The Halifax Mooseheads have lost director of scouting Sylvain Brunelle to resignation less than four months away from a draft that is pivotal in their rebuilding process.
Brunelle, from St-Eustache, Que., has stepped down after four years at the helm. He was originally hired by former general manager Marcel Patenaude and didn’t want to stay on after his close friend was fired last month.
Scouting administration director Yvon Gasse also resigned.
Mooseheads owner Bobby Smith said consultant Bob (Tipper) Leblanc will work with chief Quebec scout Jean-Marc Blouin to handle Brunelle’s responsibilities.
“I feel we will not have our scouting effort impaired at all for this year — we won’t miss a beat,” Smith said. “Things are extremely well covered between Tipper and Jean-Marc.”
The remainder of the scouting staff is staying put, Smith said.
• The Mooseheads took a big step away from making the QMJHL playoffs on a weekend road trip to Quebec.
After losses to the Val-d’Or Foreurs, 6-2 on Friday, and the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, 3-0 on Saturday, the Mooseheads (13-32-5) are last in the league by four points.
“It’s a quiet bus right now,” Mooseheads head coach Cam Russell said. “There’s obviously a lot of disappointment, but we’ve got to approach each game like it’s Game 7.”
They are six points behind Lewiston for a playoff spot, but they have three games in hand.
They’ll try to make up ground tonight at 8 p.m. against the Montreal Junior. There are 18 games left in the regular season.
“Our goal is to make the playoffs,” Russell said. “Three wins and we’re in a spot, so there’s still an opportunity.”
• Travis Randell (sprained ankle) missed both weekend games and is listed as day-to-day. The 17-year-old forward may not be ready to return to action tonight in Montreal.
