MOOSEHEADS A TEAM ON THE RISE
Above: (L) GM Cam Russell talks with Bobby Smith (R) at the 2015 QMJHL Draft
The majority owner of the Halifax Mooseheads likes the direction his team is headed. Bobby Smith and his staff have a vision for the future and the impending offseason will be a crucial step in the process of building another contender.
Smith paid close attention to the development of the young players on the Mooseheads roster this season and liked what he saw from a team that featured nine rookies.
“In a year where we finished in 17th place I was actually quite pleased with many aspects of the season,” he said.
Head Coach Dominique Ducharme along with Assistant Coaches Jim Midgley and Jon Greenwood were given the reigns to one of the youngest teams in the QMJHL and succeeded in their job of developing their players.
“Our young players improved greatly and to see four 16-year-olds playing such a key role for the team I give credit to the coaching staff because I think every player on the team took great strides ahead.”
Jocktan Chainey, acquired from Shawinigan in a deal involving veteran defenceman Cavan Fitzgerald, is one of those impressive 16-year-old player’s Smith is talking about. He is already on the scouting radar as a potential high pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Fellow defenceman Walter Flower also saw significant ice-time throughout the season and showed considerable improvement in all aspects of his game.
“A lot of rebuilding teams pay lip service to playing their young players and then they don’t. We played our young players.”
Above: #79 rookie Jocktan Chainey
Arnaud Durandeau, selected seventh overall by the Herd with their top pick in 2015, scored 12 goals and 17 assists as a 16-year-old while Joel Bishop proved himself to be a hard working two-way forward that can create some offense after making the club out of training camp last August in Cole Harbour. The St. John’s, NL native became a fan favourite and wound up with 21 points in his rookie campaign.
In essence 2015-2016 was really phase one of a rebuilding process that is necessary in the world of junior hockey which Smith said was put into motion in December 2014.
“We all understand what we did starting last year in trading (Zach) Fucale and (Matt) Murphy and this year trading four top players.”
He said having a knowledgeable fan base in Moose Country helps when it comes to moving popular star players at the appropriate times.
“Our fans are sophisticated when it comes to junior hockey they understand the plan.”
The team owner and former Minnesota North Stars number one selection (1978) in the NHL Draft is excited for the good times to come with the Mooseheads at Scotiabank Centre.
“We’re very well positioned now going forward and I think we’ll be in contention for the league championship again very soon.”
Halifax is sitting pretty in the 2016 QMJHL Entry Draft which will take place on June 4th in Charlottetown. The Moose will select either first or second overall (to be determined April 7th via coin flip), seventh overall and 15th in the opening round alone. The team also holds a trio of high picks in the second round.
Smith points to where a couple of team leaders were selected in 2013 when talking about the excitement of this year’s draft.
“Terrific players on our team Max Fortier and Taylor Ford were picked at number 34 and number 38 in the draft and we have six picks in the top 29 this year, so that kind of gives you a bit of an idea of the quality of player we’ll be bringing onto the team in the next couple of years.”
Halifax will also be adding an impact European player with the sixth overall selection in June’s CHL Import Draft.
It could be said that Mooseheads fans were a little spoiled when given the rare opportunity to watch top NHL draft picks on the roster that helped them win the 2013 Memorial Cup and that makes it’s tough for everyone not to have high expectations for the young players that will be added this summer.
“I’m not saying that there’s going to be a Nathan MacKinnon or a Jonathan Drouin available in this year’s draft but you get top players by drafting high.”
No matter what the name bar says on the players that will join Smith and GM Cam Russell on the podium in June, it’s sure to be a pivotal and historic day for this proud franchise.
“That’s a great spot to be and it’s going to be an exciting day for us.”
