Being left home alone a 'wake-up call' for Goulet
| Thursday, Nov 26 2009 08:46 PM
Last Updated Thursday, Nov 26 2009 08:47 PM
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Las Vegas at Condors
When 7 p.m.
Where Rabobank Arena
Radio KGEO (1230 AM), 6:45
Condors record 12-6-0
Wranglers record 6-10-1
Series: Bakersfield leads 2-1-0
Images:
Alex Horvath / The Californian Condors right wing Goulet against the Ontario Reign. Image is for extra photos to start building file for features.
He had spent the better part of the past two seasons playing in the American Hockey League, but 12 games into this season, what Stephane Goulet was doing on the ice just wasn't good enough.
So when the Condors left for a two-game trip to Alaska on Nov. 12, Goulet was one of the players who remained in town.
"I had a chat with him and it was important to communicate why this is happening," Condors coach Marty Raymond said. "He needed to play the type of hockey he can play: a lot more in-your-face type of hockey, a better net presence."
Goulet, 23, said the move left a bitter taste in his mouth, but was a dose of medicine he needed.
"That was a wake-up call and I totally get it," said Goulet, who had one goal and four assists through his first dozen games. "It's a wake-up call when you're sitting at home for three or four days and the team is playing somewhere else.
"You look yourself in the mirror and figure out what else you have to do to get back on track and get out of the slump."
Whatever Goulet is doing has been working. After being left 2,239 miles behind he's more than caught up.
Goulet has two goals, five assists and a shootout goal in his last four games and is logging significant amounts of ice time.
"He came back and has played much better hockey since then," Raymond said. "I can't ask for anything more. His demeanor is a lot better. He's smiling, he's having a lot more fun out there."
The turnaround comes a at perfect time for the Condors, who hare short some players due to injuries and call-ups.
"The depth on this team is very important," Raymond said. "There's going to be guys called up and when that happens it's very important they play good hockey. For example with (MacGregor) Sharp and (Dan) Sexton called up, other guys have to step up to the plate."
Goulet is a fourth-year pro who went back and forth between Stockton and Springfield the past two seasons and knows both sides of call-up issues.
"You have to learn to play with everyone at this level, injuries and call-ups come fast," Goulet said of the line jumbling that happens when players come and go. "You need to focus on your job and hope you click with your linemates."
Goulet certainly clicked with Andrew Ianiero and Mathieu Aubin the past four games, but he'll be paired with Shawn Weller and Gino Guyer tonight against Las Vegas due to Sexton's call up.
"It's a part of hockey, you learn to deal with it," Goulet said of losing players. "You try to step up when your good players are called up. You raise your game a little and that's what we're going to try to do this weekend."
Notes: Sasha Pokulok leads defensemen in goals in the ECHL with 8 and has 6 assists as well as Bakersfield defensemen are making a big offensive contribution. Eric Regan and Stu Bickel have 5 goals a piece and all defenseman have combined for 52 points ... The Condors are riding a four-game winning streak ... The Wranglers are winless (0-4-1) over their last five ... The first 3,000 fans at tonight's game receive a strip of six trading cards featuring Andrew Ianiero, Stu Bickel, Shawn Weller, Stephane Goulet, Ray Eichenlaub and Colonel Claw'd.
