There’s a mix of old and new as the Saint John Sea Dogs prepare for the coming season.
The QMJHL team is welcoming back several players, but they’re being led by a new head coach who has already set the bar high.
“We’re going to go in with the expectations to compete for a title,” said Jim Hulton.
Hulton is leading the team through his first training camp since being hired earlier this year.
“The messaging we sent is that our goal every year as long as I’m going to be here is to be the most competitive team in the (Canadian Hockey League) and we want to see that today,” he said.
“It starts with a foundation of ‘compete,’ and we’ll work on the other fine-tuning of the aspects of the game as it goes on.”
The Sea Dogs have plenty of returning players from last season, something Hulton said makes his job both easier and more difficult.
“It’s always reassuring as a coach to look down and see a lot of returning players because you know you have experience,” he said.
“That being said, you want difficult roster battles. You don’t want people to just to come in with the assumption that they’re on the team.”
Hulton joined the Sea Dogs after 11 seasons behind the bench for the Charlottetown Islanders.
He said coming to Saint John has been an exciting opportunity.
“Sometimes a change is as good as a rest and for me personally, I’m as excited as I’ve been in a long time,” he said.
Hulton said one of his main tasks this summer has been getting to know his new team, both in terms of their play on the ice, but also on a personal level.
“The big part of coaching nowadays is building relationships with the players,” he said.
“Early on, I think that’s what a lot of our time and our focus will be on.”
Hulton said approaching the team with a fresh set of eyes is providing new perspectives on where the team needs the most improvement.
“We’re going to implement a lot of different systems, structure, accountability,” he said. “But start fresh and see where it goes.”
The first real chance for the fans to see what they can expect will be Aug. 26, when the Sea Dogs face the Moncton Wildcats for a pre-season game.
Hulton is new to the rivalry, but he’s ready.
“I already have a built-in hatred for Moncton,” he said with a laugh. “So that part comes easy.”
But Hulton said no matter if it’s road hockey in a parking lot in August or the league final, when it comes to a game between the Sea Dogs and Wildcats, he wants his team to win every time.
“That’d be the message,” he said. “When this jersey plays that jersey, it’s a war.”
The war resumes Aug. 26 at the Garcelon Civic Centre in St. Stephen. Game time is 7 p.m.
