IceCaps defenceman Ellis named to AHL All-Star Team
BLUELINER TO REPLACE FELLOW ICECAP BARBERIO CURRENTLY WITH CANADIENS
St. John’s IceCaps Media Release
SPRINGFIELD, MASS. (January 26, 2015) –The American Hockey League announced today several roster changes for the upcoming 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Classic, including the addition of St. John’s IceCaps defenceman Morgan Ellis.
Ellis, second among AHL rearguards with 10 goals, will replace fellow IceCaps blueliner Mark Barberio who is currently on recall to the Montreal Canadiens. A native of Ellerslie, PEI, Ellis also leads the IceCaps with a plus-minus of +12.
The All-Star game is slated for this Sunday and Monday in Syracuse, N.Y.
Other additions to the AHL All-Star rosters are: Portland Pirates defenseman Cameron Gaunce and Providence Bruins forward Alexander Khokhlachev (Atlantic Division); Manitoba Moose goaltender Eric Comrie, Rockford IceHogs forward Jake Dowell and Lake Erie Monsters forward T.J. Tynan (Central Division); and Ontario Reign forward Sean Backman and San Jose Barracuda forward Ryan Carpenter (Pacific Division).
In addition, the AHL announced that Bridgeport forward Joe Whitney, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defenseman Derrick Pouliot, Manitoba goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, Lake Erie forward Kerby Rychel, Milwaukee forward Vladislav Kamenev, Ontario forward Michael Mersch and Texas forward Travis Morin will all be unavailable for the event.
Scratches: Eric Neilson, Mark Barberio, Connor Crisp (undisclosed), Nikita Scherbak (undisclosed) Injured reserve: Ryan Johnston (back surgery)
Game Report
The IceCaps got right back to work this afternoon with another matinee matchup against the Toronto Marlies. After spending the first few minutes of the game with both teams testing each other out, action started to pick up when the IceCaps drew the game’s first power play. Pasquale’s best save of the period came with just under 7 minutes left in the period as Viktor Loov curled around in the zone, found some empty space and wired a shot but Pasquale flashed the leather. Just over a minute and a half later, Zach Hyman opened the scoring for the Marlies as he tapped in a loose puck at the goal mouth. As the period wound down, Bournival scored a power play goal to tie the game, his first of the season, with assists from Gabriel Dumont and Darren Dietz.
The IceCaps started the second period by killing off the remainder of a Mac Bennett penalty he took at the end of the first period. After the Marlies went up by a goal once again, the IceCaps really started to pick up the physical play.
With 12 minutes left in the second period, the IceCaps only had 2 shots on goal and the Marlies had made it 3-1 on a goal from Justin Holl off the ensuing faceoff. Under a minute later, Charles Hudon fed Bud Holloway who sent a beautiful saucer pass over to Joel Hanley who pushed the puck past Ray Emery.
Early in the final frame, Bud Holloway tied things up at 3-3. The IceCaps came out this period far more engaged, looking like the momentum they had at the end of the previous period had carried over. Jacob de la Rose potted his second goal of the season to give the IceCaps their first lead of the game.
The Marlies applied pressure throughout the third, looking to even things up on the scoreboard but Eddie Pasquale and the St. John’s defense were clicking. After a Toronto timeout with just under two minutes remaining, the Marlies tied things up off a point shot from Rinat Valiev. The IceCaps didn’t give up and 50 seconds later Gabriel Dumont managed to squeak a shot through Emery to make it 5-4 for the visiting team and seal the comeback victory.
Earlier in the day Tim Bozon, Angelo Miceli, and Dalton Thrower were sent down to the Brampton Beast. During the game, the news came out that Mark Barberio had been recalled to the Montreal Canadiens. The IceCaps continue their road trip on Wednesday night with a game against the Rochester Amerks to be played in Buffalo’s First Niagara Center.
▲ Jacob de la Rose, Lucas Lessio, Gabriel Dumont, Bud Holloway, Michael Bournival, Michael McCarron
▼
Statistics
ICECAPS
MARLIES
31
Shots
26
1 for 2
Power Play
0 for 3
6
Penalty Minutes
4
Scoring
FINAL
1
2
3
OT
SO
T
IceCaps (15-8-5-2)
1
1
3
–
–
5
Marlies (24-6-2-0)
1
2
1
–
–
4
Scorers
Goalies
STJ: Bournival (1), Hanley (3), Holloway (8), De La Rose (2), Dumont (7)
TOR: Hyman (6), Leipsic (8), Holl (2), Valiev (3)
STJ: Pasquale (W) 5-1-2
TOR: Emery (L) 2-2-1
AHL Three Stars
Gabriel Dumont STJ
Brendan Leipsic TOR
Bud Holloway STJ
Video highlights
Post-game interview
Coach Sylvain Lefebvre
“(Need to improve) the execution, reads, the better choice of plays. Sometimes tonight we forced plays a little too much.”
