Wildcats Eyeing UNB's MacDougall?

By Ray Harris | @CanadasPredsFans

The Moncton Wildcats have removed Danny Flynn from behind the bench after a first round playoff loss to les Tigres de Victoriaville. Flynn has been in the Wildcats system for many successes, including the 2006 and 2010 President’s cup victories, where he was an associate coach and head coach (respectively).

But after a respectable 6^th place finish for the Wildcats this year, they suffered an embarrassing playoff collapse to 11^th place Victoriaville, who had 14 less regular season points. Moncton went 1-1 at home in the series before dropping three straight in Victoriaville. This is the third consecutive year that Moncton falls in the first round, but the first time that they fall while holding home ice advantage.

Speculation about Flynn’s replacement leads us two hours down Highway 2 to Fredericton, where University of New Brunswick head coach Gardiner MacDougall is coming fresh off another CIS championship. MacDougall’s team only lost 5 regular season games (out of 28 in the AUS season), which placed him top in the AUS. UNB finished the season with a 9-1-0 run.

MacDougall has been with UNB for 11 years now, and has a shelf-load of achievements during his stay. Along with five National Championships, he has the most wins in an AUS season, when the team went 31-1-1 in 2008. In 2011 he topped that record bringing the Varsity Reds to a CIS best 27-1 record, which included 26 consecutive wins – giving him a perfect record going into the last game of the year. He has also been named coach of the year for various regions and conferences, the most notable being the 2010 CIS coach of the year award.

The AUS to QMJHL is a big jump though, both in terms of players and scheduling. The Q features over two times as many games, plus an additional extensive playoff schedule. All of this comes with a large increase in travel. MacDougall will need to brush up on his “francais” as he would be spending far more time in Quebec if he takes on this role. That alone could be enough to entice any AUS coach away from the position.

Behind the bench will see further challenges, including a step down in maturity level, but perhaps a step up in commitment. Players will range from 16 – 19, compared to his university roster where players generally start at 21, with more playing experience. Another component is the important role of fighting in the CHL, whereas it is completely forbidden in CIS. As a Coach, adjusting to fighting in the game after it being all but banished for the last 6 years would be an interesting transition.

University hockey also has the benefit of hand picking their players and enticing them with scholarship packages, as opposed to the mostly democratic draft in the Q. Oh, and not only drafting, but let’s not forget about the trading process which is completely foreign to the CIS. But luckily Flynn is staying on as director of hockey operations, and he will be able to help MacDougall (or whomever) along the way.  

It is a daring move to recruit a coach from the AUS to come start fresh in the QMJHL. The differences are overwhelming. Flynn spent time in the OHL, NHL and, briefly, the AUS, before settling in Moncton.

Mike Kelly, the Sea Dogs head coach, is also a past UNB Coach, but was in the NHL system before moving to Saint John full time. This is generally the trend. Taking on associate coaching positions in the NHL before finding a head coach position in the Canadian Hockey League.

Past UNB coaches Mike Johnston and Doug MacLean both followed this route, beginning their careers with the university before moving onto NHL associate coaching positions and then to CHL jobs. Mike Johnston coached at UNB until 1994, then spent time with Vancouver and Los Angeles, before going to Portland, where he is currently leading the busting-with-talent Winterhawks to playoff success.

It would be a risky move for the Wildcats to seek out MacDougall, a very good coach with limited experience outside the AUS. So far, only one other name has surfaced in the early speculation: Trevor Stienburg, the AUS coach for the Saint Mary’s Huskies, who were second in the AUS. He has NHL playing experience but only AUS coaching experience, where he has been only slightly less acclaimed than MacDougall. Neate Sager of Buzzing The Net is also eager to remind us that the Wildcats have drawn big names before. Specifically Ted Nolan, who was a Jack Adam’s award winner for NHL coach of the year with Buffalo in 1996. 

Time will tell what direction Robert Irving takes his coaching initiatives. Whether he stays local or goes big, it will be an exciting journey towards a new bench boss in Moncton.