Acadie Bathurst 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 10 Lewiston @ Moncton 6 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 11 Lewiston @ PEI 4 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 16 Lewiston vs. Victoriaville 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 17 Lewiston vs. Druimmondville 7 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 22 Lewiston @ Victoriaville 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 23 Lewiston @ Shawinigan 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 30 Lewiston vs. Val d’Or 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 31 Lewiston vs. Val d’Or 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 4 Lewiston @ Montreal 7:35 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 5 Lewiston @ Shawinigan 7 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 8 Lewiston vs. Rimouski 4 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 11 Lewiston @ Victoriaville 7 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 13 Lewiston @ Drummondville 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 14 Lewiston @ Chicoutimi 4 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 22 Lewiston vs. St. John 4 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 25 Lewiston @ Shawinigan 7 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 27 Lewiston vs. PEI 7 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 28 Lewiston vs. PEI 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 1 Lewiston @ Moncton 6 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 3 Lewiston @ Cape Breton 6 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 5 Lewiston @ Halifax 6 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 6 Lewiston @ Saint John 3 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 9 Lewiston vs. Drummondville 7 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 13 Lewiston vs. Cape Breton 4 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 16 Lewiston @ Gatineau 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 17 Lewiston @ Drummondville 7:30 p.m.

December 19-26 — Holiday Break

Sunday, Dec. 27 Lewiston @ Victoriaville 4 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 28 Lewiston vs. Victoriaville 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 30 Lewiston vs. Gatineau 7 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 31 Lewiston vs. Gatineau 2 p.m.

2010

Saturday, Jan. 2 Lewiston vs. Shawinigan 7 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 7 Lewiston vs. Acadie-Bathurst 7 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 8 Lewiston vs. Rimouski 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 13 Lewiston @ Rouyn-Noranda 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 15 Lewiston @ Rouyn-Noranda 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 16 Lewiston @ Val d’Or 7 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 17 Lewiston @ Val d’Or 4 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 22 Lewiston vs. Rouyn-Noranda 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 23 Lewiston vs. Rouyn-Noranda 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 27 Lewiston vs. Halifax 7 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 29 Lewiston @ Rimouski 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 31 Lewiston @ Drummondville 4 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 2 Lewiston @ Shawinigan 7 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 5 Lewiston vs. Shawinigan 7 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 6 Lewiston vs. Shawinigan 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 10 Lewiston vs. Moncton 7 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 12 Lewiston vs, Victoriaville 7 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 14 Lewiston vs. Quebec 4 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 19 Lewiston @ Baie-Comeau 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 20 Lewiston @ Baie-Comeau 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 23 Lewiston vs. Montreal 7 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 26 Lewiston @ Rimouski 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 27 Lewiston @ Quebec 7 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 28 Lewiston @ Victoriaville 4 p.m.

Friday, March 5 Lewiston vs. Chicoutimi 7 p.m.

Sunday, March 7 Lewiston vs. Montreal 4 p.m.

Wednesday, March 10 Lewiston vs. Drummondville 7 p.m.

Friday, March 12 Lewiston vs. Victoriaville 7 p.m.

Sunday, March 14 Lewiston @ Drummondville 4 p.m.

The Rumor Mill

I would say it’s that time of the year but isn’t alway this time of the year with this team?  There are two prominent trade rumors involving the Lewiston Maineiacs.

The first one involves Garrett Clarke heading to the Halifax Mooseheads.  Now I first heard this rumor in late April.  I knew nothing but Clarke name heading to Halifax.  Talking with a few people, it seems Clarke was unhappy in Lewiston and the team was unhappy about his play.

Willy Pavalov of the Halifax Chronicle is reporting one aspect of the information I’ve been told.   

It seems Clarke, 17, wasn’t happy in Lewiston and asked for a trade at the end of the season. A former Windsor area resident, Clarke’s preferred destination was obviously Halifax.

Now a 19 year old forward and a seventh round pick doesn’t seem a whole lot in return for a former first rounder and a potential first rounder in the 2011 NHL draft?  The only problem is the Maineiacs have no leverage in the deal.  If all accounts are correct, Clarke asked to be traded and his value goes down.

The Maineiacs are taking the Bill Belichick school of thought and not commenting on the situation, unless a trade has been made. 

The second trade rumor involves Danick Paquette, Patrick Cusack, Dominic Savoie, and Peter Delmas heading to the Remparts.  RDS first reported it today.  I think everyone believes Paquette is a gone from the Lewiston Maineiacs.

I find this rumor very intriguing in the whole Patrick Roy taking a position with the Colorado Avalanche saga.  My thought is he might not be getting the job, yet.   With Delmas’ struggles last season wouldn’t the Avalanche want Roy to work with him one on one all year long?  I also think Roy can keep Paquette in line.  Maybe Ray Bourque takes an assistant coaches position to learn the ropes this season.  The Denver Post reported Bourque will take Roy’s coaching duties in Quebec.