“We skated yesterday. You know the first period I thought we came out pretty good, then the second period we seemed to be flat.”
Post-game interview with Sylvain Lefebvre
Audio from interviews conducted by Chris Hatzitolios for IceCaps Hockey Report | Rocket Sports Media.
Montreal, QC — On Sunday afternoon, the Canadiens announced that they’ve recalled defenseman Mark Barberio from the AHL’s St. John’s IceCaps. He will join the team on Sunday night in Tampa.
Currently in his first season in the Canadiens organization, Barberio sits tied for third on the IceCaps with 20 points on the year – including two goals – in 26 games. The 25-year-old rearguard has played 103 career NHL games, all of which came during his time with the Tampa Bay Lightning between the 2012-13 and 2014-15 campaigns. He amassed six goals and 17 points during that span.
Scratches: Dalton Thrower, Eric Neilson, Connor Crisp (undisclosed), Nikita Scherbak (undisclosed), Markus Eisenschmid (undisclosed) Injured reserve: Ryan Johnston (back surgery)
Game Report
The IceCaps returned home to St. John’s this week and welcomed the Rochester Americans tonight for the first of a back-to-back. The IceCaps came out shooting, showing a lot of energy and tallying 22 shots on goal in the first period. Jacob de la Rose, returning from a lengthy absence due to injury in early November, made his mark early on as he put the home team on the board late in the first. It was his first goal for St. John’s this season.
Penalties, however, also played their part in this game. Michael McCarron took consecutive minors for cross-checking and roughing in the first period, while Josiah Didier sat for five minutes after enduring a fight with Patrick Kaleta. The Amerks power play unit finally converted one of their man advantage opportunities and tied the game in the second period.
Shots were kept to a minimum and the game was played pretty tightly through the third period, but then Jerry D’Amigo saw an opening when Gabriel Dumont and Mark Barberio got caught deep with Darren Dietz trying to make a play behind the net. D’Amigo shot one past Zach Fucale and moments later Rochester potted an empty-netter.
Despite the mistake late in the third, Dumont had seven shots on goal for the night, while Morgan Ellis tallied five shots. Michael Bournival played his first game of the season, taking the left wing position on the top line.
The IceCaps meet up with the Rochester Americans again tomorrow night at Mile One Centre for the second of their back-to-back series.
Scratches: Eric Neilson, Connor Crisp (undisclosed), Jacob De la Rose (lower-body), Nikita Scherbak (undisclosed), Markus Eisenschmid (undisclosed) Injured reserve: Ryan Johnston (back surgery)
Game Report
Coming into this game, the IceCaps had settled their last five consecutive games in overtime or a shootout. This game in Rochester would follow that trend, adding a sixth game of extra minutes to the St. John’s streak.
It was the first of another six-game roadtrip for the IceCaps and the first period made them look tired and sluggish. They spent most of the period pinned in their own end, only tallying five shots on goal. Discipline became a factor once again as penalties started early. Jarred Tinordi, sent down from Montreal for a conditioning stint, had two penalties on the night.
After the first intermission, the IceCaps found themselves down by a goal but seemed to find some energy. They turned the tables on the Americans, skating faster, getting shots on net, and drawing penalties. Morgan Ellis tied things up and then the first line of Daniel Carr, Michael McCarron, and Charles Hudon turned on the jets. They were strong in the crease, putting pressure on Rochester’s goaltender, and were rewarded with a power play goal for Carr and an even-strength goal for McCarron.
The IceCaps held onto their one goal lead for the remainder of the game, despite some close calls shut down by Zach Fucale. It was a late goal by defenseman Colby Robak , however, that tied the game with 16 seconds remaining and eventually forcing overtime.
Extra time was pretty evenly played, with both goaltenders making some big saves. Hudon had a bad turnover which led to a two-man rush against him during which he broke his stick trying to defend the play.
No St. John’s shooters were able to score in the shootout, and just one goal by Jason Akeson for Rochester was all it took to finish this one.
Three more added to IceCaps roster
BARBERIO, TOKARSKI AND DE LA ROSE ASSIGNED
Jacob de la Rose (Photo by St. John’s IceCaps)
St. John’s IceCaps MEDIA RELEASE
MONTREAL, QC – The Montreal Canadiens assigned three more players to St. John’s on Tuesday: defenceman Mark Barberio, goaltender Dustin Tokarski and forward Jacob de la Rose.
Barberio, 25, has played 105 career NHL games, all with the Tampa Bay Lightning, recording 17 points (6G, 11A) and 44 penalty minutes.
Tokarski, 26, has gone 9-9-5 in 27 career NHL games with Tampa Bay and Montreal, posting a 2.80 GAA and a .907 SV%.
de la Rose, 20, is in just his second season of North American pro hockey. The native of Sweden split last season between Hamilton (AHL) and Montreal, playing 33 games with the Canadiens and notching six points (4G, 2A).
