Dogs rearguard off to blistering scoring pace
Published Tuesday October 14th, 2008
Hockey Stich getting more pucks to the net at coaches' insistence
Despite scaring the jock straps off goalies and breaking enough sticks to keep a lumber yard in business (if anyone still used wood sticks anymore), David Stich is not known as a goal scorer.
The 19-year-old Saint John Sea Dogs defenceman has a booming slap shot, but had gone 87 regular-season games without a goal - including all last year - before blasting one home on Sept. 28. However, he started a new streak that night, recording points in five straight games, including five goals.
He even had a two-goal game in a 4-0 win against Montreal Saturday, which he can't remember doing at any level of hockey, ever.
When you consider that he also found the net three times in 14 playoff games, it seems Stich has tapped a newly discovered offensive vein.
So what's different for the six-foot-two, 209-pound Czech, who has been a stay-at-home defenceman since he first laced up the skates as a kid?
"I've been listening more to our coaching staff," said Stich. "I have a good shot, so they tell me every game and every practice I have to get more shots on the net."
Stich averaged about 1.3 shots per game over his first two seasons, but has fired 20 shots over his five-game streak. It helps that he's seeing regular time on the power play, which creates more space for him to get his shot through. Four of his goals have come with the man advantage.
"He wasn't put in the situation last year to score goals. He's probably our best penalty killer, that's sort of his specialty and he's going to keep doing that this year," said assistant coach Jim Midgley, who oversees the defencemen.
"But he's probably got the heaviest shot on the team and that's why he's out 5-on-3 and we're going to use him 5-on-4," added Midgley. "If he hits the net, it's either through the goalie or it's a goal."
Speaking of which, Dogs netminder Robert Mayer isn't exactly a fan of facing Stich in practice.
During a recent power-play drill, Stich set up in the slot and wound up for a shot.
"I just jumped up and everybody was laughing," said Mayer.
"In practice it's hard because you can get injured. I'm not really happy when his shot comes at my head. I've had a couple of head shots from him and I don't really enjoy that much," laughed the Czech-born, Swiss-raised goalie, who often speaks Czech with Stich. "(Keven) Charland was supposed to be in front and he jumped away too. If he's in the slot by himself and can take a slap shot, it's really no fun."
Stich gives head equipment manager David Kelly nightmares too.
Out of the 800 one-piece composite sticks the team ordered last year, Stich managed to break about 10 per cent of them all by himself. When it comes to sheer force, Midgley said Stich is the strongest player on the team.
Players joke about Stich's stick-shattering ways, but it isn't funny if he snaps a twig at an important moment during the game. In an effort to keep his sticks in one piece, he's been working with Kelly to find the right stiffness.
Stich used a stick with a 122 "flex" last year, which Kelly said is the stiffest he's seen in his 15 years as a major junior and minor pro equipment manager. The average NHL player is in the 110 to 100 range, said Kelly, while a playmaker like Chris DiDomenico uses a whippy 85 flex.
Every player has a different preference, said Kelly. As a rule, more flexible sticks are better suited for puck-handling players, but don't allow a monster like Stich to fire an accurate slap shot. He needs stiffer composite to control his blasts, but can destroy even the toughest with his strength. This year, he's settled on a 117 and it seems to be working for him.
From the world of disproportionate early-season statistics, Stich is on pace to score 40 goals, which has only been done three times in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League history. His previous career high is four as a rookie in 2006-07.
His offensive upside probably lies somewhere between the two numbers.
"If he keeps playing out on the power play, he could probably get 10 goals and maybe 15 assists," said Midgley. "But I think Dave is the first guy to admit he's not going to be out there looking to get 30 or 40 points. He takes a lot of pride in defence and blocking shots and that's Dave's specialty."
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GO DOGS GO!