Post by dogcatcher on Jan 8, 2008 8:00:17 GMT -4
Midgley enjoys role as Dog groomer
Published Tuesday January 8th, 2008
Appeared on page B5
National Hockey League draft picks like team captain Alex Grant and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League scoring leader Chris Di Domenico aren't the only members of the Saint John Sea Dogs being groomed for bigger and better things.
Jim Midgley is too.
Midgley is the primary assistant coach for head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu and in a way, he's in the same boat as the players.
Midgley, who will turn 30 in early March, is in his first season with the Sea Dogs after four years as a full-time assistant with the Acadia University Axemen of the Atlantic Universities Hockey Conference.
The former forward with the Ontario Hockey League's North Bay Centennials and Belleville Bulls makes no bones about it ... He wants to be a head coach in the QMJHL one day. But that doesn't mean he's gunning for his boss's job.
"I love it," he said of his adopted home and new job. "I want to become a head coach some day but right now I'm here to learn. The difference between this level and the university level is there is a lot more teaching and coaching at this level, which I enjoy. There is a lot of responsibility for us as a coaching staff, making sure the kids are going to school, eating properly and [abiding by] curfews and stuff like that."
While the Sea Dogs hold down first place in the Eastern Division and fourth overall with a record of 26 wins 12 regulation losses, one overtime loss and two shootout losses for 55 points, Midgley has barely had enough time to enjoy the view from the top.
He was married over the summer and he and his wife Maryelle (Hannam) now live on the campus of Rothesay Netherwood School, where Maryelle serves as coach of the girls hockey team. She is a former varsity player at Dalhousie University and a member of the N.S. provincial team. She was also a varsity swimmer at Dal.
Midgley, a native of Townsend, Ont., played four years in the OHL and another four years at Saint Mary's University in Halifax. His competitive playing career ended after one professional season with the Fort Worth Brahmas of the Central Hockey League in 2002-03.
He got his coaching feet wet the following season after hearing head coach Darren Burns was looking for an assistant at Acadia. Burns was an assistant when Midgley played at SMU.
Midgley's road to Saint John is another story of hockey's small world.
He was in the Port City last winter on a recruiting trip for Acadia to try and lure Saint John team captain David MacDonald to Wolfville, N.S. He was introduced to Beaulieu by part-time Sea Dogs assistant Mike Dawson. Midgley and Dawson were teammates at Saint Mary's. (Dawson has since moved to Ontario.)
Soon after, full-time assistant coach Dwayne Blais told Beaulieu he wouldn't be returning the following season, which opened the door for Midgley.
"He's been a great help," said Beaulieu. "It takes a big load off for me when I travel for scouting. He's got a good hockey mind and he knows how to run a good practice. He respects my knowledge, he wants to learn and he asks a lot of questions."
Beaulieu said he sees some similarities between him and his protege from Beaulieu's early years in the business with the London Knights of the OHL.
"I might be a little more fiery, but technically I think we're a lot alike."
Beaulieu and Midgley are both under contract through the 2009-10, which brings stability to the dressing room.
"We didn't want it to be a revolving door," said Beaulieu. "Players need continuity."
"I think we're both defensive-minded, first," said Midgley. "That's how you win and with our kids on the back end, it's a pretty easy bunch to coach back there. We're a good hockey team but not only are they good players, they're a good bunch of kids as well. We haven't had any issues."
Saint John's defensive unit is among the tops in the league with Grant leading the way, along with former first overall picks Yann Sauve and Simon Despres.
Midgley admits that he's a bit of a go-between for the players and the coach but it's not quite a good-cop, bad-cop situation.
"The thing I like most about the situation is that I get to run the D (defence corps)," said Midgley. "Jacques gives me responsibility and he's not afraid to delegate. He uses my knowledge. It's a really good setup."
While Midgley has his sights set on a life in pro hockey, he's not about to rush things.
Beaulieu thinks that's wise.
"The process for a coach is no different than a player and Jim knows that. "You have to put your time in."
And so the grooming continues.
* Whether the Sea Dogs hold on to their No. 10 ranking in the national poll is too close to call. The Sea Dogs are coming off a pair of losses in St. John's to the Fog Devils on Saturday and Sunday and saw their winning percentage drop to .634, which is still second best in the circuit.
* Sea Dogs forward Chris Di Domenico was held off the scoresheet for those losses but continues to lead the league in points with 29 goals and 34 assists for 63 points, one more than Francis Pare of Chicoutimi.
* Saint John is back in action on Wednesday when the Acadie-Bathurst Titan come to town for a 7 p.m. start at Harbour Station. The last time the two teams met, the Sea Dogs pounded the Titan 9-2 at the K.C. Irving Regional Centre on Dec. 28.
