Latest news with #OwenBeck
Montreal Gazette
4 days ago
- Sport
- Montreal Gazette
Rocket no match for Checkers in Game 1
Laval Rocket By They say a team's never in trouble until it loses at home. While there's still plenty of life remaining in the Laval Rocket, it has dug itself a potentially significant hole following its resounding 5-1 loss to the Charlotte Checkers Wednesday night at Place Bell in the opening game of the American Hockey League's Eastern Conference final before 9,230 spectators. While the Rocket won't be facing elimination when the teams meet again Thursday night at the same venue (7 p.m., RDS), Laval can hardly afford to trail by two games knowing the next three will be played on the road when the series shifts to Charlotte on Sunday afternoon. 'You can't go down 2-0 going back to their rink for three,' forward Owen Beck said in the quiet Rocket dressing room. 'It's an odd format in that sense. We need to give ourselves some life, some momentum going into their barn for three straight games. 'If we're not on our game, our season can turn around pretty quickly,' added Beck, who won a Memorial Cup with Saginaw last season and was the tournament's most valuable player. 'At this stage of the year every team's top quality, top-notch. We built so much over this year ... with the regular season that we had. We've been generating momentum and trying to have our game at our best at this point of the year. There's so much that has gone into it, you don't want to throw it away with a few poor efforts.' Sandis Vilmanis, Justin Sourdif, Oliver Okuliar, John Leonard and Jesse Puljujarvi, into an empty net, scored for the visitors — who reached this round by sweeping the two-time defending Calder Cup-champion Hershey Bears in a best-of-five series. While Charlotte was playing for the first time in a week, it hardly appeared rusty, scoring early goals in each period. The Checkers are on a five-game winning streak. And while the Rocket should have been on an emotional high after dispatching Rochester in the fifth and deciding game last Sunday on home ice, the team appeared out of sync frequently. Oliver Kapanen scored Laval's only goal, nearly six minutes into the second period, narrowing the deficit to 3-1. While the Rocket enjoyed a 31-20 shots advantage, it couldn't solve goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen frequently enough. The 6-foot-2, 214 pounder played four full seasons in the NHL, between 2020-24, with Minnesota and San Jose, and has started each of the Checkers' nine playoff games, winning seven while recording one shutout. Laval goalie Cayden Primeau, conversely, struggled after shutting out the Americans last Sunday. He was beaten twice on the first three shots he faced, then surrendered a second-period score on Charlotte's opening shot. That scenario was duplicated in the third period, Leonard scoring while the Checkers were short-handed. Not only did Leonard score 36 regular-season goals, that was Charlotte's fourth short-handed playoff tally. The team has scored only twice with the man advantage in the post-season. Laval went 0-for-6 on the power play. The Rocket did have some opportunities. In the eighth minute of the second period, Rafael Harvey-Pinard was alone in front but couldn't bury his shot. Then in the third, Sean Farrell set up Joshua Roy, who failed to execute. Roy had another opportunity on the power play two minutes later, while Brandon Gignac was denied on a short-handed breakaway. While the Rocket went 24-9-3 at home this season, finishing first overall in the AHL, it has struggled in the playoffs, going 3-3. 'It's focus. It's being prepared mentally to execute and knowing what's coming at you,' Laval head coach Pascal Vincent said. 'It can happen and does happen once in a while. We have to find a way to take that away from the other teams.' These teams were meeting for the first time this season. Laval hasn't played Charlotte since the 2018-19 campaign. And the Checkers aren't like any AHL team the Rocket has faced. Eleven of 20 players have suited up for at least one NHL games, including six that have more than 50 games' experience. Charlotte, the AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers, doesn't relinquish many scoring chances and, at least through one game, experience clearly has trumped youth. 'Their hockey sense as a team is really good,' Vincent said. 'They anticipate really well some plays. You think (a Laval player) is open. Then at the last minute he's not because they close quick. They box out and block a lot of shots, and they play a fast transition game. It's playoff hockey and there's a reason why they're in the top four as well. That's a good hockey team. 'We had some looks ... but it wasn't consistent. We had good moments and not-so-good moments. Our style of play is really aggressive, on top of people, no time to breathe. When we do it we're fine. We give ourselves a chance to win. Are we gonna win? I don't know, but we give ourselves a chance.'
