David Desharnais playing with the Bulldogs earlier this year
Habster:
Canadiens hockey fans (me included!!) play close attention to how well the Habs prospects are doing with the Hamilton Bulldogs that we sometimes don’t notice other prospects who are playing for the Cincinnati Cyclones. Players like David Desharnais, Thomas Beauregard, Mathieu Aubin and Olivier Latendresse to name a few.
David Desharnais maybe small in stature (5’6″ 175lbs) but the speedy, slick playmaking center is only leading the ECHL in scoring with 78 points (GP- 53 G-20 A-58). Desharnais went undrafted in the 2004 NHL draft because of his lack of size but doesn’t lack heart or playing skills. He has scored at every level he’s played including 374 points (126-248-374) in 262 games with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens of the QMJHL. He is extremely shifty with the puck and is more of a playmaker.
Desharnais had a tryout with the Ottawa Senators in 2005 but was cut during training camp even after playing reasonably well. Unfortunately, the Canadiens have a ton of smallish centers who are very talented in their own right so hopefully Desharnais’ great ECHL season will land him a PTO with an AHL or NHL team next season.
Thomas Beauregard is another smallish forward with a nose for the net and ability to light the lamp. Like Desharnais, Beauregard is on the small size (5’11” 185lbs) but can score a ton of goals.
During his QMJHL career with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, the undrafted Beauregard accumulated 296 points (G-156 A-140) in 256 games and is having a great first year in professional hockey with 57 points (G-25 A-32) in 53 games.
Thomas Beauregard is known more as a shooter/scorer than a playmaker. He has a very good, accurate shot with a very quick release and handles the puck well but isn’t the fastest skater (average skater and foot speed).
Both players have signed 2 year AHL contracts with the Bulldogs and are having excellent seasons with the Cyclone. They are a big reason why the Cyclone have the second best record in the ECHL (45-9-1-2, 93 points) and lead the league in goals scored (236) and goals against (129).
Hopefully, both will have impressed the Canadiens or another NHL team to warrant a fair shot at making an NHL or AHL roster next season.
Cincinnati Cyclones team stats:
ECHL Point Leaders:
ECHL Standings: http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/statdisplay.php?type=standings
