Conditioning advocate named assistant coach
Published on June 12, 2006 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release
SAINT JOHN, June 12, 2006 - The Saint John Sea Dogs have announced the appointment of Dwayne Blais as assistant coach. He will be responsible for the team's conditioning and hockey development, working primarily with the defence.
Announcement of the hiring of Blais was made today by Bob "Tipper" LeBlanc, general manager of the Sea Dogs.
Blais, 28, brings to the position a strong track record in helping players improve their strength, speed, power and overall conditioning. He served as power skating instructor for the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League this past season, working alongside new Sea Dogs head coach, Jacques Beaulieu.
Blais is a 2001 graduate of the University of Alabama - Huntsville (UAH) where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree, with an emphasis on exercise and physiology.
"I was looking for a young, enthusiastic person who was trained in hockey-related conditioning," said Beaulieu. "Dwayne has been through it as a player and I've been on the ice with him and I've worked at hockey schools with him. I'm very comfortable with him as an assistant coach. He's another piece of the puzzle in order for us to be successful."
In addition to his conditioning responsibilities with the Knights, Blais spent the 2005-06 hockey season running power skating and development sessions for the St. Thomas Stars (Jr. B) and serving on the coaching staff of the University of Western Ontario Mustangs Men's hockey team (CIS). He is also co-owner and operator of Total Package Hockey, a hockey development company whose clientele range from youth to pros.
On the ice, Blais spent four years on a hockey scholarship at UAH (NCAA) where he they won a Division II national championship in his freshman year, followed by three years of Division I in the College Hockey America (CHA). He led the CHA in scoring two times and was named the league's most valuable forward once.
Following completion of university, he spent four years playing professional hockey for the Greenville Growl (ECHL) in 2001, the Colorado Gold Kings of the WCHL, now the ECHL, in 2001-02 and the Mississippi Seawolves and Baton Rouge Kingfish (ECHL) from 2002-04.
The Sea Dogs will open their 2006-07 regular season at Harbour Station on Friday, Sept. 15, against Rimouski Oceanic.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from June 12, 2006
- Conditioning advocate named assistant coach - Saint John Sea Dogs
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