Sea Dogs Gear Up For Second Half Of Season

Things seem to be turning around for the Saint John Sea Dogs as the season progresses.

After a rocky start, the Sea Dogs entered the Christmas break having won nine of their last 11 games and in a three-way tie for 10th in the league standings.

Trevor Georgie, president and general manager, said he is happy with how the team has progressed so far this season.

“We’ve achieved what I was hoping and expected of the team at this point to be a .500 hockey club at Christmas,” said Georgie.

“If we had won some games earlier in the year where we had three-goal leads or five-goal leads, we would be within the top 10, but we’re within striking distance and we’re doing it on the backs of still a very young group.”

Just weeks before the Christmas break, the Sea Dogs fired head coach Josh Dixon and replaced him with associate coach Jeff Cowan.

Georgie said Cowan has done a great job with the team as interim head coach in a short time.

“I think Jeff approaches things differently and with a fresh set of eyes and fresh voice,” he said.

“He brings a lot of professional playing experience and a lot of experience also with our organization.”

Georgie also credits the players who, despite being young, are starting to find their way with the team.

“We’re a team that has shown now, in the last 11 games, that we can really string together wins,” he said.

“Our expectation the second half of the year is to win more games and play the role of underdog and maybe upset a team or two in the playoffs.”

The Sea Dogs return to the ice Saturday night as they visit the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. Their next home game is at 3 p.m. Sunday against the Moncton Wildcats.