More than scoring goals

Taylor MacDougall is a player whose value and contributions to his team extend far beyond the score sheet.

The son of Bedeque native Gardiner MacDougall is entering his second season with the St. John's Fog Devils in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

"If you sit in the stands at a practice or game and watch him, you appreciate the way he plays because he does all the little things and he does them right," said Fog Devils general manager and head coach, Réal Paiement.

"If he doesn't do them right the first time, you can be sure that the next time he's going to do it right. . . He's really fun to watch."

MacDougall, one of 47 players attending the four-day portion of the Fog Devils' training camp at the Summerside Wellness Centre, says his goal for the 2007-08 season is to improve on his rookie season.

Control Certain Things

"I think there are certain things you can control," said the well-spoken MacDougall, who had two goals, two assists and 23 penalty minutes in 63 games with the Fog Devils last season. "You just want to control your work ethic, grit level and you want to make sure you bring a positive attitude to the rink.

"I think if you're controlling those things, personal goals are going to take care of themselves. Obviously, for myself, this is my first-eligible NHL draft year, so that is obviously something you set your sights on as anyone eligible would."

MacDougall said the Fog Devils' camp in Summerside has gone well.

"We're looking for team bonding," said MacDougall. "Guys are competing for jobs and the tempo is high.

"We're looking for the team to start coming together and start forming some chemistry."

The Fog Devils are coming off a 28-36-2-4 (won-lost-overtime losses-shootout losses) season, and were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.

"I think everyone as a group expects a much better team this year," said MacDougall. "We're going to be a lot more competitive. . . we have a real good mix in the dressing room."

And the Fog Devils' trip to Summerside has allowed the grandson of Evelyn and the late Charlie MacDougall of Bedeque to see some familiar faces during training camp.

"It's pretty cool," smiled MacDougall. "I was just coming off from a practice and I saw my cousin and my Grammy, and I wasn't really expecting them.

"It's cool when you're away from home and people turn up at the rink that you're not expecting. It's a good feeling."

jpsports@journalpioneer.com