The St. Paul Jr. B Canadiens have received the 2018-19 season schedule, and it kicks off with a familiar opponent.
On Sept. 28 the Habs will take to the Clancy Richard Arena to open their season against the Cold Lake Ice, the same team and location where the Canadiens saw a Game 7 overtime loss that ended the 2017-18 season, after owning a 3-1 series lead.
Returning Canadiens head coach Joe Young says it's only fitting to start the year against the same team they ended the previous season.
"I don't think we could have started off the season against a better opponent, especially with the hell of a playoff series last year," he said.
The boys will then face Wainwright Bisons twice in the next four games. The Bisons are once again the defending NEAJBHL champions, and are poised to have a dominate team once more.
Young agreed the early season will be a challenge, but a good time to gauge where the Canadiens are at.
"It will be a good test for us at the start. We got a veteran team coming back. A lot of the guys now are entering their second, third or fourth year so we have lots of leadership. It's going to be a good measuring stick for us playing Wainwright right off the get-go and seeing where they're at and seeing where we're at."
No players on last year's Canadiens roster aged-out, so Young anticipates many familiar faces will return to the roster. St. Paul finished in third place after posting a 21-12-1-2 record last season.
Young added that one change that will be seen in the locker room is the absence of former assistant coach Travis Rolheiser, who has left the team as a result of moving to Edmonton. Rolheiser spent three years with the team as a coach.
Taking his place is another familiar St. Paul face. Shawn Germain, who helped out with the Canadiens at times the last few seasons, will now join the club as a full-time assistant coach, alongside Young and returning assistant coach Corey deMoissac.
Germain played four full seasons in the ECHL with the Ontario Reign. The 2010-11 season was his final season with the Reign. He played one game in the AHL for the Hershey Bears in 2006-07.
"I'm excited to step in officially and help out the program that I used to play for...and hopefully bring a championship back to St. Paul," Germain said.
"I know the guys I worked with last year were a really good group, really wanted to be there. I think we can get better in a lot of areas and I'm excited to maybe help make the difference."
Germain said his coaching philosophy leans toward what his own play style was.
"I was a defensive player when I played so I always kind of fall on the defensive side of the puck first, I think it can win a championship."
"Obviously with the game changing the way it has, speed's become the ultimate thing. If you can't skate you can't play at a high level. I think speed and a defence first mentality will be what puts us over the top."
Game times and dates subject to change
