Chipchura and Latendresse impress
Aug 18, 2005 9:35:34 GMT -5
Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on Aug 18, 2005 9:35:34 GMT -5
17-08-2005
Chipchura and Latendresse impress
Mathias Brunet
La Presse
One often reproaches the Canadiens for lacking muscle up front.
The Montréal squad will perhaps not have a more robust club this season, but the changing of the guard for the better in this area has been sounded.
Two bright hopes for the organization, Kyle Chipchura and Guillaume Latendresse, have just had an excellent development camp with the Canadian junior team in Vancouver—which was held in preparation for the World Championship this winter.
Chipchura, a 6 foot 2 inch and 197 pound center, chosen in the first round by the Canadiens in 2004 (18th over all), was in the opinion of many one of the main leaders of his team this week. Latendresse, a 6 foot 1 inch and 215 pound left winger, drafted 45th this summer, marked three goals and two assists in three inter-squad games.
"Kyle Chipchura was dominant from start to finish," confided Elmer Benning, the Habs scout for western Canada, on the phone yesterday. "During the team's last simulated game, Monday evening, he spent the last two minutes on the ice with the score 4-3. He didn't produce in terms of points but he was creative with the puck. He's not a self-centred player. A winner. I am not the one who will determine the composition of the team, but in my opinion he should be there."
Chipchura, compared to Trevor Linden at the time of his acquisition by the Canadiens in June 2004, can count among his admirers the assistant coach of the Canadian team, Clement Jodoin. "I came to know him two years ago at the U18 World Championship in Belarus," mentioned Jodoin yesterday between flights. "He had impressed me a lot with his leadership. He takes charge in the locker-room. When you have such an experience with young players for two weeks, you remember them."
The young man was about to earn a position with the national junior team last year when an unfortunate injury to his Achilles tendon put a premature end to his regular season. He all the same succeeded in returning to action for the playoffs and helped the Prince Albert Raiders reach the semi-finals. We'll bet that he will be at the forthcoming World Championship.
Latendresse: not all that slow
Latendresse started back in the field for many, but he surprised more than one of them this week. One of whom was the Canadiens' scout. "I must admit that I didn't know him, because I cover western Canada," mentioned Benning. "But he was exceptional, really very good. He is strong, he sees the play well, excellent hands. He didn't stop improving throughout the tournament. He picked up an assist in the first game, a goal and an assist in the second, and two goals in Monday's game. His first step, which had raised some concern, was not that bad. He's not as fast as some of the others, but he compensates by his intelligence and his puck control."
Jodoin, head coach of Lewiston [QMJHL], liked Latendresse's finish to the tournament. "He finished strongly despite a slow start. He's a big guy who will play on an excellent team in Drummondville [QMJHL] this season. He isn't the fastest but he is nevertheless an excellent skater, and that doesn't diminish his principal qualities, which are his physical strength, his combativeness, and his excellent shot."
Goalie Carey Price, drafted fifth over all by the Canadiens two weeks ago, is the third member of the organization to have received an invitation to this camp. We still need a little time to evaluate him.
"Price was good in Monday's game, but he had been rather average in his first start on the weekend (he gave up four goals on 24 shots)," Benning mentioned. "He played in the last game like he did with his junior team."
Jodoin hasn't had sufficient time to evaluate him properly. "I don't know him well and our camp was rather short. But he's a big goalie and did a good job on the whole. He is a project, but a beautiful project. He's in good hands with Roland Melanson and the Canadiens organization. Coincidentally, our prospects were invited to an evening with the members of the Olympic team and Price quickly found himself with Théodore and Pierre Gervais (equipment manager)."
Chipchura, Latendresse, and Price will take part in the Canadiens rookie camp at the beginning of September.
- texte français original
Chipchura and Latendresse impress
Mathias Brunet
La Presse
One often reproaches the Canadiens for lacking muscle up front.
The Montréal squad will perhaps not have a more robust club this season, but the changing of the guard for the better in this area has been sounded.
Two bright hopes for the organization, Kyle Chipchura and Guillaume Latendresse, have just had an excellent development camp with the Canadian junior team in Vancouver—which was held in preparation for the World Championship this winter.
Chipchura, a 6 foot 2 inch and 197 pound center, chosen in the first round by the Canadiens in 2004 (18th over all), was in the opinion of many one of the main leaders of his team this week. Latendresse, a 6 foot 1 inch and 215 pound left winger, drafted 45th this summer, marked three goals and two assists in three inter-squad games.
"Kyle Chipchura was dominant from start to finish," confided Elmer Benning, the Habs scout for western Canada, on the phone yesterday. "During the team's last simulated game, Monday evening, he spent the last two minutes on the ice with the score 4-3. He didn't produce in terms of points but he was creative with the puck. He's not a self-centred player. A winner. I am not the one who will determine the composition of the team, but in my opinion he should be there."
Chipchura, compared to Trevor Linden at the time of his acquisition by the Canadiens in June 2004, can count among his admirers the assistant coach of the Canadian team, Clement Jodoin. "I came to know him two years ago at the U18 World Championship in Belarus," mentioned Jodoin yesterday between flights. "He had impressed me a lot with his leadership. He takes charge in the locker-room. When you have such an experience with young players for two weeks, you remember them."
The young man was about to earn a position with the national junior team last year when an unfortunate injury to his Achilles tendon put a premature end to his regular season. He all the same succeeded in returning to action for the playoffs and helped the Prince Albert Raiders reach the semi-finals. We'll bet that he will be at the forthcoming World Championship.
Latendresse: not all that slow
Latendresse started back in the field for many, but he surprised more than one of them this week. One of whom was the Canadiens' scout. "I must admit that I didn't know him, because I cover western Canada," mentioned Benning. "But he was exceptional, really very good. He is strong, he sees the play well, excellent hands. He didn't stop improving throughout the tournament. He picked up an assist in the first game, a goal and an assist in the second, and two goals in Monday's game. His first step, which had raised some concern, was not that bad. He's not as fast as some of the others, but he compensates by his intelligence and his puck control."
Jodoin, head coach of Lewiston [QMJHL], liked Latendresse's finish to the tournament. "He finished strongly despite a slow start. He's a big guy who will play on an excellent team in Drummondville [QMJHL] this season. He isn't the fastest but he is nevertheless an excellent skater, and that doesn't diminish his principal qualities, which are his physical strength, his combativeness, and his excellent shot."
Goalie Carey Price, drafted fifth over all by the Canadiens two weeks ago, is the third member of the organization to have received an invitation to this camp. We still need a little time to evaluate him.
"Price was good in Monday's game, but he had been rather average in his first start on the weekend (he gave up four goals on 24 shots)," Benning mentioned. "He played in the last game like he did with his junior team."
Jodoin hasn't had sufficient time to evaluate him properly. "I don't know him well and our camp was rather short. But he's a big goalie and did a good job on the whole. He is a project, but a beautiful project. He's in good hands with Roland Melanson and the Canadiens organization. Coincidentally, our prospects were invited to an evening with the members of the Olympic team and Price quickly found himself with Théodore and Pierre Gervais (equipment manager)."
Chipchura, Latendresse, and Price will take part in the Canadiens rookie camp at the beginning of September.
- texte français original
