Wednesday, June 8, 2005 | By Adam Richardson, Halifax Daily News

Alexandre Picard may finish his season off with a league title after all.

The 19-year-old thought his hockey season was over when the Halifax Mooseheads were swept by the Rimouski Oceanic in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League final. But thanks to a few injuries, he's making his pro debut with American Hockey League's Philadelphia Phantoms in the Calder Cup final.

Picard, a six-foot-two, 220-pound defenceman from Gatineau, Que., took to the ice in Game 2 against the Chicago Wolves last Saturday as an injury replacement for Randy Jones. He signed an amateur tryout contract that afternoon, allowing him to play in the game.

"I knew the day before that I would play, because we had two defencemen injured and then (Jones) got hurt," said Picard from his hotel room in Philadelphia. "I was so nervous because my new teammates have been preparing for this series all season."

But Picard held his own in the high-pressure tilt, playing a dozen shifts in Philadelphia's 2-1 overtime victory, including a few in the extra frame. His play earned congratulations from head coach John Anderson following the game, and the rearguard was also proud of his own efforts.

"When you consider that pretty much everything is so fast at this level and it was such an important game, I thought I played really well," said Picard. "They showed a lot of confidence in me, and that helped me get settled."

Joined team May 20

Picard, a third-round pick of the Philadephia Flyers in 2003, was paired with former National Hockey league first-round draft pick John Slaney on the blue line. He began practising with the Phantoms on May 20, after a brief rest following the Mooseheads playoff run.

Life has been different since then for this year's Mooseheads team MVP. There are no billets in the pros, and he is on his own in Voorhees, N.J., most of the time.

Philadelphia is leading the best-of-seven final 2-0 following two close wins at Chicago's All State Arena. Game 3 goes tonight in Philadelphia.

The 25-day amateur contract he signed stipulates Picard won't get paid for his services, but that is the last thing on his mind.

"Lots of players would pay to be where I'm at, including veterans. I never thought this would happen, especially not this season."

If Jones returns from his upper body injury, which is playoff jargon for a facial wound suffered in Game 1 of the series, Picard will most likely be watching the series from the press box, rather than the player's bench. But even if he is forced out of the lineup, he says the experience has given him confidence for next year.

"The (American Hockey League) is a big step, but now I feel I can play here," he said. "With the lockout, things are up in the air, but now I think I belong with the Phantoms."