Newfoundland Regiment names first head coach and general manager
Gordie Dwyer, team's new bench boss, brings experience from Titan and KHL
It's been just over five months since the Newfoundland Regiment unveiled its name and logo to a room full of screaming hockey fans eagerly awaiting the return of elite-level hockey in St. John's.
On Monday, the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League's (QMJHL) newest franchise slotted in another big piece of the puzzle, by naming its first head coach and general manager during a news conference at the JAG hotel in the city's downtown.
Gordie Dwyer will command the squad from behind the bench and in the front office.
Dwyer spent the last three seasons in those roles with the Acadie–Bathurst Titan, meaning the ownership group, SPS Entertainment, didn't have to look far to find its first leader since buying the New Brunswick-based franchise last year.
"Once our ownership group got to know the people in Bathurst, it became pretty obvious to us the direction we should go," team president Glenn Stanford told reporters on Monday.
Beyond the QMJHL — also known as the Q — Dwyer has coaching and playing experience spanning the globe.
As a player he spent time making a name as a gritty winger in major junior before making the leap to pro. In the late 90s and into the early 2000s Dwyer split time between the American Hockey League and National Hockey League with the Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens clubs.
As a head coach he found jobs throughout the Q, with a stint in the professional Kontinental Hockey League in Russia. Dwyer also served as a coach with Canada's U18 club on the international level.
But the new bench boss has little time to soak in the moment. The Regiment is looking ahead to the QMJHL selection draft on Thursday.
It has some draft capital in tow with three early first-round picks, and there are local players who could be among the top picks.
"It's our responsibility to know the players and know the draft. There's a lot of work that goes into it, not just looking at a player once or twice," Dwyer said.
"Ultimately we can't control the draft and where players happen [to go], but we've definitely got our eye on a few top prospects for sure."
Looking ahead
With the draft just days away, Stanford is busy getting things ready for opening night this fall.
They'll release the regular season schedule in full on Wednesday, giving fans their first real look at the calendar for 2025-26.
Stanford said there's still a few jobs on the table to hire for — an athletic therapist and assistant coaches — but those processes are underway.
And what good is a logo without a jersey? Stanford said they'll unveil the sweaters on Thursday as well.
Over 2,000 season tickets have been sold so far. Stanford said he expects more will sell once other packages become available.
"I really do believe this week once the schedule comes out, once you see the results of the draft, hopefully, we'll have some more excitement around here next week," he said.
The dressing room at the Mary Brown's Centre will undergo some changes to fit the criteria of a major junior hockey club. Stanford said the franchise will tie in some Royal Newfoundland Regiment themes in that makeover.
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