The picture is getting clearer for the Cataractes
Slight, Pawelczyk and Taylor are the 20-year-olds – until further notice.
Cataractes General Manager, Martin Mondou says that his players have a lot to prove to him as the trade period approaches. In the last few days he has even sent a message by sending 20-year-old defenceman Alexandre Coulombe to the Moncton Wildcats.
Kept out of the game for the first two months of the season due to an injury, Coulombe played 5 games with the team in November before being traded to the Maritimes.
‘Alexandre was committed to defending the Cataractes’ colours, and fur us, what was important was to find him a team where he could develop in good surroundings. Moncton is a quality organization where he can finish off his career nicely,’ explained the GM, emphasising that this trade does not assure the future of the other three 20-year-old players on the team.
Gabriel Slight Wants to Win
Gabriel Slight says that he understood his GM’s message. He knows that his margin of error is almost non-existent.
‘I’ve been walking a tightrope since the beginning of the year. I think that I’m meeting the coaches’ requirements and that I’m giving them what they are asking for. However, I have to show more consistency and avoid penalties. I hope to finish my career here, and more than anything, to end it as a champion,’ Slight explained.
Last Saturday he again earned 3 minor penalties, two of which were in the offensive zone.
‘It’s unacceptable,’ his coach Martin Bernard complained. ‘Gabriel has always had this problem and he is one of those players that the refs keep an eye one. Knowing that, he has to be more careful than anyone!’
Pawelczyk on the defensive
Alex Pawelczyk has only earned 9 points since the start of the season. It’s first and foremost thanks to his defensive game that he has been able to keep his spot on the team.
‘I try to bring a physical presence each time I’m on the ice. I concentrate on my defensive game in training. I think we have a great team, but we spoil our good performance by not offering a collective effort for 60 minutes,’ he complained.
Taylor: From start to finish
Rare is the player that plays his entire career in one jersey. One such player is Zach Taylor, who developed under Denis Chalifoux and now Martin Bernard.
‘I’ve had extreme highs and lows since I came to Shawinigan. After the MasterCard Memorial Cup, it was difficult here; bottom of the standings. Now I have the opportunity to compete for the top spot with a hope to win the cup again. All the same, it’s obvious we have to improve our team play. We can’t stop playing when we get a lead,’ said Taylor, who has 5 goals this campaign.
Mondou is deciding
The great start to the season is now a thing of the past. For several weeks now, the team has been trying to find its bearings and isn’t giving the required effort for 60 whole minutes.
‘If this trend continues, we are not going to sacrifice the future by losing valuable players by looking for reinforcements. They boys have to convince me that they can give more than that out there. We still have too many questions. The fans were hard on our goalies, but me, I think they were doing excellent work, especially when you consider the effort in front of them,’ he added, visibly exasperated after last Saturday’s 5-2 loss to the Moncton Wildcats.
Translation: Richard Dumas
