Cape Breton Screaming Eagles

The Edmunston, New Brunswick native heads into weekend action against the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies and the Moncton Wildcats with 245 career points.

“I don’t pay much attention to stuff like that,” Ouellet said following practise at Centre 200 on Friday. “I know a lot of people are talking about it, but for me, I just want the two points.”

Ironically enough, Ouellet and Asselin had a chance to talk about the record during the Screaming Eagles last road trip.

“Kevin is one of my best friends and we were joking around about it when we were in Drummondville, about how I am just two points away from him.”

Ouellet was drafted by the Screaming Eagles in the second round in 2004. He is a product of the Fredericton Canadiens midget program. From his first day at the Screaming Eagles training camp in August 2004, Ouellet displayed the qualities that would one day make him captain.

“We’ve had many great captains here over the years and Deano certainly ranks right up their at the top of the list,” General Manager and Head Coach Pascal Vincent said. “His passion and intensity both on and off the ice earns him instant respect of his teammates.”

“It’s going to be hard to see him go. He gave his heart and soul to the cause, to the team, and he is a perfect example of what a leader should be.” Vincent added.

Another player taken in the 2004 Draft was Chris Culligan. As a teammate and now linemate of Ouellet, Culligan is most impressed with Ouellet’s attitude towards the game and his fellow players.

“Dean is a guy who will always be there for you in the good times and the bad times; no matter what. He is a real team first kind of guy and that rubs off on the other players on this team.”

Ouellet is currently tied for the league lead in scoring with 84 points along with Acadie-Bathurst’s Mathieu Perreault and Halifax’s Jakub Voracek. He leads the Screaming Eagles in every offensive category and is also has one of the top face-off records in the league. He is on pace to become just the third Screaming Eagles player to break the 100-point barrier. Only Dominic Noel with 105 pts, and Ryan Walsh with 101 pts, have managed to accomplish that feat in the team’s 11-year history.

Ouellet’s strong play may give him another shot at professional hockey. He was invited to the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Rookie Camp last summer and is hopeful he will get another crack at the pro ranks.

“Right now I have thought about life after junior hockey. I have talked to all of the universities and my agent has been talking to pro teams,” Ouellet said. “My goal is to play pro, but if that doesn’t work out, I will go to university.”

Another thing that has been obvious to the over-age centre is the fact that his Major Junior career is winding down. A lot has changed since he arrived in Cape Breton four years ago and now he is hoping to ride the wave for as long as he can.

“I have definitely have been thinking about it since the season began. It has been the best four years of my life so far here in Cape Breton. I have enjoyed my last year here and my goal now is to take this team as far as I can in the playoffs.”

Ouellet will get his first opportunity to tie or break the record on Saturday night at 7:00pm when the Screaming Eagles host the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. The Huskies are in second place in the Telus Division, and are ranked seventh in the CHL. They have a distinct Cape Breton flavour to their roster as both Howie Centre’s Brett Morrison and Port Morien native Jarrad Struthers pay their final visit of the regular season to Centre 200.

Former Screaming Eagles defenceman Etienne Breton is also a member of the Huskies. This will be his first visit to Centre 200 in a Huskies uniform. The teams met once already in Rouyn-Noranda with the Huskies winning 5-4 in a shootout.

On Sunday afternoon at 4:00 pm, the Screaming Eagles will face the Moncton Wildcats. Despite sitting in last place in the Eastern Division, the Wildcats have won three straight against the Screaming Eagles.

The Screaming Eagles are relatively healthy heading into the weekend. The only notable exception is defenceman Jan Piskacek who is listed as doubtful for Saturday’s game.