Halifax Mooseheads raring to go with new coach

When the Halifax Mooseheads won the Memorial Cup in 2013, the team did it with a trio of star players.

Forwards Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin and goaltender Zach Fucale were the key players on the championship team.

Now, new Mooseheads coach André Tourigny is hoping the names Groulx, McIsaac and Gravel will lead the franchise to another title.

• Halifax Mooseheads announce new head coach André Tourigny

'Really good young players'

Benoit-Olivier Groulx and Jared McIsaac were the top two picks in the 2016 QMJHL draft, and Gravel was the second- rated goaltender. All three of the 16-year-olds will be playing in Halifax this season.

"We have a lot of really good young players and we have a lot of depth," Tourigny said.

"Up front, we are strong and I really like our young group of defencemen — and we have a good veteran goalie and a good young goalie."

Halifax will play their first game on the road against Moncton on Sept. 23. The home opener at Scotiabank Centre will be played Sept. 24 against Saint John.

'A period of adjustment'

Groulx grew up in Gatineau watching his father coach the QMJHL's Gatineau Olympiques for 10 seasons.

As the league's top draft pick, Groulx is expected to make an impact on the team right away.

"It's been nice so far playing with guys who are older than me, and they've been helping me along," Groulx said.

"It's been a period of adjustment, and our team leaders have really helped me through this situation."

'Bigger, stronger, faster guys'

The Mooseheads made defenceman Jared McIsaac the second overall pick in the draft. He turned heads over the last two seasons playing midget hockey in Cole Harbour, but he's already seeing a difference at the higher level.

"Every time you make a jump up to another level, you're dealing with bigger, stronger, faster guys," McIsaac said.

"Defensively, you've got to be on your game or you're going to get burned night in and night out, so I'm just taking it one practice at a time."

Alexis Gravel is a lanky left-hander, who will be pushing Kevin Resop for the Mooseheads' starting goaltender job.

He's been impressive in the team's training camp so far.

Coach aims to grow team

The trio should benefit from the experience of their new head coach.

Tourigny has spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach in the NHL. Before that, he was the longtime head coach of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. He has a reputation of working well with young players.

"That's my job here, and we have a lot of teaching ahead of us both on and off the ice," Tourigny said.

"It will be really interesting to build this group and to grow as a team."

Import players, young talent

Many of the young players who finished last season with the Mooseheads logged valuable ice time, including import player Otto Somppi of Finland, who had a breakthrough season, especially in the second half. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2016 NHL draft.

The team landed a coveted import player in this year's import draft. Nico Hischier of Switzerland is considered another blue-chip prospect, expected to start the season on Halifax's top line.

The Mooseheads' captain is optimistic about the team's fortunes this season.

"We are a young team again this year, but we've got a lot more talent," said defenceman Taylor Ford.