When P.E.I. begins its pre-season schedule in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League against Cape Breton today, Rocket head coach Eric Lavigne will be watching for one thing.
“First, it’s the intensity,’ said Lavigne, who’s in his second year as Rocket bench boss. “In our system we talk a lot about intensity out on the ice.”
Game time versus the Screaming Eagles is 7 p.m. at P.E.I.’s training camp digs in Pownal.
It’s the first of back-to-back exhibition games against Cape Breton, and the initial contest in the Rocket’s six-game pre-season.
Lavigne took over the Rocket in early October of last season after Serge Savard Jr., Rocket president and governor, fired then head coach Guy Chouinard.
P.E.I. had prepared for a long playoff run from the Atlantic Division at training camp last year, but the team never quite gelled or had the spark typical of squads looking to go deep in the post-season.
So Savard brought in Lavigne.
The former Val-d’Or general manager and head coach guided the Foreurs to the 2006 President’s Cup final.
P.E.I. took some time to adjust, but after trades at Christmas — driven by the Saint John Sea Dogs and Moncton Wildcats growing into juggernauts and finishing first and second, respectively, in the six-team division — re-made the Rocket.
Despite an arguably lesser talent level, the squad developed a snarkiness and rollicking style of play that kept it level with a 20-19 second half record and maintained its fourth place standing in the Atlantic.
The Rocket exited the playoffs in the first round for the fifth straight year, but it wasn’t a cakewalk for the Saint John Sea Dogs, which finished first overall and reached the league championship series.
All of which leads to this season.
Talent is better.
New forwards Travis McIsaac, Andrej Nestrasil and Philippe Paradis increase that and will help returnees Jonathan Bonneau and Charlottetown’s Josh Currie.
Size on the defensive end (the top six average six-foot- one, 204 pounds) is also better.
Goaltending is Evan Mosher’s to lose.
He’s the anointed starter after a 21-13 record, 3.13 goals-against-average and a .904 save percentage last season.
The backup position is a battle in camp between Maxime Lagacé, P.E.I.’s second-round pick in June, and Travis Hall, who went 11-10-1 with Bridgewater in the Maritime junior A league last year.
But first, Cape Breton, led by Ellerslie native and captain Morgan Ellis.
The Montreal Canadiens drafted Ellis, 18, in the fourth round, 117th overall, in the NHL draft in June.
Lavigne plans to use Lagacé and rookie forwards Louick Marcotte and Victor Provencher and a mix of veterans.
And he will be looking for other things, too.
“Get the timing. And rookies getting an idea of the Q. That’s what we’re going to look for.”
Camp Notes
The QMJHL trade period ends Aug. 23 at 10 a.m., although 20-year-old players can be traded anytime. . . . Thursday, the Rocket cut goaltender Shawn Lyons, defencemen Matthew Kelly (Summerside), Cal Gloade and Brad MacKenzie (Charlottetown) and forwards Nicholas Young, Adam Valadeo, Matt Stead (Hunter River) and Brandon Weir (Stratford). Thirty-four players remain in camp.
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Rocket's pre-season schedule:
Today - versus Cape Breton, Pownal, 7 p.m.
Aug. 22 - at Cape Breton, 4 p.m.
Aug. 27 - at Moncton, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 28 - versus Moncton, Pownal, 7 p.m.
Sept. 2 - versus Saint John, Civic Centre, 7 p.m.
Sept. 4 - at Hailfax, 7 p.m.
