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Yates, Sea Dogs agree to split in surprising move
The Saint John Sea Dogs will continue their rebuilding efforts next season, and will have a new man behind the bench to coach their young prospects and first overall selection.
The team and head coach Ross Yates have agreed to part ways Tuesday, according to the team’s press release.
From the release:
"Ross Yates is a man of integrity who was a true professional in all of his roles with our club," said Sea Dogs President Wayne Long. "We have very high expectations for next season and beyond. We just felt, as an organization, that we wanted to make a change."
"I met with Wayne at the end of the year and we decided, mutually, that it was best to part ways and go in different directions," Yates said. "I enjoyed my time in Saint John and wish the team success in the years to come."
Yates was a good company man who had to mold together a couple of mediocre Sea Dogs teams into something competitive. He got his start as an assistant to Mike Kelly in 2012, ultimately taking over for Kelly in late October 2013, in a bizarre shift where he and Christian Vermette took over GM duties together.
Yates dropped the GM tag before the start of the year this year, as Darrell Young took over the hockey operations side.
He actually succeeded for the first half of the season this past year, flirting with first place in the Maritime Division for most of 2014 until the soaring Dogs came falling back to Earth, finished in 10th, sputtering to a 3-6-0-1 finish and lost to Baie-Comeau in the first round.
In parts of two seasons behind the bench, Yates finished with a record of 46-60-6-7.
Bet on a former pro coach to join Sea Dogs
The Sea Dogs have had three straight coaches they hired out of the professional ranks: Gerard Gallant, Kelly and Yates. It would not be surprising to see them look there again for a young and successful up-and-coming assistant, or an NHL coach who’s looking for a bounce-back job.
Many possibilities abound for a team with a big market in the league as a “have” team. It will be interesting to monitor who might come to the Port City next season.
Two candidates who have New Brunswick connections just became available: former Buffalo Sabres assistants Danny Flynn and Tom Coolen. Flynn coached the Moncton Wildcats for six seasons before relinquishing the job in 2012-13, and Coolen coached the Wildcats for two seasons from 2000 to 2002. Coolen was a Young hire when he was in Moncton.
Another available name is Steve Spott, former Maple Leaf assistant who has extensive coaching experience in the OHL and performed well in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies. Guy Boucher might be available to coach in the Q again, and maybe a CIS coach like Trevor Steinberg at Saint Mary’s University or Gardiner MacDougall from UNB want a shot. Perhaps a name from the Maritime Hockey League will be the best candidate.
Whoever it will be, it will surely be someone who can best develop and mould young talent.