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Monarchs Insider: Kings' future starts in Manchester
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By KEVIN PROVENCHER
Staff Sports Writer
Sunday, Apr. 6, 2008
MANCHESTER – The future of the Los Angeles Kings arrived last night in Verizon Wireless Arena.
Nineteen-year-old goaltender Jonathan Bernier started his first game for the Kings' AHL affiliate Monarchs. It is hoped that Bernier, who hails from Laval, Quebec, will one day soon carry the Kings to the Stanley Cup promised land. Quebec-bred goaltending talent has been a prize NHL possession since Patrick Roy led Montreal and then Colorado to Cups, and more recently New Jersey's Martin Brodeur has paved the way for the likes of Bernier.
"Our fans want to see him," said Monarchs coach Mark Morris of starting Bernier last night instead of on the road at Lowell Friday. "I've seen Jon play and he inspires confidence in everyone around him."
The Kings' first pick (11th overall) in 2006, Bernier comes with much hype for good reason. For a while it looked as if Bernier would bypass minor league pro hockey.
►Bernier sharp in debut with Monarchs (23)
He opened the NHL season for Los Angeles, beating the defending Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks in London. But after four games (losing the next three) Bernier was sent back to his junior team, the Lewiston Maineiacs of the Quebec League.
Bernier admits he was initially upset by the Kings' decision to ship him back to juniors.
"At that moment I didn't want to go back to juniors," he said. "At that moment I thought I was done with juniors and I wanted to stay with Los Angeles. They told me they didn't want to make any mistakes with me.
Monarchs forward Kevin Westgarth delivers a left hook to the head of Worcester's Frazer McLaren last night at the Verizon.
What's your opinion?
We've had a number of comments, which you can read or add to below, about the photo above. Share you're opinion and help shape future content on unionleader.com.
In his own words, Kings' management told him: "Go back to juniors and you'll have more experience next year and you'll be more ready."
"It was hard," said Bernier. "It was tough."
Kings general manager Dean Lombardi told Bernier that the young goaltender's character was not in question. His desire was not in question. But few in the NHL forget when Pittsburgh rushed the first pick in the 2003 draft, goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury into 22 games at the tender age of 18. Fleury was the hoped-for savior of a struggling and once proud franchise. Instead Fleury looked like a failure and went 4-14-2. Pittsburgh sent him back to juniors and it took Fleury almost two seasons to return to the NHL. No one wants to repeat that mistake.
Bernier is well aware of the situation (now his personal situation) since he is friends with Fleury.
"For me it was only to play pro that's why I took it so hard," Bernier continued. He was too young by rule to play in the AHL for Manchester.
But, a couple weeks later Bernier had a smile on his face. He played 48 games for Lewiston in his fourth season in Maine. He was 18-12-3 with a 2.73 goals against and a .908 save percentage. The year before that he was the most valuable player of the QMJHL. Three times he has played for Canada in world junior tournaments.
"I think I've worn a lot of jerseys this year," he smiled. "It's been an interesting year for me. I've been all over the place, but you know what? All those things are going to help me in my future." The scouting report on Bernier is simple. When he is on he is very good and he is on more often than not.
"I'm here and I'm going to play my game," he said calmly, confidently. "I have to prove what I can do and go day by day." The Monarchs will most likely keep three goaltenders for the upcoming playoffs. And this remains a proving round the Kings are watching carefully for next season. Rookie goaltender Erik Ersberg is performing admirably as Los Angeles finishes its season. Second-year pro Dan Taylor, also an AHL rookie, is backing up Ersberg. And for now in Manchester rookie Jon Quick, who left UMass-Amherst to jump into the Kings' rebuilding effort, will share the duties with Bernier.
Kevin Provencher covers the Manchester Monarchs for the New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News.
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YOUR COMMENTS
Family publication? Better keep your kids away from the world news section then!
- Chris M., Madison, NH
I've been a hockey fan for around 40 years and do like the fights, especially when it's between two enforcers. I know they're just doing what they like to do. But I wouldn't miss fighting at all if it went away. The thing that bothers me most is the way the fans get into it. It just seems like they're so bloodthirsty.
Yes, college games do have occasional fights, but they're really rare. The penalties are pretty stiff. Yet, without that fighting they still seem to somehow get fans. And I don't care what anyone says about playing with "heart", college games are nowhere near the skill level of AHL. The players themselves say it. But they get fans to pay up. And all that stickwork that fighting is supposed to prevent doesn't happen.
Hockey is losing ground to baseball and football in terms of getting the fans in. I know of more than a few people who are turned off because of fighting. The grand majority of each game is such a great display of skill, grace, and plenty of violence, but the fights turn people away.
I think that if pro hockey made a real effort to ban fighting we would get more fans than we would lose. Isn't that worth it?
- Marc, Derry
I reading the comments questioning the legitimacy of fighting in hockey, and it makes me laugh. Fighting has been a part of hockey as long as skates have.
What did we like best about players like Cam Neely, Johnny Bucyk, or Gordie Howe even?! The fact is that that they were great hockey players (not to mention leaders) who could stick up for teammates.
Let me put it to you in this prospective. Do you mean to tell me that if someone tried to take out Teddy Purcell or Matt Moulson on the current Monarchs team you wouldn't be looking for someone like Kevin Westgarth or Paul Crosty to try and prevent that from happening? It is like having nuclear missiles on submarines. It will hopefully keep your enemies from doing something stupid!
If you don't like watching it, I'm sure that there is a program with Scott Hamilton and Peggy Flemming that would interest you on a Sunday afternoon. Enjoy!
- Big J, Manchester, NH
Colin, I have attended more college games that any other. Are you trying to tell me that fights don't exist on these rinks? Maybe you Art and Bill should put on a college game the next time you guys are having your tea party. It really can get pretty exciting.
- John, Manchester
John in Manch:
Actually they can watch any hockey but the pros and see great stuff without the lame fighting. Olympic hockey, college hockey, all great skill sports. You can't fight on skates anyway, it makes zero sense, it's not hockey at all. If you've ever heard the obscene language of the fight fans at a Bruins a game you make the connection, it's the worst part of a great game. Change the rules no fighting, grow up!
- Colin Yong, Durham
Art are you and Bill serious??? If you don't like the game of hockey, if it is too scary for you two, why don't you guys change the channel and maybe you can watch something a little more your speed like water ballet. This is not just a "dumb white male sport", it is enjoyed by everybody, every age and every race. GET REAL!!!
- John, Manchester
Jason do you really think this is about player protection? Be real, it's about the roar of the crowd when a fight breaks out. They could allow the same baloney in other sports but they have too much class.
- Bill B., Manchester
Part of the game is protecting your players. The enforcers have always been a key component of any hockey team. If it makes you upset do not let your boys look at it.
- Jason Hooper, Manchester
Nice photograph in a family publication of two men trying to kill each other, with tidy caption detailing the action, & of course no criticism. Hockey fighting is ridiculous, last vestige of the dumb white male in sports. Couldn't you find some other picture to use? Now I have to tell my boys why this paper used this photo, can you help?
- Art Bigelow, Manchester
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