The Edmundston Blizzard hockey group. From left to right, Steve MacPherson, general manager, Ryan Salvis, head coach, Daniel Gagné, vice-president of hockey operations, André Mercure, assistant to the vice-president of hockey operations, Mathieu Martin, assistant coach, and André Lebel, chairman of the board.
The positions of general manager, head coach and head scout will be fulfilled by former members of the Dieppe Commandos hockey management.
Steve MacPherson will act as general manager, Ryan Salvis as head coach and Michel Gauvin as head scout.
“We are very pleased to be able to count on the return of these three experienced guys within the new organization. It will be a great way to continue the excellent work they have done in Dieppe. And they have already rolled up their sleeves to lay a solid foundation for our new hockey team in Edmundston”, said Daniel Gagné, Blizzard vice-president of hockey operations.
After two seasons in the MHL in 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 with the Moncton Gagnon Beavers and the Amherst Ramblers, MacPherson continued his hockey career on the university scene with the St. Thomas Tommies. He subsequently swapped his player’s jersey for the coach and general manager uniform since the 2009-2010 season. He joined the Dieppe Commandos in 2014-15 as an assistant general manager, a dream season for the Southeast team that won the Kent Cup (MHL championship). The following year he became the team’s general manager.
Ryan Salvis played four seasons with the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League as left winger from 2001-2002 to 2004-2005. He also played for St. Francis Xavier X-Men of the Atlantic University Sport. In addition, he has spent seven season with professional teams in the ECHL, CHL and SPHL. Over the past two campaigns, he has played for senior teams (Bouctouche and Corner Brook, Newfoundland). He was known for his talented offensive play.
In 2016-2017, Salvis was co-head coach of the Commandos.
In addition, Michel Gauvin has been working as a hockey scout for over 10 years. In 2004-2005, he joined the Moncton Beavers, which became the Dieppe Commandos in 2008-2009. He held various positions during these years, being assistant general manager, general manager and head scout. Since 2009, Michel is acting as a scout in the Atlantic Provinces for the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
The Edmundston Blizzard is preparing for the MHL annual meeting to be held in Miramichi from June 8 to 10 and where the midget players draft will take place.
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Source : Hugues Chiasson, Communications vice-president – Edmundston Blizzard; 506 740-0623 – cell phone)