Dogs Name New Assistant Coach

The Sea Dogs announced this afternoon that Paul Boutilier has been named one of the team’s assistant coaches.

Boutilier joined the team last season, working as the director of the Player Development & Analytics program.

From the Sea Dogs’ press release:

The Sydney, Nova Scotia, native played parts of three seasons in the QMJHL with the Sherbrooke/Saint-Jean Castors, posting 35 goals and 138 points in 151 games. He won the Emile Bouchard Trophy in 1982 as the QMJHL Defenceman of the Year and was a first-team all-star. That same year, he was part of Canada's first-ever gold-medal-winning entry at the World Junior Championship with a team of players compiled from clubs across the country.  

A 1981 first-round selection of the New York Islanders, Boutilier won a Stanley Cup with the club in 1983. He totaled 27 goals and 110 points in 288 NHL games over parts of eight seasons with the Islanders, Boston Bruins, Minnesota North Stars, New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets, and added another ten points in 41 playoff contests. He also played 198 games in the American, Central and International Hockey Leagues, and two seasons in Switzerland.  

Boutilier has an extensive coaching background at the Canadian University level, including four years as head coach at Saint Mary's University and another four seasons as an assistant coach at Dalhousie University.  

Boutilier conceived a Defense Development Program (DDP) based on his coaching and playing experiences. He has used his program as a Defense Player Development coach with the Nashville Predators.

Sea Dogs general manager Darrell Young noted in the release that Boutilier will join head coach Danny Flynn, assistant coach Jeff Cowan and goaltending coach Jim Fleming on Saint John’s coaching staff.

The team will open training camp in August.