He didn't log many minutes that season, but as he skated to the penalty box, his Rocket red's askew to the sounds of thunderous applause, taking the time to high five a little boy dressed in an oversized jersey through the glass, you knew Greg Paynter had made it as a fan favorite.
Albany PEI's native son didn't win our hearts by putting up loads of points, showboating or "goonery". He did it by working hard every shift, hitting harder than his size, and dropping the mitts when he was called upon to do so. The fire that was in his eyes defined why fans of the QMJHL prefer junior hockey to the pro ranks. You could tell he was still playing because he loved the game. Even more so than the "NHL destined, groomed since the age of ten" crowd. (See Angelo Esposito).
The question that remains is, why? Why did Greg Paynter play so hard? Don't get me wrong, he definitely has a future in the game of hockey, I'm sure, but he certainly isn't the a member of the "it" crowd of Canadian Junior hockey. He certainly isn't NHL bound (barring an incredible breakout season). It's because he was given an opportunity to play hockey at a level which was not expected of him.
Mr. Paynter was undrafted in the QMJHL, but was given an invitation to battle it out for a roster spot at the Rocket's 2006-07 training camp. It was at camp that he first turned heads with his hard-nosed style of play, so much so, that when the dust settled in early September 2006, he was still standing, earning a full time forth line position. A position that may have tempted some to mail it in, and coast through a few games, and ultimately end up back in Junior A, and becoming a small foot note in Rocket history.
Not Greg. He poured his heart and soul into his limited playing time, and the Rocket Faithful loved him for it, and as we approach a new camp, we can only hope that Greg Paynter has not finished his tenure. Even though he will never be spoken about with the same regard as the Davide Lalibertes, or the Jimmy Bonneaus, Greg Paynter will forever stand out in my mind as one of the hardest working Rocket of all time.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Long overdue.
I just wanted to take this oppurtunity to express just how excited I am with this new, all-in-one QMJHL message board. We can finally get some serious discussion going on from all corners of this great Eastern division of the QMJHL. Insults will be flung, pompoms waved, and numbers crunched, all the while, everyone feeling safe and anonymous. A modern utopia for Atlantic Canadian hockey fans.
Marc-Andre, we hardly knew ya'.
It looks like he's really gone, folks. For better or for worse, Marc-Andre Gragnani has been the core , the proverbial "go to guy", of the PEI Rocket defense. Love him or hate him, with his apparent advancement into the Buffalo Sabres system this season, it's time to start considering who is going to step up and be "that guy" on the blue line.
Even with all the talk of his attitude problems and hit and miss work ethic, it is hard to deny that he was one of the elite offensive defenseman in the QMJHL for at least the last two seasons. In that time period, he put up 38 goals and 101 assists, for a total of 139 points. That kind of production will be missed. It will be missed more than the awful cough-ups and failed clearing attempts to be sure.
So in effect, this blog will be a preview of the Rocket blueline for the 07/08 campaign, rather than a look back on the major junior career of our beloved (?) Grags. Between Internet message boards and screams from the stands at the Charlottetown Civic Centre, everything that could have been said, has.
KEY PLAYERS ON THE ROCKET BLUELINE (in no particular order)
PIERRE-LUC LESSARD: Great, hard working, defensive defenseman. Makes very few mistakes in his own end, but lacks offensive flair. He WILL be the centre of the Rocket defense this year, but will be playing a drastically different role than Marc-Andre.
BENOIT GERVAIS: Another solid defensive defenseman. Makes some bad decisions with the puck, but not often enough to worry.
JORDON SOUTHORN: This is the guy that needs to have a breakout season. While still young, my money is on him to be the key player on future Rocket teams. He has the best offensive potential of the entire bunch.
And as we look forward, let's take a moment to remember the joy and the sorrow that was MA Gragnani, hero and villain all wrapped up in one package, simultaneously exciting and enraging the Rocket faithful. One thing is for certain, though, he was a hell of a player, and changed the way we all looked at Airplanes.
Even with all the talk of his attitude problems and hit and miss work ethic, it is hard to deny that he was one of the elite offensive defenseman in the QMJHL for at least the last two seasons. In that time period, he put up 38 goals and 101 assists, for a total of 139 points. That kind of production will be missed. It will be missed more than the awful cough-ups and failed clearing attempts to be sure.
So in effect, this blog will be a preview of the Rocket blueline for the 07/08 campaign, rather than a look back on the major junior career of our beloved (?) Grags. Between Internet message boards and screams from the stands at the Charlottetown Civic Centre, everything that could have been said, has.
KEY PLAYERS ON THE ROCKET BLUELINE (in no particular order)
PIERRE-LUC LESSARD: Great, hard working, defensive defenseman. Makes very few mistakes in his own end, but lacks offensive flair. He WILL be the centre of the Rocket defense this year, but will be playing a drastically different role than Marc-Andre.
BENOIT GERVAIS: Another solid defensive defenseman. Makes some bad decisions with the puck, but not often enough to worry.
JORDON SOUTHORN: This is the guy that needs to have a breakout season. While still young, my money is on him to be the key player on future Rocket teams. He has the best offensive potential of the entire bunch.
And as we look forward, let's take a moment to remember the joy and the sorrow that was MA Gragnani, hero and villain all wrapped up in one package, simultaneously exciting and enraging the Rocket faithful. One thing is for certain, though, he was a hell of a player, and changed the way we all looked at Airplanes.
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