Ottawa Citizen
4 days ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Rocket no match for Checkers in Game 1
Article content They say a team's never in trouble until it loses at home. Article content While there's still plenty of life remaining in the Laval Rocket, it has dug itself a potentially significant hole following its resounding 5-1 loss to the Charlotte Checkers Wednesday night at Place Bell in the opening game of the American Hockey League's Eastern Conference final before 9,230 spectators. Article content Article content While the Rocket won't be facing elimination when the teams meet again Thursday night at the same venue (7 p.m., RDS), Laval can hardly afford to trail by two games knowing the next three will be played on the road when the series shifts to Charlotte on Sunday afternoon. Article content Article content 'You can't go down 2-0 going back to their rink for three,' forward Owen Beck said in the quiet Rocket dressing room. 'It's an odd format in that sense. We need to give ourselves some life, some momentum going into their barn for three straight games. Article content 'If we're not on our game, our season can turn around pretty quickly,' added Beck, who won a Memorial Cup with Saginaw last season and was the tournament's most valuable player. 'At this stage of the year every team's top quality, top-notch. We built so much over this year … with the regular season that we had. We've been generating momentum and trying to have our game at our best at this point of the year. There's so much that has gone into it, you don't want to throw it away with a few poor efforts.' Article content Article content Sandis Vilmanis, Justin Sourdif, Oliver Okuliar, John Leonard and Jesse Puljujarvi, into an empty net, scored for the visitors — who reached this round by sweeping the two-time defending Calder Cup-champion Hershey Bears in a best-of-five series. Article content While Charlotte was playing for the first time in a week, it hardly appeared rusty, scoring early goals in each period. The Checkers are on a five-game winning streak. Article content And while the Rocket should have been on an emotional high after dispatching Rochester in the fifth and deciding game last Sunday on home ice, the team appeared out of sync frequently. Article content Oliver Kapanen scored Laval's only goal, nearly six minutes into the second period, narrowing the deficit to 3-1. While the Rocket enjoyed a 31-20 shots advantage, it couldn't solve goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen frequently enough. Article content The 6-foot-2, 214 pounder played four full seasons in the NHL, between 2020-24, with Minnesota and San Jose, and has started each of the Checkers' nine playoff games, winning seven while recording one shutout.
Ottawa Citizen
6 days ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Owen Beck brings Memorial Cup experience to Laval Rocket playoff run
At age 21 and an AHL rookie, Owen Beck might be reluctant to frequently voice his opinion inside the Laval Rocket dressing room. Article content Article content But as the Rocket prepares for the start of its best-of-seven Eastern Conference final against the Charlotte Checkers Wednesday night at Place Bell (7 p.m., RDS2, BPM Sports 91.9), there might be no more opportune occasion for Beck to speak his mind. Article content Article content Not only did Beck win the Memorial Cup last season with Saginaw, he was named the tournament's most valuable player and scored twice in the Spirit's 4-3 championship game victory over London. Article content Article content Beck has been there and done that, and that's more than many of his Rocket teammates have experienced as they remain one of the final four AHL teams still in contention for the Calder Cup. Article content 'I think it's just being ready to play those big games,' Beck said on Tuesday following the Rocket's practice. 'Every game's huge at this point of the year and this point of the playoffs. There's really not a lot of room for error. I definitely think that (Memorial Cup) experience can translate, experience with long playoff runs in the past. A lot of guys will say it gets you ready and you feel more comfortable in these situations. You're just ready to go when the big games come around. Article content Article content 'It comes from this team being really tight-knit,' Beck added, admitting he'll talk when required. 'Everybody has a voice here. Everybody's valued. We all lean on one another and we all come from different walks of life and different experiences within this game. Everybody's voice and experience can bring something to this group. Everybody's so good about being open and listening, whether you've been in the league for 10-plus years or whether you're a rookie.' Article content Selected in the second-round (33rd overall) by the Canadiens in 2022, Beck played 12 games for Montreal this season but was held to one assist. He obviously was more productive in the AHL, scoring 15 goals and 44 points in 64 games. Through nine Rocket playoff games, he has a goal and four points but has played an effective and physical two-way game while generating 18 shots.
