Per New Tecumseth Civics:

The New Tecumseth Civics are very proud to announce that Head Coach and General Manager Dennis Martindale has been hired on by the Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) as an Assistant Coach for the upcoming 2020-2021 season.

Martindale, who just completed his 3rd year as Head Coach of the Civics and 4th year coaching junior hockey in Canada, joined the Civics in 2017 following a lengthy professional career where he played 14 years in Germany, France and Quebec.

He will join a Titan staff that is looking to compete this year following a pair of underwhelming seasons from 2018-2020, however they also won a Presidents Cup in 2017-2018 as the QMJHL Champions and proceeded to win the National Major Junior Championship in the Memorial Cup the same season. The franchise has seen NHL Superstars such as Patrice Bergeron and Roberto Luongo play for them in the past.

Martindale led the Civics to a 25-15-2 record which was a 1 point improvement over last season’s record, the most impressive stretch of this record being a 13-4 start to the season. Martindale’s coaching, which was done primarily solo on the bench, was a huge reason for the improvement of not only his team but also his players. The Leading scorer on the Civics Riley Nadeau scored the first 100 point season in franchise history an improvement of 36 points from his first season with Martindale and the Civics. Martindale was named North Division Coach of the Year this season after finishing as the runner-up for the Coach of the Year award during the 2018-2019 season.

Martindale thinks back on his time with the Civics with good memories and the following thanks, “„I would like to thank Igor and Nikita, they run a great junior program, It‘s a top program in the league and they treat their players very well. I would also like to thank JR for all his hard work and dedication to the Civics, it wouldn’t work without him and he is ready to take the next step. Finally thanks to all the players I’ve coached over the years, it’s been fun. I‘m excited for the next chapter of my coaching career, but I will definitely be following New Tec this season, Joe is a great hockey coach so they‘re in good hands“

Under Martindale the Civics finished this past season winning 5 of the 9 Individual GMHL Awards for only the second time in the history of the league. They lost to the Bradford Rattlers in the playoffs before the remainder of the playoffs was not completed.

Civics GM Jordan Richardson, who worked under Martindale as Assistant GM for 2 years, had nothing but great things to say about Dennis,” I am really excited to see this opportunity come forward for Dennis, we spent a lot of time together the past 3 seasons and I saw his work ethic and passion for the game shine through in so many different ways. If anyone deserves to be moving on and having a chance like this it is Dennis. He is not only a great Coach but a great person and I know he is going to do awesome in Acadie-Bathurst.”

Martindale also represented the Civics at the GMHL All-Star Game coaching team North Pro to a victory.

Civics Owner and President Nikita Vasilyev was thankful for having had Dennis as the bench boss for the last 3 seasons. “Thank you for 3 years Dennis, you were a great coach both on and off the ice, it was very nice working with you, I wish you all the best with your new team and I support you as a friend with your new opportunity and I look forward to staying in touch and following Acadie-Bathurst this season.”

In addition to his management and coaching Martindale also has helped players advance to higher levels using the connections he made while playing professionally and at the College and Junior levels in Canada.

The Civics would like to wish you the best of luck Dennis, it has been a pleasure to watch you become the most decorated coach in New Tecumseth Civics and Alliston Coyotes franchise history, best of luck in the QMJHL!