"Trans-Canada" line getting it done | ||
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Miami Manatees Press ReleaseThe Manatees have been an offensive powerhouse early in the WHA2 inaugural season. They have earned a point in every game played on the strength of scoring 24 goals in those first four games. Leading the charge has been a trio of line-mates who have already bonded off the ice, but only recently had the chance to bond on the ice.Center Darren Cain, right wing Oak Hewer, and left wing Eric Perricone comprise the most productive goal scoring line so far for the Manatees. All three spent a good portion of their hockey careers in distinctly different parts of Canada. Hewer played junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League, Perricone played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and Cain, although born and raised in Ontario, played five years of college hockey for the University of Calgary in Alberta. Their three teams played in different regions of Canada, and these regions all are known for playing their own distinct style of hockey. Attitudes about each region's style also can strongly differ, sometimes even decisively among Canadians. But when it all comes together, the results have given Canadian hockey a powerful presence in the international hockey scene, helping to unify the different attitudes and styles for the purpose of winning games. But in addition to hockey, the Trans-Canada Highway is another unifying link in Canada. The Trans-Canada highway runs from Victoria, British Columbia on the Pacific coast, to St. Johns, Newfoundland, on the Atlantic coast. So like the unifying Trans-Canada Highway, the "Trans-Canada" line of Hewer, Perricone, and Cain have merged their styles of play together for maximum results since opening night. At opening night for the Manatees, the Trans-Canada line combined to score six even-strength goals. Perricone and Cain each combined for a hat-trick. That night, Hewer also added a power-play goal. Not wanting to diminish his contribution to the line opening night, Oak Hewer proudly noted in front of his line-mates, "Yeah, that first night we had their two hat tricks and another real beauty, eh?" So far through four games, the three players that make up the Trans-Canada line have amounted to more than a third of the points scored by the Manatees so far. The players have combined for 23 points, while other Manatee players have scored 40 points. Perricone was named the first WHA2 Player of the Week, and Oak Hewer was named the second WHA2 player of the week the following week. As productive as they have been, it is hard to believe that the Trans-Canada line didn't start playing together in training camp. In the first pre-season game, they all skated with other teammates, but team captain Tom Perry noticed chemistry there and mentioned it to Coach Boyer. "It was Tom Perry's idea. Perry mentioned to me that during that they played together during the inter-squad games and were very productive. They worked out great in the first game and were very productive together." Boyer said. Like all lines that mesh together, their individual playing styles complement each other nicely. "Playing with these guys leaves a lot of room out there for me.Perricone is probably the fastest guy in the league, and when he gets going with the puck, the other team just ends up watching him and that leaves room for me to operate in." Cain said. "With Oak's size, he gets the puck and it just takes two or three guys to take him down to get the puck away from him." "That leaves me just to try to find myself in the right place at the right time. Both of these guys can pass the puck well so if I get to open ice they should find me. In the first game, I had three open nets to score into." Perricone chimes in happily with his French-Canadian accent, "That kid can finish". Off the ice, the three players have completely different personalities, but it doesn't prevent them from meshing well together. Getting all three players in a room together can be a hilarious experience. Frequently talking over each other and cracking jokes about each other is a common exercise. When asked how they all got along, they try to drown each other out, "No, can't stand each other. We hate each other. I can't stand him." "Perricone and Hewer are both very vocal guys, class clowns if you will, and Cain is a quiet guy who is excited to be here and willing to learn as much as he can." Boyer said. But the most important thing was how he felt about them on a personal level. "I hate all three of them as well." He said while laughing, knowing it is very hard to hate any of his players, especially three of them that has been so productive together. While the "Trans-Canada" line is putting the puck in the net steadily, Boyer points out that the Manatees are far from a one line team. Scoring has been coming from all positions and lines, and teams are forced to make difficult choices when choosing what line to focus on. "Our team is built on depth, and Ryan Kiley plays primarily on a checking line and he is tied for second in goals scored in the league. Swider and Nowicki are very offensive guys as well, so we feel that we have the scoring spread out pretty evenly." Much like Coach Boyer is driven by success and the desire to win a championship in his first season as a coach, always striving to improve the Manatees in any way possible, the members of the Trans-Canada line feel that they have only begun to show the league what they can accomplish. "It is still early. I think we can get even better after some more time." Hewer said.
DON'T FORGET THAT THE MANATEES PLAY TONIGHT AT THE MIAMI ARENA! |  | 
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