Montreal Gazette
6 days ago
- Sport
- Montreal Gazette
Owen Beck brings Memorial Cup experience to Laval Rocket playoff run
Laval Rocket At age 21 and an AHL rookie, Owen Beck might be reluctant to voice his opinion inside the Laval Rocket dressing room. But as the Rocket prepares for the start of its best-of-seven Eastern Conference final against the Charlotte Checkers Wednesday night at Place Bell (7 p.m., RDS2, BPM Sports 91.9), there might be no more opportune occasion for Beck to speak his mind. Not only did Beck win the Memorial Cup last season with Saginaw, he was named the tournament's most valuable player and scored twice in the Spirit's 4-3 championship game victory over London. Beck has been there and done that, and that's more than many of his Rocket teammates have experienced as they remain one of the final four AHL teams in contention for the Calder Cup. 'I think it's just being ready to play those big games,' Beck said on Tuesday after the Rocket's practice. 'Every game's huge at this point of the year and this point of the playoffs. There's really not a lot of room for error. I definitely think that (Memorial Cup) experience can translate, experience with long playoff runs in the past. A lot of guys will say it gets you ready and you feel more comfortable in these situations. You're just ready to go when the big games come around. 'It comes from this team being really tight-knit,' Beck added, admitting he'll talk when required. 'Everybody has a voice here. Everybody's valued. We all lean on one another and we all come from different walks of life and different experiences within this game. Everybody's voice and experience can bring something to this group. Everybody's so good about being open and listening, whether you've been in the league for 10-plus years or whether you're a rookie.' Selected in the second-round (33rd overall) by the Canadiens in 2022, Beck played 12 games for Montreal this season but was held to one assist. He was more productive in the AHL, scoring 15 goals and 44 points in 64 games. Through nine Rocket playoff games, he has a goal and four points. He has played an effective and physical two-way game while generating 18 shots. While he played centre for the Canadiens, Laval head coach Pascal Vincent has been using Beck at right wing on a line with Florian Xhekaj and Jared Davidson, although Beck takes a number of faceoffs to his strong side. 'He's another guy that makes big plays at big times,' Vincent said of the 6-foot, 199-pound Beck. 'He was really good the last game (against Rochester). He has been good in the playoffs while adjusting to a new position. 'You don't win in any league by accident. You can win a game, you can win a period, you can win maybe a series if your goalie is outstanding. But you don't win a championship by accident. He was part of that team and he was a big piece of that team. There's a value to that.' Motivation at this stage of the season obviously won't be a problem, Beck said. At the same time, players who keep their emotions in check will probably be better prepared to handle the pressure — something that only will intensify with each game. 'Every game gets bigger,' he said. 'Every game that comes from now until the end of the year becomes the biggest game of your life. It's just going to get more and more tense down the stretch. Be ready to show up, play your game and not get too carried away with the emotions is pretty key. Play your game in a composed, energetic but aggressive manner definitely helps.' One of the quirks of the AHL is that Laval and Charlotte are meeting for the first time this season. Both clubs undoubtedly have done copious video work to prepare for the series. The Checkers are the Florida Panthers' affiliate and have a roster filled with veterans who have NHL experience. It's an intense team that plays collectively, is physical and quick-skating. While Laval, which finished first overall in the league, retains home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs, this marks the first time in three series it starts at home. Game 2 will be played Thursday night before the series moves to Charlotte, N.C., Sunday afternoon and Tuesday night. A fifth game, if necessary, would be played there next Thursday. 'This is what we've worked on all year,' veteran forward Brandon Gignac said. 'We were focused on the playoffs since Day 1. We have the team to achieve it but have to execute it. I think starting at home always is an advantage. If we focus on the first game and the Rocket we'll be fine.' Vincent, predictably, refused to disclose his starting goaltender. Cayden Primeau is coming off a shutout against Rochester last Sunday, but Vincent has been rotating his goalies, meaning it's Jacob Fowler's turn. Primeau would only say every netminder wants to start Game 1 and both will be ready. Vincent has decided and has advised both whether they're playing. While Laval will be without injured defencemen Tyler Wotherspoon and William Trudeau, rugged forward Vincent Arseneau practised on Tuesday and has been cleared after recovering from his lower-body injury. The 6-foot-2, 223-pounder hasn't played since April 11. Laurent Dauphin and Xavier Simoneau (therapy days) didn't practise on Tuesday. This story was originally published May 27, 2025 at 2:40 PM.
BBC News
04-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ismael on Beck injury and club turmoil
Blackburn Rovers left-back Owen Beck has been ruled out for the remainder of the season and could possibly return to his parent club 22-year-old missed seven games before returning to play just 13 minutes of Rovers' loss to Portsmouth at the weekend."The way I like to play, I need the energy and intensity and I like those profiles. When you've got those profiles in your squad, then you can't wait to see the players," head coach Valerien Ismael told BBC Radio Lancashire."When you lose the player after 10 minutes when he comes back, it's difficult."I was really excited to work with him but unfortunately, he's going the other way."Defender Hayden Carter has a calf injury that will keep him out for five to six weeks and may also see his season come to a premature Harry Pickering will make his return for the game against Middlesbrough on Friday having been sidelined since Christmas with a hamstring club is currently in the midst of turmoil with their supporters, with senior figures expected not to heed fan requests to stay clear of the Lancashire club's seven remaining Ismael believes that it will be the "energy" from his players that will influence the atmosphere, not the dispute between the fans and its ownership."That energy we give on the pitch can help us to get the fans on board so the game will dictate the environment," the Frenchman said."It's not nothing new with this fracture, the only thing we can do is be focused on ourselves."
