The Saint John Sea Dogs' decision to fire their head coach this close to the start of the Memorial Cup is nearly unprecedented - but it has happened before.
Way back in 2000, the Memorial Cup host Halifax Mooseheads were swept out of the second round of the President Cup playoffs by Brad Richards and the Rimouski Oceanic. Less than two weeks after their playoff exit, the Mooseheads fired head coach and director of hockey operations Bob Mongrain and named associate Shawn MacKenzie the interim head coach.
"This wasn't done lightly," said team president Ken Mounce, who added it's a move that may have been long overdue."This was thought of for a few months and we looked at every possible avenue and we were very sensitive to the timing," Mounce continued.
The 2000 Memorial Cup began on May 20, so these timelines are quite similar to what the Sea Dogs are working with.
The Mooseheads finished 2-1 in round-robin play and were eliminated in the semifinals.
A few people have also pointed out that the BCHL's Chilliwack Chiefs fired their head coach less than two weeks before hosting the RBC Cup in 2018. The Chiefs went on to win the national championship.
THOMPSON ADD
Along with replacing Gordie Dwyer with Gardiner MacDougall as head coach, the Sea Dogs are also reportedly adding Saint John Flames legend Rocky Thompson as an advisor.
Thompson was the head coach of the Windsor Spitfires in 2017, a team that went through a long layoff before hosting the Memorial Cup. The Spitfires defeated the Sea Dogs in the tournament opener and went on to win the Memorial Cup.
Adding an advisor to the coaching staff is a much more "normal" move for a host team in this position. The Shawinigan Cataractes did this in 2012, which former Sportsnet junior hockey writer Patrick King breaks down below - and also gives his take on the Sea Dogs' moves.
(Cont) a temporary hire for the tournament only, is dirty. The business of hockey stinks at the best of times but this move is awful and incredibly disappointing, to say the absolute least. Not a good look from the @SJSeaDogs
— Patrick King (@PatrickNKing) May 23, 2022
QUOTES
'We'll do whatever it takes.'
— x - Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) May 19, 2022
Our leadership group reflects on the tough playoffs loss and using it as motivation to prepare for the end of June. pic.twitter.com/WBUMiKTKcr
FINALS ON TSN
Parts of all three CHL league finals will be broadcast on TSN in the coming weeks.
Postseason play is currently underway across the three member leagues, with all action available on CHL TV, before TSN begins its national coverage of each Championship Series from Game 3 onward, with RDS also delivering live coverage of the QMJHL Championship Final from Game 3 onward. Each league champion will then join the host Sea Dogs at the 2022 Memorial Cup presented by Kia to be held June 20-29 in Saint John with all games airing live on TSN and RDS and available via live stream on TSN.ca, RDS.ca, and the TSN and RDS apps.
TSN is in its first season of broadcasting CHL games since taking over the rights from Sportsnet. No playoff games have been broadcast nationally yet.
SMALLMAN AND THE WOLVES
Only one former Sea Dog remains in the American Hockey League's Calder Cup playoffs: Spencer Smallman.
Smallman and the Wolves lead their best-of-five Central Division final playoff series 2-0 over the Milwaukee Admirals. Smallman has one assist in five playoff games this year.
The Wolves are 5-0 in these playoffs and have outscored opponents 28-8.
The 25-year-old Smallman had 10 goals and 27 points in 65 games with the Carolina Hurricanes' affiliate during the regular season.
GALLANT NOMINATED
For a third time since leaving the Sea Dogs, Gerard Gallant has been nominated for NHL coach of the year.
Gerard Gallant has been voted a Jack Adams finalist for the third time, with his third different club (also 2015-16 w/ FLA & 2017-18 w/ VGK, a win). He can become the first coach in @NYRangers history to receive Jack Adams honors. #NHLAwards#NHLStats: https://t.co/IJV3jUPWSE pic.twitter.com/aVw0krall8
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 19, 2022
While with the Sea Dogs, Gallant was named QMJHL and CHL coach of the year twice.
Gallant's coaching staff with the New York Rangers includes Mike Kelly and Jim Midgley, both of whom previously worked with the Sea Dogs.
GALLANT MEMORIES
The 2010 President Cup final was a special time.
Good story to this. Turk a great #PEI friend when ejected I knew I needed to move him away from box to other side of Coliseum via the ice plant room. A worker says it’s against safety regs to take him through Bill. Turks neck veins were size of pipes. Worker says...ok this time🙈
— Bill Schurman (@BillySchurman) May 22, 2022
OTHER THINGS
- It's never boring around here.
- The Wave reports that "a monument honouring past and current naval contributions will be complete just in time for the 2022 Memorial Cup."
- QMJHL Central Scouting has unveiled its final list for the upcoming Entry Draft, which will be held virtually July 4-5. Jeremie Poirier's brother, Justin, was ranked fourth.
- Craig Eagles gave his thoughts on some of the top prospects for this year's Entry Draft in a blog post.
- At the IIHF World Championships in Finland, Thomas Chabot and Team Canada are 4-1 after falling 6-3 to Switzerland on Saturday. Chabot, Canada's captain, has two assists in five games. The team closes out preliminary round play with contests against Denmark and France.
- The Moncton Flyers won the Telus Cup on Sunday night, becoming the first team from New Brunswick to win the national championship and just the second from Atlantic Canada.
- The Atlantic University Sport men's hockey schedule for 2022-23 has been released. UNB begins play on Friday, Oct. 7 hosting UPEI. The University Cup tournament will be held in Charlottetown this season.
- The Kitchener Rangers, won of the CHL's flagship franchises, hasn't played in an OHL final since 2008.
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