Dwyer named Titan head coach and GM

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Gordie Dwyer is back in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

The Acadie-Bathurst Titan named Dwyer the club's new head coach and general manager on Thursday. The late off-season move comes after the Titan's Jason Clarke, who took general manager responsibilities along with his head coaching role in June, left the club for an assistant coaching gig with the American Hockey League's San Diego Gulls.

“I’m honoured and excited for the opportunity presented to me to lead the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. I’m thrilled about joining the organization, the community of Acadie-Bathurst and looking forward to a competitive training camp,” Dwyer said in a release.

Dwyer coached the Saint John Sea Dogs to a 47-17-1-3 record in the 2021-22 regular season but was fired after the team's first-round playoff loss to the Rimouski Oceanic. Dwyer was replaced by UNB's Gardiner MacDougall for the Memorial Cup.

Along with coaching the Sea Dogs, Dwyer has had QMJHL coaching roles with the PEI Rocket/Charlottetown Islanders and Shawinigan Cataractes. There was speculation that Dwyer was a leading candidate for the head coaching position in Cape Breton this off-season.

According to the Titan's release, Dwyer has signed a four-year contract with the club. The Dalhousie, NB native will have his hands full with a Titan club that will take a step back this season. The team will also have plenty of off-ice distractions with relocation rumours swirling.

Dwyer and the Titan face the Sea Dogs in pre-season action on Aug. 23 at the Aitken Centre. The Titan will also be the visitors in Saint John's regular season opener on Sept. 24 at TD Station. Having Dwyer in attendance for Saint John's Memorial Cup banner raising will be... interesting.