Bourque has held an assistant coaching job when his sons, Chris and Ryan, were at Cushing Academy.  I believe he was also a consultant to the Bruins coaching staff a few years ago.

By the way, the Remparts would send defenseman Samuel Carrier and forward Sébastien Trudeau the Maineiacs way.  High draft picks would be also involved according to RDS.

Carrier had four goals and five assists in 56 games as a 16-year-old.  Trudeau, a 17-year-old, had 19 goals and 22 assists in 68 games.  This would be a good rebuilding move for the team.  Okay, the stats don’t jump out, but these were young kids on an experience Remparts squad.  They were at the bottom of the depth chart which means less ice time.  If they come to Lewiston, there will be more ice time and the stats should jump up.

15 days.  That’s when the draft takes place and deals can happen.

Update: As I just finished this post, I notice Justin Pelletier is reporting the deal is confirmed involving Paquette, Delmas, Cusack and Savoie.

That’s My Take

(Nathan also covers the Maineiacs for the Maine Hockey Journal. He also started the World of Junior Hockey. His email is fourniern@students.nescom.edu.)

Memorial Cup Preview

The final stop on a long road begins tonight for four teams.  The Memorial Cup begins at 7pm tonight (Preview Show begins at 6pm) on the NHL Network.  The host club, the Rimouski Oceanic take on the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL.  For previews of each team go to the Sportsnet Links down below.

Rimouski Oceanic

Drummondville Voltigeurs

Windsor Spitfires

Kelowna Rockets

Everyone who’s a Lewiston Maineiacs fan knows how good Drummondville’s offense is.  Rimouski also got better at the the end of the year as they recovered from injuries.  When the Oceanic came into town the final time, Clem Jodoin, told Justin Pelletier and I they lost 250 man games due to injury.  I don’t think that includes Patrice Cormier going to play for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships.

Top Players to Watch

10. Austin Watson (Windsor)

He might not get a lot of playing time but he makes the list because he was a former “Maine recruit.”

9. Sebastien Piche (Rimouski)

The former Maineiac will bring Memorial Cup experience to his fellow teammates.  He can also find the back of the net from the back end.

8.  Patrice Cormier (Rimouski)

The physical forward will need to bring his A game.  The QMJHL usually lacks the physicality when it comes to the Memorial Cup.

7. Jamie Benn (Kelowna)

The Dallas prospect is a true sniper.  I expect him to have a great tournament.

6. Andrei Loktionov (Windsor)

He’s someone to watch out for the future. The Los Angeles Kings 2008 5th round pick is a slick playmaking forward. He could be in Manchester next season.

5. Yannick Riendeau (Drummondville)

The twenty year old forward puts up points like they are going out of style. He has put up 29 goals and 23 assists in 19 games. He signed with the Boston Bruins.

4. Mikael Backlund (Kelowna)

What a great deadline addition he was. After the World Junior Championships where he played for Sweden; he headed to Kelowna after his club in Sweden threaten to release him if he didn’t have a good World Juniors. Since joining the Rockets, he put up 30 points (12 goals) in 28 games in the regular season. In 19 games in the playoffs, he has added 13 goals and 10 assists.

3. Ryan Ellis (Windsor)/ Dmitry Kulikov (Drummondville)

The two draft eligible offensive defenseman are apart of their team’s offense. They need to quarterback to get the offense rolling. Guy Boucher (Drummondville’s coach) knows both player well as he was the powerplay coach for Team Canada. Want to take a guess at who ran the Canadian powerplay? If you guessed Ryan Ellis you are correct.

2. Taylor Hall (Windsor)

I expect the projected 2010 1 overall pick to have a monster tournament. He had 36 points in the playoffs including 16 goals. He missed the cut at the World Junior Championships but I believe he’s ready to show North America his talents.

1. Tyler Myers (Kelowna)

You can’t miss this guy, literally and figuratively.  He stands at 6’7 and skates like the wind.  He almost averaged a point a game in the playoffs (20 in 22 games).   The Buffalo Sabres made him the 12th selection in last June’s Entry Draft.  He could be in Portland in two years. 

My Prediction

I say it will be a Windsor-Drummondville final.  I think Windsor just has a slight edge over Drummondville.

Halak Slashed

That came out of nowhere didn’t it? I have to say it was the oddest thing I have ever seen a player to do to his goalie.

Who was the player? Tomas Surovy, a 2001 4th round pick by Pittsburgh. He had a short stint with the Penguins in in 2003-2004 and 2005-2006.

Halak has appeared in four games at the IIHF World Championships. He has a 3.17 Goals Against Average and a .872 save percentage.

President Cup Preview

Press Release

SHAWINIGAN
(2nd in the overall standings – 105 points – 2nd in the TELUS CENTRAL Division standings)

VS.

