Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Notebook: Dwyer sticks with Regiment

Former Saint John Sea Dogs head coach Gordie Dwyer will be moving to Newfoundland with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan organization.

The Newfoundland Regiment officially named Dwyer the club's head coach and general manager on Tuesday. The Dalhousie, NB native has been the head coach and GM of the Titan for the past three seasons following his firing from the Sea Dogs at the end of the 2022 playoffs.

Former Sea Dogs equipment manager Tyler Jay is also moving with the Titan to Newfoundland, as is director of hockey operations and video coach Matthew Smith.

“I’m honoured to lead the Newfoundland Regiment alongside Tyler and Matthew, building on the foundation we established in Bathurst,” said Dwyer in a news release. “The appetite for hockey in Newfoundland is electric. We are committed to building a team that is driven and competes in a way that honours the tremendous history of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.”

The Regiment will play their first regular season game on Thursday, Sept. 18, hosting the Moncton Wildcats.

DRAFT SOON
When exactly is this weekend's QMJHL Entry Draft?

The Remparts shared some event details on social media earlier this week. The first-round will begin at 8 p.m. Atlantic on Friday night. The Sea Dogs currently own three picks in the opening round – including the first overall selection.

The remaining 11 rounds will begin on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. Atlantic. 

Quebec City's Videotron Centre also hosted the draft back in 2019 when the Sea Dogs selected Joshua Roy with the first overall pick.

LOTS OF PICKS
If the Sea Dogs do end up using all three of their first-round picks, it would mark the fourth time in team history that they've selected three times in the opening round of a QMJHL Entry Draft.

2024, 5th overall - William Yared
2024, 8th overall - Dylan Rozzi
2024, 19th overall - Cameron Chartrand

2018, 2nd overall - William Villeneuve
2018, 8th overall - Jeremie Poirier
2018, 15th overall - Josh Lawrence

2015, 1st overall - Joe Veleno
2015, 9th overall - Alex D'Orio
2015, 10th overall - Cedric Pare

The Sea Dogs are poised to pick twice in the top-10 this year, just like in each of these previous three drafts.

STEEL CAMP
Two of the top prospects for this year's QMJHL Entry Draft recently attended Chicago Steel Rookie Weekend.

Forward James Scantlebury, who signed a USHL tender agreement with the Steel a few weeks ago, and defenseman Malik L'Italien, a 14th-round pick of the Steel in this year's USHL Futures Draft, were both in attendance as the below video indicates.
Both could very well be top-three picks this weekend – but we'll see how things play out if the USHL is a real possibility for either.

It's been a busy few weeks for the Steel, who have named Scott Gomez their new head coach and announced plans to move into the Chicago Blackhawks' renovated practice facility for the 2026-27 season.

PLAYOFF UPDATES
Nicolas Guay and the Trois-Rivieres Lions evened up the ECHL's Kelly Cup Final at 1-1 with a 5-1 road win over the Toledo Walleye on Monday.

Guay scored what proved to be the game-winner and added an assist. The former Sea Dogs captain now has five goals and six assists in 18 playoff games.
The next three games will all be held in Trois-Rivieres, beginning with Game 3 on Wednesday.

In the AHL's Eastern Conference final, Riley Bezeau and the Charlotte Checkers completed a sweep of Joshua Roy and the Laval Rocket with a 3-2 win on Tuesday.

Roy opened the scoring with his fourth of the playoffs. Bezeau, meanwhile, was tossed from the game in the second period for an illegal check-to-the-head.
The Checkers will face either the Abbotsford Canucks or the Texas Stars in the Calder Cup Final.

OTHER THINGS
  • Also announced Tuesday: the Sea Dogs will be the opponent for the Moncton Wildcats' home opener on Oct. 4, which will feature the Gilles-Courteau Trophy banner raising.
  • Caleb Desnoyers will be captain of the Wildcats next season, owner Robert Irving announced at a fan event on Monday. The move comes not long after rumours popped up of Desnoyers potentially leaving the Wildcats for the NCAA.
  • Speaking of the NCAA, the Maine Black Bears have gotten commitments from graduating Wildcats goaltender Mathis Rousseau and Baie-Comeau Drakkar forward Justin Poirier. Rousseau was an overager this past season but Poirier is just 18. That's a huge loss for the Drakkar – both on the ice and as a trade chip.
  • The Gatineau Olympiques are serious about wanting to host the Memorial Cup in 2028. Next year's tournament will be held in Kelowna and the 2027 edition will be hosted by an OHL club.
  • A teaser for the Newfoundland Regiment's first jersey.
  • CHL Import Draft pick trading is so back.
  • There will be four inter-league games between the QMJHL and OHL in 2025-26. Two games will feature the Gatineau Olympiques and Ottawa 67's while two others will include the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies taking on the Sudbury Wolves.
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