|
|
Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on Feb 25, 2005 22:00:22 GMT -5
February 25, 2005 By Dave WerstineFor the Press-Telegram LONG BEACH, Calif. - For many teams, having your No. 1 goaltender called up is a problem, especially at this point of the season when playoffs races are in the stretch run. But for the Long Beach Ice Dogs, it's no big deal, because they feel they have a pair of No. 1 netminders. Olivier Michaud might have played in the shadow of Chris Madden, a two-time All-Star and among the ECHL's top goalies, for much of the season, but he has proven to be more than a backup. - www.echl.com/cgi-bin/mpublic.cgi?action=show_news&cat=1&id=4001 |
|
|
|
Post by blaise on Feb 25, 2005 23:46:31 GMT -5
Michaud didn;'t want to be referred to as the Ellis of Long Beach, so he started winning.
|
|
|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Feb 26, 2005 0:39:16 GMT -5
Over his last 17 starts, Michaud has gone 14-2-1 and has seen his GAA fall to 2.41 and his save percentage rise to .926, which are very respectable if not among the top goaltending numbers in the ECHL.
I know the team is playing well in front of him, but those are darn impressive numbers. He is 10th and 13th in the league for gaa and sv% for goalies who have played 10 games or more. With the pending departure of Ellis to Dallas' AHL team next year, don't count this young man out to make a solid case for the Bulldogs' backup spot next season.
|
|
|
|
Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on Feb 26, 2005 5:36:24 GMT -5
An article I translated over a year and a half ago: Tuesday July 29 2003 - (RDS) - Canadiens goalie Olivier Michaud hopes to rebound this season after a disappointing year in junior. Michaud, who played one period with the big club in 2001-02, aims for a full time job with Hamilton.
Olivier Michaud left the anonymity of junior behind two years ago when a series of injuries to Canadiens' goalies allowed him to wear a Habs jersey. After that brief incursion into the NHL, the young man took part in the WJC. Last season the fairy tale temporarily ground to a halt.
"I would say that was a low point compared to the previous year. When things go badly, you can help yourself by what you have learned from your mistakes. I am a more mature goalie who knows himself better", the young man believes.
That doesn't make it any less of a very big disappointment when he was cut from Team Canada junior.
"In my first year of midget I had been cut. I had had the disappointment of that experience before, but never as big as when I was cut from Team Canada junior. But it didn't kill me before. I couldn't see why it would kill me this time. It was a good wake-up call, and I will return stronger than ever".
"He has a lot of character. I am confident that he will rebound. He will be better", ensures the director of player development, Trevor Timmins.
Olivier Michaud wants to carry out this comeback in Hamilton, in the American League: "It's one step closer to graduation. I want just to continue to improve. I have something to prove".
"What is important for Olivier is that he play a lot of hockey. It's necessary that he play from 40 to 60 games. To make it to the NHL, he must envisage a two year process", thinks Canadiens' goalie coach Roland Melançon.
There will be competition in Hamilton, because the Canadiens put goalkeeper Jean-François Damphousse under contract.
"Damphousse will have his place in Hamilton. The rest, that depends on Michaud and Fichaud", adds Melançon.
"We are alone now in Hamilton. We control the goalie situation. It's better than last year", adds Timmins.
Oliver Michaud is a young man who has always surprised when one least expected it.
- www.rds.ca/hockey/chroniques/HOCKEYLNHCAN3F26F8FC.html Damn the arrangment with Dallas! |
|
