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Thursday, May 25, 2023

Notebook: Sea Dogs promote Hansen

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs
The Saint John Sea Dogs promoted Jeff Hansen to the position of associate coach this week.

Hansen, who joined the Sea Dogs last August as an assistant coach, oversaw the team's defense and did a solid job given the group's lack of major junior experience.

“I am extremely excited for the opportunity to grow within such a great organization” said Hansen in a news release. “I’m very fortunate to work with such a great, hard working staff that challenges and makes each other better daily. Working towards bringing another championship to Saint John is a vision that we all share and I’m honoured to be able to play a key part in that.”

Before joining the Sea Dogs, the Calgary native spent nine years in the Western Hockey League split between the Calgary Hitmen and Lethbridge Hurricanes.

Hansen joined head coach Travis Crickard and assistant coach Mark Lee behind the Saint John bench last season.

OTHER MOVES
It's been an eventful few days and weeks for the QMJHL coaching circuit.

  • The Gatineau Olympiques and Louis Robitaille have "parted ways," the team announced Tuesday. It was a surprising move given that all indications were that Robitaille would return as head coach and general manager for at least one more season. The Olympiques were swept by the Quebec Remparts in the semifinals and are likely heading into a rebuild.
  • Martin Dagenais has been named to the new head coach of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. Dagenais has spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the OHL's Ottawa 67's where he worked under Dave Cameron. He's also spent the past couple years as governor and director of hockey operations of the CCHL's Ottawa Junior Senators who recently competed at the Centennial Cup. Dagenais is the former head coach and general manager of the Junior Senators.
  • The Rimouski Oceanic are still looking to replace Serge Beausoleil. Le Journal de Quebec has reported that the team has interest in both Guy Boucher and Dominque Ducharme, so they are taking some big swings as they hope to host the 2025 Memorial Cup.
  • Boucher has since told JF Plante of le Driot that he is not interested in returning to junior hockey.
  • Will the Memorial Cup be Patrick Roy's final few games as the head coach of the Quebec Remparts? That will likely be a big storyline in Kamloops - especially with Roy's name circulating as a head coaching candidate in a few NHL markets.
  • It's not a coaching move, but Cape Breton Eagles president Gerard Shaw has stepped down from his role and will become a special advisor to the team's owner. The team will not be replacing Shaw's role.

ROAD SUCCESS
One of the most impressive stats from the Quebec Remparts' playoff run was their perfect 9-0 road record. The Remparts finished 16-2 overall and both of those losses came on home ice.

Quebec outscored opponents 41-22 in those nine road games.

Of course, this blog has to ask the question: how does Quebec's road record compare to past league final runs for the Sea Dogs? Here's an answer:

2010: 6-4 on the road (14-7 overall)
2011: 10-0 on the road (16-3 overall)
2012: 7-1 on the road (16-1 overall)
2017: 8-1 on the road (16-2 overall)

It's interesting looking back now and seeing that the 2011 Sea Dogs lost three times at home in the playoffs after not losing in regulation at home at all during the regular season.

COURTEAU MAKES APPEARANCE
In a bit of an unexpected move, former QMJHL commissioner Gilles Courteau presented the league championship trophy to the Quebec Remparts on Sunday in Halifax.
The trophy was renamed the Gilles-Courteau Trophy earlier this season in recognition of the long-time commissioner. Courteau suddenly resigned in early March following the hazing and abuse scandals surrounding the league, making his appearance on Sunday a bit surprising. 

Current commissioner Mario Cecchini also took part and addressed the crowd during the trophy ceremony.


MEMORIAL CUP PREVIEW
Get set for Friday night.
WORLDS UPDATE
It hasn't been a great few days for Sea Dogs alumni taking part in the IIHF World Championship in Finland and Latvia.

Joe Veleno will miss the rest of the tournament after being served a five-game suspension. Team Canada has been able to win without Veleno though, who had been skating on their top line. Canada earned a spot in Saturday's semifinals with a solid 4-1 victory over the co-host Finns on Thursday.The Canadians will face a surprising Latvian squad in the semis.

Switzerland, after winning Group B, was upset by Germany in the quarterfinals on Thursday, falling 3-1. Robert Mayer made 20 saves in the loss.

Czechia, meanwhile, fell 3-0 to the United States in the quarters. Jakub Zboril, once again on Czechia's third defense pairing, had two shots in 18:19 of action.

The other semifinal Saturday will feature the United States taking on Germany.

POIRIER TALK
As Craig Conroy takes over general manager duties of the Calgary Flames, former Sea Dogs defenseman Jeremie Poirier was a brief topic of discussion on Sportsnet's 32 Thoughts podcast.

"How close do they think Poirier is," asked Elliotte Friedman. "I heard some interesting reviews. I had someone say to me he took a big step this year. They're not sure he's ready, particularly on a team that wants to stay in the race, but it's not like he's really far they don't think."

Poirier, who will turn 21 next week, had a strong first season of professional hockey with the American Hockey League's Calgary Wranglers, posting 41 points in 69 regular season games and another eight points in nine playoff matches.

Gerard Gallant, meanwhile, is believed to be a candidate for the Flames' head coaching position.

OTHER THINGS
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