Cape Breton Eagles get an early start on search for new head coach
QMJHL team has already received more than 20 resumés without advertising
The Cape Breton Eagles say they are not worried about next season after the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League team lost its fourth head coach in the past six seasons.
They've already received more than 20 resumés and some of the applicants have plenty of experience.
Head coach Louis Robitaille quit on Monday after 14 seasons in the QMJHL — the last two with the Eagles — to take a job with the Omskie Krylia in Russia.
Eagles owner Irwin Simon said others left due to the pandemic or for family or other reasons.
"Some of it is … just timing, bad luck, personal reasons, but it's not like every coach that came here we fired and they didn't want to be here," he said Thursday, following a live Facebook update for the community and fans.
"I think if you put those four or five together, we never had 20 applicants altogether for any of those, so it shows you how people believe in Cape Breton and the Eagles today, which is great to see, and this is only our second [or] third day into it."
General manager Sylvain Couturier said at least one applicant has experience in the American Hockey League and the National Hockey League.
"Having that many people that want to come here, and the quality of the people that want to come here, gives me the confidence ... that we're going to get the right one and we're going to have a good one, too."
The league draft is June 4-5, but Couturier said he's in no rush to hire a new head coach before then.
Both he and Simon wished Robitaille the best in his new role, calling it a step up.
Earlier this week, Robitaille told CBC's Mainstreet Cape Breton he is moving to Russia this summer, but his family will stay behind in Cape Breton.
Robitaille said it will require a number of adjustments, not only because of the language, but he's leaving behind a youth developmental league to coach in the professional ranks.
There will be some culture shock, but he said he's looking forward to it.
Omsk is "right in the middle of Russia, in Siberia," Robitaille said.
"It's the fourth biggest city in Russia, but it's in the middle of the country, right above Kazakhstan, but like I said it's a big city with a lot of culture."
Omskie Krylia is in the All-Russian Hockey League, which is the feeder for the Kontinental Hockey League, the highest league in that country.
The league is "basically the American [Hockey] League over there," Robitaille said. "It's a pro league and … my role will consist not only to be with that team, but I will be part of the KHL team, which is the NHL of Russia."
Robitaille was hired in the summer of 2023 and coached the Eagles to a record of 72-49-5-5.
The Eagles ended the 2025 season ninth in the 18-team league with a record of 34-23-4-3. They were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
Couturier said he has a core of good players returning next season and he hopes to have a new head coach by July 1.
Simon said he was disappointed with last season, but the franchise is solid, making it an attractive place for a head coach to land.
Team seeks arena improvements
In the meantime, Simon was meeting this week with officials from the Cape Breton Regional Municipality to pitch the need for arena improvements.
It was built nearly 40 years ago and needs new seats and improvements to the concession area, entrances, dressing rooms and training centre, Simon said.
The team brings up to $8 million into the local economy every year, but the arena needs upgrades not just for hockey, he said.
"Centre 200 should be about athletics, arts, bringing community together, doing things here and I think as a building, it ultimately needs a facelift," Simon said.
CBRM Mayor Cecil Clarke has said Centre 200 is one of several major projects that need funding and he expects it'll be on a list of priorities for council to discuss this fall.
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With files from Mainstreet Cape Breton
