Come what may, Danis is ready
Jun 16, 2005 17:17:48 GMT -5
Post by Forum Ghost on Jun 16, 2005 17:17:48 GMT -5
COME WHAT MAY, DANIS IS READY
MONTREAL - Be it cumulus, stratus, or otherwise, the cloud on which Yann Danis has walked for the past year shows no sign of evaporating. As has been the case for much of his time since joining the Canadiens 15 months ago, life is good for the young goaltender; such is the benefit of learning life's lessons early and then taking them to heart.
Danis' climb to the position of prominent prospect was far from easy. A first blow to his pro hockey aspirations came in 1998, when the then-17-year-old was selected in only the 11th round of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft by the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. Selected where he was, the decision to head south became a virtual no-brainer.
“I can’t lie and pretend that being drafted that late didn’t accelerate the process of me heading south to the U.S.," said Danis, who didn't hesitate to pack his bags and pencil case for Brown University in Providence, RI. "In addition to being such a late pick by the Huskies, I was also aware that they already had a couple of goalies ahead of me on their depth chart. Looking back, it was definitely a smart move for me. No matter what happens to me with my on-ice career, I’ll always have my degree in economics to fall back on.”
Though the odds were against him at Bulldogs training camp last summer after having seen only two games of action in 2003-04, Danis still managed to become the No. 1 goalie for the Canadiens AHL affiliate in Hamilton, proceeding to post a sparkling 2.34 goals-against average and .924 save percentage in his 53 games played.
“I definitely came a long way this year,” said the St. Jerome native, who will celebrate his 24th birthday next week. “Having joined the team late last season, even though I only saw limited action, it helped me a lot coming into this year. I knew what to expect so I was really ready when camp began.”
It may have taken until the AHL All-Star break, but Danis eventually became the top dog between the pipes for the Hamilton. It was a spot he maintained for the rest of the season and into the playoffs.
“I was pretty much splitting the games with (fellow Bulldogs goalie) Dan Ellis at the outset, and then by the time midseason rolled around I was playing more and more," he explained. "At that point I realized that I had won my coaches over, and that really boosted by confidence. As for me and Danny, we always got along great."
"Besides," he added with a chuckle, "as roommates so we didn’t really have a choice in the matter!”
Despite the steep learning curve that loomed as he tried to make the tricky transition from the U.S. college ranks to the AHL, Danis managed to take it all in stride.
“I can’t say enough about how the Bulldogs organization helped me become a better goalie,” he said. “The way [head coach] Doug Jarvis and his staff phased me in was ideal for my situation. I never felt like I was being thrown to the wolves or anything like that.”
The NHL lockout, meanwhile, proved to be blessing in disguise for Danis, who was treated to a number of visits from Canadiens goaltending coach and puck-stopping guru Roland Melanson throughout the 2004-05 campaign.
“The surprise visits from Rollie were great,” he enthused. “He gave me all kinds of helpful pointers that did a lot for my technique and overall game.”
Invaluable guidance aside, Danis recognizes his days at the Bell Centre might still be a ways away.
”I know what I’m up against," he admitted. "With an All-Star and former league MVP like Jose Theodore and a young up-and-comer with NHL experience like Cristobal Huet already slated to handle the goaltending duties, I know I still have a long way to go. For now my role is to help the Bulldogs, and until that phone call comes from Montreal I still have a job to do.”
In addition to his trusty glove hand, Danis comes armed with a head on his shoulders and a university diploma in his back pocket. Should that phone call from Bob Gainey and the Canadiens never materialize, the netminder can rest assured a call from a local accounting firm would be on the horizon, making his future in Montreal a lot more certain than most.
MONTREAL - Be it cumulus, stratus, or otherwise, the cloud on which Yann Danis has walked for the past year shows no sign of evaporating. As has been the case for much of his time since joining the Canadiens 15 months ago, life is good for the young goaltender; such is the benefit of learning life's lessons early and then taking them to heart.
Danis' climb to the position of prominent prospect was far from easy. A first blow to his pro hockey aspirations came in 1998, when the then-17-year-old was selected in only the 11th round of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft by the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. Selected where he was, the decision to head south became a virtual no-brainer.
“I can’t lie and pretend that being drafted that late didn’t accelerate the process of me heading south to the U.S.," said Danis, who didn't hesitate to pack his bags and pencil case for Brown University in Providence, RI. "In addition to being such a late pick by the Huskies, I was also aware that they already had a couple of goalies ahead of me on their depth chart. Looking back, it was definitely a smart move for me. No matter what happens to me with my on-ice career, I’ll always have my degree in economics to fall back on.”
Though the odds were against him at Bulldogs training camp last summer after having seen only two games of action in 2003-04, Danis still managed to become the No. 1 goalie for the Canadiens AHL affiliate in Hamilton, proceeding to post a sparkling 2.34 goals-against average and .924 save percentage in his 53 games played.
“I definitely came a long way this year,” said the St. Jerome native, who will celebrate his 24th birthday next week. “Having joined the team late last season, even though I only saw limited action, it helped me a lot coming into this year. I knew what to expect so I was really ready when camp began.”
It may have taken until the AHL All-Star break, but Danis eventually became the top dog between the pipes for the Hamilton. It was a spot he maintained for the rest of the season and into the playoffs.
“I was pretty much splitting the games with (fellow Bulldogs goalie) Dan Ellis at the outset, and then by the time midseason rolled around I was playing more and more," he explained. "At that point I realized that I had won my coaches over, and that really boosted by confidence. As for me and Danny, we always got along great."
"Besides," he added with a chuckle, "as roommates so we didn’t really have a choice in the matter!”
Despite the steep learning curve that loomed as he tried to make the tricky transition from the U.S. college ranks to the AHL, Danis managed to take it all in stride.
“I can’t say enough about how the Bulldogs organization helped me become a better goalie,” he said. “The way [head coach] Doug Jarvis and his staff phased me in was ideal for my situation. I never felt like I was being thrown to the wolves or anything like that.”
The NHL lockout, meanwhile, proved to be blessing in disguise for Danis, who was treated to a number of visits from Canadiens goaltending coach and puck-stopping guru Roland Melanson throughout the 2004-05 campaign.
“The surprise visits from Rollie were great,” he enthused. “He gave me all kinds of helpful pointers that did a lot for my technique and overall game.”
Invaluable guidance aside, Danis recognizes his days at the Bell Centre might still be a ways away.
”I know what I’m up against," he admitted. "With an All-Star and former league MVP like Jose Theodore and a young up-and-comer with NHL experience like Cristobal Huet already slated to handle the goaltending duties, I know I still have a long way to go. For now my role is to help the Bulldogs, and until that phone call comes from Montreal I still have a job to do.”
In addition to his trusty glove hand, Danis comes armed with a head on his shoulders and a university diploma in his back pocket. Should that phone call from Bob Gainey and the Canadiens never materialize, the netminder can rest assured a call from a local accounting firm would be on the horizon, making his future in Montreal a lot more certain than most.