Sports stats



QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Cowan's Dogs Ready for Second Half

December 28, 2019 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


Coach Jeff Cowan and the Saint John Sea Dogs
Coach Jeff Cowan and the Saint John Sea Dogs
(Saint John Sea Dogs)

No matter how you slice it, the Saint John Sea Dogs have seen big improvements over the last month of play. Winners of three in a row and eight of their last ten games, Saint John entered the mid-season break 17-17-1-0, a .500 hockey club. Part of this recent success can be attributed to newly assigned Interim Head Coach, Jeff Cowan. Cowan is 5-1 behind the Sea Dogs' bench since taking over in early December. The former NHLer brings a hard-nosed, know-your-role style that seems to be producing points thus far.

"The game has changed a lot since I had played, but I believe you still need those energizing guys and to embrace the physicality of the game. I think that as a team we do possess a lot of skill, which is great, but I do think we need some more grit and determination. We need the guys that are going to the net, and who are willing to get the dirty goals. It's things like that that I believe you always need on successful teams. You can't just have a team of skilled players and win; it just doesn't work like that. I think we need a good mix of guys, ones who can understand their roles, like who needs to energize the team, who needs to get the pucks deep, who needs to be going to the net, and once you have that I think everything else will take care of itself."

More specifically, Cowan has been instilling a simplification of how the team plays and putting more emphasis on defensive accountability.

"I believe that they are starting to buy into some key details that are important for the team in order to be successful. We have been preaching puck management in the neutral zone, trying to prevent turnovers, and in general using our best efforts to not hurt ourselves as we have done in the past. Don't make the game harder than it should be or needs to be, that's what we have been stressing."

And the Sea Dogs had been making the game harder on themselves, allowing a league high 148 goals against in 35 games; however, there are signs of improvement. With Cowan behind the bench the Sea Dogs are averaging 3.16 goals against, over a goal less than the 4.38 goals against in the 29 games prior. A small sample size, but an encouraging trend, nonetheless.

"You can see the team attempting to get the pucks deeper more often, when there isn't necessarily the time and space to make a play. Ideally, we are a skilled team, so we don't want to just give the puck back to the other team, but despite that there are times throughout the game where we need to do that in order to achieve success. Especially late into the games, when you have the lead it is important to play smart in that way."

Playing in a smart way this season have been the Sea Dogs' big three defencemen, Jérémie Poirier, William Villeneuve and Charlie DesRoches. The trio has combined for 89 points this season and currently rank 2nd, 3rd and 9th respectively for points by a defenceman in the QMJHL. Cowan has worked closely with Jérémie, William and Charlie, and predicts a very bright future beyond junior for these young men.

"First and foremost, they are truly good kids, just good people to start off with and that makes life easier when you are coaching, and they are aspiring to always do the right thing. Although they don't always do the right things, they have certainly bought in and will try their hardest to listen and improve. They are all winners, from a winning background, and that is what they are looking to do. They try their best to prepare everyday, always coming in to watch shifts. They are always looking at certain details to discern what they are doing correctly and incorrectly. So for those three guys they are really bought in, which is true for our other guys as well, they all do the same thing. We honestly have a great group of players that are all bought in to doing the right thing. Those three are certainly very special players and I believe a big part of our future. If they continue to do the right things, it should prove that the sky is the limit for those three boys."

On the offensive side of the puck, the Sea Dogs have had no problems finding the back of the net. The team has scored 129 times in 35 games, the third best goals for total in the QMJHL. For Cowan, the player that stands out for him most right now is not necessarily leading the team in any scoring categories, but his impact is felt every game.

Check out the Saint John Sea Dogs Statistics




Images from this story

Coach Jeff Cowan and the Saint John Sea Dogs
Coach Jeff Cowan and the Saint John Sea Dogs
   



Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from December 28, 2019


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central