Yates Named Head Coach, Co-GM

The Sea Dogs announced this afternoon that Ross Yates has been named the club’s new head coach.

Yates, who has been an assistant coach with the team since the 2012-13 season, takes over for Mike Kelly who was fired yesterday. Terms of the Yates’ contract were not disclosed.

Yates spent 10 years with the American Hockey League’s Syracuse Crunch – including four as head coach – prior to joining the Sea Dogs. He has also coached in Europe. Last season Yates served as Sea Dogs head coach for several games when Kelly was away on scouting adventures.

"We are very pleased to have Ross Yates as our coach," said Sea Dogs' President Wayne Long in a release. "He has an impressive coaching background in Europe and the American League, and he was brought here because of his extensive experience."

Not a huge surprise to see the Sea Dogs promote from within for this role. There’s not exactly a ton of coaches on the free agent market in October like there often are in the off-season.

It was also announced today that Yates and head scout Christian Vermette have been named co-general managers.

Vermette, in his fourth season as head scout, is a former assistant coach with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies who joined the Sea Dogs' scouting staff in 2005. He also coached the Levis Commandeurs in Quebec Midget AAA Hockey League.

According to the Sea Dogs there is no "interim tag" of having Yates as head coach & co-GM with Vermette. #QMJHL
— Sunaya Sapurji (@sunayas) October 30, 2013

The “new” Sea Dogs host the Moncton Wildcats on Friday night at Harbour Station.