Saints Focus on Defense

The following article appeared in the November 1 issue of The Watertown Times.

By Max DelSignore
Watertown Times  

CANTON - Casey Parenteau believes it's time for the St. Lawrence University men's hockey team to turn up the defense.

The junior forward from White Bear Lake, Minn., has seen plenty of positives as the Saints have skated to a 3-3 record this season. But Parenteau believes the team will start to stress the importance of staying in front of foes on defense as it hosts its first ECAC Hockey League weekend series against Dartmouth and Harvard.

"I think our body position, shoulders on shoulders, will eliminate second and third chances on our end," Parenteau said. "If we can build a good defense, then our offense will come."

St. Lawrence's struggles in clearing the zone and gobbling up rebounds to support its goaltenders played a role in two tough losses to rival Clarkson and Colgate the last two weekends. SLU coach Joe Marsh said greater emphasis on creating turnovers and handling defensive assignments will ignite the Saints' trademark transition offense.

"I think the thing that we really need to work on is maybe being quicker in transition, quicker to get into defensive position and quicker to recognize how we can sustain our offense," Marsh said. "We had some good chances, but we didn't create a lot of second or third opportunities from that."

The Saints' offense has benefited from their speed. For instance, Parenteau has already contributed four goals in six games this season.

"Our game is 100 percent transition," Parenteau said. "If we have a good defense, we can turn the puck up (the ice) right away. Ninety percent of scoring chances come from that."

GOALIE SHUFFLE

John Hallas didn't complicate the goaltender rotation for the Saints with his first career shutout against Union on Saturday. If anything, he gave Marsh another option between the pipes.

Hallas, a graduate student from Largo, Fla., turned aside 20 shots in St. Lawrence's consolation victory over the Dutchmen at the Citizens Bank Governor's Cup in Albany. The conference honored him with the Goaltender of the Week award Monday.

"I think he looked poised and really confident," said Marsh of Hallas's effort. "He made some big stops. He was very much in control and had good presence in the net."

It leaves Marsh with an intriguing scenario as Dartmouth and Harvard embark to Appleton Arena for a ECACHL weekend series beginning Friday. Sophomore goalie Alex Petizian won all five games against the two squads last season. But senior captain Justin Pesony has logged two admirable efforts against Providence and Colgate.

"I think it's pretty much up in the air," Marsh said. "We've given all four guys an opportunity, and all four of them have done really well. It's going to be a tough decision come the day of the game."

GENEROUS, VERMEULEN HIT ICE

Two of the Saints' integral players participated in practice but are still questionable for this weekend's first ECACHL series.

Matt Generous injured his right shoulder in a 5-4 overtime loss at Clarkson less than two weeks ago. The junior defenseman skated with a wrap on his shoulder in practice this week and appeared to be in solid shape. The Cheshire, Conn., native has produced two goals in four games this season.

SLU sophomore forward Travis Vermeulen also competed in practice this week after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his knee three weeks ago. Vermeulen saw his only action in the season opener against the Golden Knights on Oct. 7. Marsh said despite Vermeulen's smaller stature, he's one of the crucial cogs in the Saints' penalty kill.

Marsh said he wouldn't rush either player back into action, and they will be game-time decisions for Friday.