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Blazers' Enforcer Getting Too Nice?

Posted on: Thursday, 30 March 2006, 12:00 CST

By Bob Hersom, The Daily Oklahoman

Mar. 30--Is the Blazers' enforcer too nice a guy?

Jason Goulet, the Blazers' 6-foot-5, 245-pound defenseman, hasn't had a fisticuffs penalty in the last 14 games, and 22 of the last 23 games.

"No one really wants to fight me anymore, I guess," Goulet said. "There used to be lots of takers. Now, nobody really wants to step up or anything."

Goulet had 19 fights in the Blazers' first 41 games. Since then, he's fought in only one of 23 games -- when he had three go's Feb. 17 in a home game against Memphis.

"It takes two to fight," Blazers coach Doug Sauter said. "He doesn't want to take any bad penalties. He knows his role, and he'll answer the bell if it rings."

Goulet said, "Fighting doesn't win games. Scoring goals and playing like a team does."

* Well, shoot: The Blazers, for the first time in 10 years, did not lead the Central Hockey League in shots on goal. They averaged a club record-low 35.28 shots per game.

What's more, the Blazers ranked only eighth in the CHL in shots on net. The team had never ranked lower than fourth in the previous 13 CHL seasons.

"That's one thing over the years that I've always pushed for is to get the puck on the net a lot of times, and this year's team was a little bit different style," Sauter said.

And this year's team didn't have all-star defenseman Hardy Sauter for the first time in 10 years.

"Hardy was always one of the top guys in shots on goal," coach and uncle Sauter said. "He always created lots of chances. You don't replace Hardy Sauter every day."

Postscript: The last season the Blazers didn't lead the CHL in shots on goal, 1995-96, they won the league championship.

Postscript 2: The Blazers' record this season is 13-13-2 when they outshoot their opponents -- and 22-11-3 when they don't.

* Roster moves: Graham Dearle and Garrett Prosofsky were activated off injured reserve, Kelly Forbes was waived, and amateurs Josh Belair and Dale Butland were added to the 20-player playoff roster. Forbes, a former OU player, is still practicing with the Blazers.

Forward Belair, 20, and defenseman Butland, 21, played for Hardy Sauter's Nipawin team in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. Belair was the team's leading goal scorer (26 in 47 games) and Butland the penalty minutes leader (248).

* The fans' vote: Results of the annual voting by Blazers fans:

Offensive player of the year: Michel Beausoleil.

Defensive player of the year: Tyler Fleck.

Mr. Hustle: (tie) Justin Chwedoruk and Graham Dearle.

Most improved: Shawn Germain.

Fan favorite: Marty Standish.

Coles Cup (Team MVP): Sean Connors.

Dave McKee Mr. Blazer: Garrett Prosofsky.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Daily Oklahoman

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Source: The Daily Oklahoman

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