The IceCaps open the 2015-16 season Saturday in Hartford vs. the Wolf Pack. Catch all the action with Brian Rogers at stjohnsicecaps.com, 930AM and on AHL Live.
ST. JOHN’S, NL. — Mac Bennett was selected 79th overall in the 3rd round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. This was a year where the Canadiens organization selected the likes of Louis Leblanc, Alexander Avtsin and Gabriel Dumont from the podium at the Bell Centre. Leblanc was an ownership decision and proved to be a bust. Bennett, Dumont and Joonas Nattinen, currently playing for JYP in the Finnish SM-liiga, are the only prospects left from the ’09 crop.
Bennett took the slow and steady approach, playing one year with Cedar Rapids of the USHL and proceeding to University of Michigan where he completed his degree in musicology. During his draft year NHL Central Scouting had the following report on Bennett:
“Mac is a very strong skater with good acceleration and overall speed. He has very good lateral mobility and moves his feet quickly. He can lead the rush and moves the puck quickly from his own end. He has a very strong shot from the point. He is a very good passer. He runs the power play and distributes the puck well. His defensive zone play is very good. He is quick to gain and maintain control of the puck and moves it out quickly.”
Last year as a rookie with the Hamilton Bulldogs, Bennett had a modest stat line of four goals, eight assists for 12 points over 59 games. It is worth mentioning this was the first time in three years that he had played more than 32 games, so fatigue may have very well been a factor. Bennett figures to slot on the left hand side behind Jarred Tinordi and Mark Barberio, with powerplay time because of his offensive upside.
Bennett is one of these guys that have flown under the radar for the Habs amongst names like Tinordi, Nathan Beaulieu and Greg Pateryn have been given a shot by the Habs. In all likelihood he will spend the entire season with the IceCaps working on rounding out his 200-foot game in a bigger, faster pro league compared to the collegiate level. Long term it is tough to say if he will ever make an impact with the Habs, but his past coaches and scouts alike seem to see the work ethic in him that typically results in success. Best case scenario he’s a 5th-6th pairing defenseman in the NHL at some point (not necessarily with the Habs or in the near future), however the IceCaps are lucky to have him anchoring down that left side for the 2015-16 campaign. I expect he will see an increase in ice-time, and combined with his experience should produce a little better this season. However, without that increased productivity, seeing as offense has always been his bread and butter, Bennett may have already found his ceiling.
ST. JOHN’S, NL. — This series projecting players to lace-up for the St. John’s IceCaps will overlap on many individuals who may end up playing with the Canadiens all season, and Mark Barberio is no exception to that rule. The hometown Montreal native was drafted 152nd overall in 2008 by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Barberio had a decorated junior career playing for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles and Moncton Wildcats. During his tenure he accumulated 168 points and a plus-53 rating over 261 games. He also was named to multiple all-star selections and played in the Canada – Russia super series.
At 6-foot-1-inch and a shade under 200 pounds, Bergevin saw an opportunity to go after a 25-year-old defender who has shown the ability in the past to play a large role for his team. In 2011-’12 Barberio was a part of one of the most dominant AHL teams in league history. That year the Norfolk Admirals, coached by Jon Cooper, set a record in professional hockey for the longest winning streak. Winning 28 games in a row, a team which consisted of Cory Conacher, Dustin Tokarski, Ondrej Palat and Tyler Johnson, Barberio made a name for himself by winning the Eddie Shore Award for the top defenseman in the league. He finished that year in the top-20 in scoring (first among defensemen) with 13 goals, 48 assists in 74 games.
Barberio figures to compete for a spot for the Canadiens this fall. He’s a left-handed shot, and therefore falls behind the likes of Nathan Beaulieu, Alexei Emelin and Andrei Markov. Although Emelin likes to play a physical game, all three players fit a similar mold as Barberio, a guy who can move the puck well. For that reason, I had selected Jarred Tinordi at 6-foot-6-inch and much more of a defensive presence to slot in over Barberio on the left hand side, but would not be all surprised to see either of these two start with the Canadiens as a seventh man or injury replacement.
With Barberio signed to a one year, two-way deal, the Canadiens are giving a guy a shot to make a difference. He will need to clear waivers if sent down, so you can believe he will get every look in training camp, but with the top three left-handed shots set in stone you have to wonder which of Barberio or Tinordi will the Canadiens risk getting picked up by another team. Of course the Habs could always pull a last minute trade to shed some cap space on a guy like Emelin and keep both players with the big club. Time will tell, and it’s up to Barberio to make that a tough decision for Michel Therrien and company. If he does end up on the IceCaps this season, Sylvain Lefebvre can consider himself lucky to have a bonafide No. 1 d-man to help youngsters like Brett Lernout and Dalton Thrower learn the ropes.
