A coast-to-coast journey for Lambert
Jul 19, 2005 18:32:53 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2005 18:32:53 GMT -5
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MONTREAL - When Canadiens prospect Michael Lambert decided to make hockey his life’s work, he knew he would one day need an agent. He just didn't know it would be a travel agent.
Lambert’s puck odyssey has already taken him across the continent and he has the Air Miles to prove it. A native of Trois-Rivieres, the 21-year-old has seen his hockey curriculum take him from his Midget AAA days in Cap-de-la Madeleine to Acadie-Bathurst to begin his junior career. His next stop was with the QMJHL's Rocket in Montreal, where he spent over two seasons in the hockey hotbed where his Uncle Yvon won six Stanley Cups with the Canadiens during the 1970s. Just when Lambert started getting comfortable in his surroundings, the team moved to Prince Edward Island. Playing that close to the ocean would serve him well, as fresh water and hockey would reunite for Lambert down the road.
With his days in junior drawing to a close, Lambert made his way back east to southern Ontario, where he joined the Hamilton Bulldogs in a city where the only waves he would encounter would be in the stands at Copps Coliseum. While there are more glamorous places to end up than in Steeltown, for any Canadiens hopeful, there is no better place to be than with the team's AHL affiliate, just one step from the bright lights of the NHL. Lambert, who was Montreal’s third pick and the 99th overall selectopn at the 2002 draft, managed to turn enough heads at Bulldogs training camp to secure a spot with the club to start the 2004-05 campaign.
Faced with making the difficult leap from the Quebec junior ranks to the pros, Lambert saw his playing time diminish; after 40 games, he embarked on the next leg of his hockey journey. With longjohns and mittens replaced by sunscreen and Bermuda shorts, Lambert’s new hockey home was in California with the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the East Coast Hockey League. In making the move, the winger became possibly the first person to ever migrate to Hollywood in search of more ice.
“It's always tough to suffer a setback, but it may help me in my development in the long run,” said Lambert, whose ice-time in Hamilton was further reduced upon the arrival of more established names like Jason Ward and Steve Begin. “I was barely getting any time to get out there and show what I could do. When you’re sitting like 15 minutes between shifts, it’s tough to get your legs going. My game suffered and it became obvious that I had to play more.”
The sun and surf of California clearly energized Lambert, who saw his per-game offensive production nearly triple with the Ice Dogs. With his confidence back and more playing time available, Lambert worked on his game in a manner he had been unable to in the AHL.
“It took a little while adjusting at first as [head coach Malcolm Cameron] and I got to know each other, but then, before I knew it, I was being used in practically every situation from power plays to penalty killing,” said Lambert.
Joined on a roster with such fellow prospects as Cory Urquhart and Matt Shasby - and even veteran and former Canadiens forward Bill Lindsay - Lambert carried his momentum into the ECHL postseason, where he led all Ice Dogs scorers with five goals in seven playoff games.
“Overall, I’m happy with my progress this year,” said Lambert. “I still have some work to do in certain areas, but I’m feeling good about where my game is right now. Leaving Hamilton was a difficult time for me, but with the influx of NHL veterans late in the year, my days were clearly numbered there."
Though the added experience of others ultimately limited Lambert's chances at development with the Bulldogs, the opportunity to watch others up close did provide some inspiration.
“I did pick up a number of things from not only veteran players but also youngsters like Chris Higgins,” said Lambert. “Chris’ work ethic and style of play was really contagious. He’s proof positive that with hard work and determination, anything is possible.”
Much like chasing one’s hockey dream all the way to California.
MONTREAL - When Canadiens prospect Michael Lambert decided to make hockey his life’s work, he knew he would one day need an agent. He just didn't know it would be a travel agent.
Lambert’s puck odyssey has already taken him across the continent and he has the Air Miles to prove it. A native of Trois-Rivieres, the 21-year-old has seen his hockey curriculum take him from his Midget AAA days in Cap-de-la Madeleine to Acadie-Bathurst to begin his junior career. His next stop was with the QMJHL's Rocket in Montreal, where he spent over two seasons in the hockey hotbed where his Uncle Yvon won six Stanley Cups with the Canadiens during the 1970s. Just when Lambert started getting comfortable in his surroundings, the team moved to Prince Edward Island. Playing that close to the ocean would serve him well, as fresh water and hockey would reunite for Lambert down the road.
With his days in junior drawing to a close, Lambert made his way back east to southern Ontario, where he joined the Hamilton Bulldogs in a city where the only waves he would encounter would be in the stands at Copps Coliseum. While there are more glamorous places to end up than in Steeltown, for any Canadiens hopeful, there is no better place to be than with the team's AHL affiliate, just one step from the bright lights of the NHL. Lambert, who was Montreal’s third pick and the 99th overall selectopn at the 2002 draft, managed to turn enough heads at Bulldogs training camp to secure a spot with the club to start the 2004-05 campaign.
Faced with making the difficult leap from the Quebec junior ranks to the pros, Lambert saw his playing time diminish; after 40 games, he embarked on the next leg of his hockey journey. With longjohns and mittens replaced by sunscreen and Bermuda shorts, Lambert’s new hockey home was in California with the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the East Coast Hockey League. In making the move, the winger became possibly the first person to ever migrate to Hollywood in search of more ice.
“It's always tough to suffer a setback, but it may help me in my development in the long run,” said Lambert, whose ice-time in Hamilton was further reduced upon the arrival of more established names like Jason Ward and Steve Begin. “I was barely getting any time to get out there and show what I could do. When you’re sitting like 15 minutes between shifts, it’s tough to get your legs going. My game suffered and it became obvious that I had to play more.”
The sun and surf of California clearly energized Lambert, who saw his per-game offensive production nearly triple with the Ice Dogs. With his confidence back and more playing time available, Lambert worked on his game in a manner he had been unable to in the AHL.
“It took a little while adjusting at first as [head coach Malcolm Cameron] and I got to know each other, but then, before I knew it, I was being used in practically every situation from power plays to penalty killing,” said Lambert.
Joined on a roster with such fellow prospects as Cory Urquhart and Matt Shasby - and even veteran and former Canadiens forward Bill Lindsay - Lambert carried his momentum into the ECHL postseason, where he led all Ice Dogs scorers with five goals in seven playoff games.
“Overall, I’m happy with my progress this year,” said Lambert. “I still have some work to do in certain areas, but I’m feeling good about where my game is right now. Leaving Hamilton was a difficult time for me, but with the influx of NHL veterans late in the year, my days were clearly numbered there."
Though the added experience of others ultimately limited Lambert's chances at development with the Bulldogs, the opportunity to watch others up close did provide some inspiration.
“I did pick up a number of things from not only veteran players but also youngsters like Chris Higgins,” said Lambert. “Chris’ work ethic and style of play was really contagious. He’s proof positive that with hard work and determination, anything is possible.”
Much like chasing one’s hockey dream all the way to California.