Published Tuesday January 8th, 2008
Appeared on page B5
National Hockey League draft picks like team captain Alex Grant and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League scoring leader Chris Di Domenico aren't the only members of the Saint John Sea Dogs being groomed for bigger and better things.
Jim Midgley is too.
Midgley is the primary assistant coach for head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu and in a way, he's in the same boat as the players.
Midgley, who will turn 30 in early March, is in his first season with the Sea Dogs after four years as a full-time assistant with the Acadia University Axemen of the Atlantic Universities Hockey Conference.
The former forward with the Ontario Hockey League's North Bay Centennials and Belleville Bulls makes no bones about it ... He wants to be a head coach in the QMJHL one day. But that doesn't mean he's gunning for his boss's job.
"I love it," he said of his adopted home and new job. "I want to become a head coach some day but right now I'm here to learn. The difference between this level and the university level is there is a lot more teaching and coaching at this level, which I enjoy. There is a lot of responsibility for us as a coaching staff, making sure the kids are going to school, eating properly and [abiding by] curfews and stuff like that."
While the Sea Dogs hold down first place in the Eastern Division and fourth overall with a record of 26 wins 12 regulation losses, one overtime loss and two shootout losses for 55 points, Midgley has barely had enough time to enjoy the view from the top.
He was married over the summer and he and his wife Maryelle (Hannam) now live on the campus of Rothesay Netherwood School, where Maryelle serves as coach of the girls hockey team. She is a former varsity player at Dalhousie University and a member of the N.S. provincial team. She was also a varsity swimmer at Dal.
Midgley, a native of Townsend, Ont., played four years in the OHL and another four years at Saint Mary's University in Halifax. His competitive playing career ended after one professional season with the Fort Worth Brahmas of the Central Hockey League in 2002-03.
He got his coaching feet wet the following season after hearing head coach Darren Burns was looking for an assistant at Acadia. Burns was an assistant when Midgley played at SMU.
Midgley's road to Saint John is another story of hockey's small world.
He was in the Port City last winter on a recruiting trip for Acadia to try and lure Saint John team captain David MacDonald to Wolfville, N.S. He was introduced to Beaulieu by part-time Sea Dogs assistant Mike Dawson. Midgley and Dawson were teammates at Saint Mary's. (Dawson has since moved to Ontario.)
Soon after, full-time assistant coach Dwayne Blais told Beaulieu he wouldn't be returning the following season, which opened the door for Midgley.
"He's been a great help," said Beaulieu. "It takes a big load off for me when I travel for scouting. He's got a good hockey mind and he knows how to run a good practice. He respects my knowledge, he wants to learn and he asks a lot of questions."
Beaulieu said he sees some similarities between him and his protege from Beaulieu's early years in the business with the London Knights of the OHL.
"I might be a little more fiery, but technically I think we're a lot alike."
Beaulieu and Midgley are both under contract through the 2009-10, which brings stability to the dressing room.
"We didn't want it to be a revolving door," said Beaulieu. "Players need continuity."
"I think we're both defensive-minded, first," said Midgley. "That's how you win and with our kids on the back end, it's a pretty easy bunch to coach back there. We're a good hockey team but not only are they good players, they're a good bunch of kids as well. We haven't had any issues."
Saint John's defensive unit is among the tops in the league with Grant leading the way, along with former first overall picks Yann Sauve and Simon Despres.
Midgley admits that he's a bit of a go-between for the players and the coach but it's not quite a good-cop, bad-cop situation.
"The thing I like most about the situation is that I get to run the D (defence corps)," said Midgley. "Jacques gives me responsibility and he's not afraid to delegate. He uses my knowledge. It's a really good setup."
While Midgley has his sights set on a life in pro hockey, he's not about to rush things.
Beaulieu thinks that's wise.
"The process for a coach is no different than a player and Jim knows that. "You have to put your time in."
And so the grooming continues.
* Whether the Sea Dogs hold on to their No. 10 ranking in the national poll is too close to call. The Sea Dogs are coming off a pair of losses in St. John's to the Fog Devils on Saturday and Sunday and saw their winning percentage drop to .634, which is still second best in the circuit.
* Sea Dogs forward Chris Di Domenico was held off the scoresheet for those losses but continues to lead the league in points with 29 goals and 34 assists for 63 points, one more than Francis Pare of Chicoutimi.
* Saint John is back in action on Wednesday when the Acadie-Bathurst Titan come to town for a 7 p.m. start at Harbour Station. The last time the two teams met, the Sea Dogs pounded the Titan 9-2 at the K.C. Irving Regional Centre on Dec. 28.