DRUMMONDVILLE
(1st in the overall standings – 112 points – 1st in the TELUS CENTRAL Division standings)

During the 2008-09 season:

2008/10/14 DRUMMONDVILLE 0 @ SHAWINIGAN 7
2008/10/26 SHAWINIGAN 6 @ DRUMMONDVILLE 3
2008/11/01 DRUMMONDVILLE 2 @ SHAWINIGAN 5
2008/12/12 SHAWINIGAN 1 @ DRUMMONDVILLE 4
2008/12/18 DRUMMONDVILLE 3 @ SHAWINIGAN 2
2008/12/28 SHAWINIGAN 4 @ DRUMMONDVILLE 3
2009/01/06 DRUMMONDVILLE 5 @ SHAWINIGAN 4
2009/01/28 SHAWINIGAN 5 @ DRUMMONDVILLE 3

SHAWINIGAN

The best performers for the Cataractes during their regular season match-ups versus the Voltigeurs (goals-assists-points):

Cédric Lalonde-McNicoll: 6-9-15
Matthew Pistilli: 8-3-11
Nicholas Petersen: 4-6-10

The Cataractes swept the Victoriaville Tigres before defeating the Gatineau Olympiques and the Quebec Remparts in five games.

The Shawinigan power-play is impressive. The Cataractes have recorded 28 goals in only 86 opportunities (32.6%). Moreover, they have allowed only 11 goals with a man down; third-best in the League at 85.5%.

Head coach Éric Veilleux counts on a strong core of veterans. Cédric Lalonde-McNicoll is the team’s most prolific scorer. In fourteen games, he has 11 goals and 14 assists. The 20-year-old native of Longueuil has gotten plenty of support from Pierre-Alexandre Vandall (4-16-20) and Nicholas Petersen (9-9-18).

Matthew Pistilli, who won the President Cup with the Gatineau Olympiques last season, is the team’s game-breaker. He has recorded four game-winning goals.

The additions of Mathieu Bolduc and Alex Grant at the trade deadline have fortified an already strong blue-line. Charles-Olivier Roussel has continued to impress in the playoffs. He has fourteen points in as many games.

Goatlender Timo Pielmeier has been steady. He boasts an 11-2 record with a 2.43 goals-against-average and .905 save percentage.

DRUMMONDVILLE

The best performers for the Voltigeurs during their regular season match-ups versus the Cataractes (goals-assists-points):

Yannick Riendeau: 7-6-13
Dany Massé: 4-4-8
Mike Hoffman: 4-3-7

The Voltigeurs have yet to lose a game so far this postseason. Drummondville swept the Lewiston MAINEiacs, the Montreal Juniors and the MasterCard Memorial Cup hosting Rimouski Océanic.

The Voltigeurs possess the League’s best offence. They have scored 85 goals in 12 games – an average of slightly more than 7 goals per contest. Their offensive output is largely due to their extraordinary power-play, which boasts a League-best 40.2% success rate (43/107).

Seven players have registered at least one point per game in the playoffs. The team’s top point-getters have been Yannick Riendeau (19-16-35), Chris DiDomenico (4-29-33), Dany Massé (11-19-30) and Mike Hoffman (17-9-26).

Rookie sensation Dmitry Kulikov is the quarterback of the defensive squad. He has 2 goals and 17 helpers in the second season.

Since the beginning of the semi-final, Marco Cousineau has gotten the nod in net. In ten starts, Cousineau has earned 9 wins while posting a 2.20 goals-against-average and .899 save percentage.

Paquette’s 1st AHL Fight

For those who haven’t seen it, here it is:

News and Notes

Former Lewiston Maineiac, Mathieu Aubin was featured on the QMJHL’s website. With the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL this season, he had seven goals and five assists.

Denis Reul got his first career AHL point last night against Portland.  He assisted on Jeremy Reich’s goal, the former Boston Bruins’ tough guy.  Brad Marchand also picked up an assist on the goal.

Jonathan Paiement has been sent down to the ECHL.  In 45 games with the Albany River Rats he had a goal and eleven assists.  He was sent back to the Florida Everglades where he had three goals and six assists this season.

Also joining him is Adrien Lemay who is being brought in on an emergency back-up goaltender for the playoffs.

Brandon Roach made his AHL debut this season with the Quad City Flames.  In 19 games he has a goal and seven assists.   With the Elmira Jackals of the ECHL this season, he had 9 goals and 23 assists in 55 games.

Eric Castonguay had an outstanding sophomore campaign with the Trenton Devils of the ECHL. He finished tenth in league scoring with 29 goals and 41 assists. So far in the playoffs, he has an assist in one game.

Pierre-Luc Faubert also did well in the ECHL as he was one of Roach’s teammates in Elmira. He had 24 goals and 33 assists.

The Maineiacs released the 2009-2010 season ticket prices.

(Nathan also covers the Maineiacs for the Maine Hockey Journal. He also started the World of Junior Hockey. His email is fourniern@students.nescom.edu.)