The Oceanic dismisses Serge Beausoleil

DAY

RIMOUSKI | A dramatic turn of events this Monday at the end of the day when the Rimouski Océanic confirmed the dismissal of its managing director and head coach, Serge Beausoleil. 

According to our information, the announcement was to be made during the team's report on Tuesday morning, but the information leaked Monday at the end of the day. The Océanic organization confirmed the news in a press release, but it will answer questions from the press only on Tuesday morning.

Serge Beausoleil had been behind the Océanic bench for 12 years

The co-owner and chairman of the board of directors, Alexandre Tanguay made this statement via the press release. “I would like to personally thank Serge Beausoleil for his involvement with our organization for more than 12 years now. Hard worker, unparalleled competitor and passionate as there are few, Serge will have made his mark in the history of our team as very few people have done before. However, after all these years, I felt that our hockey department needed a new direction for the future.”

He took over from Clément Jodoin

Serge Beausoleil was named head coach of the Océanic before the 2011-12 season. He then succeeded Clément Jodoin, who had replaced Doris Labonté. Arrived in Rimouski at the same time as Philippe Boucher, he replaced him a year later as general manager when he left for the Quebec Remparts.

Serge Beausoleil has a career record of 426 wins and 399 losses behind the Océanic bench. He reached the QMJHL final in his first season to everyone's surprise. He won the President Cup in 2015. He seemed to be in good shape after causing upsets by eliminating the Shawinigan Cataractes and the Saint John Sea Dogs the past two seasons. Under his rule, the Océanic never missed the playoffs.

Serge Beausoleil congratulated his counterpart from the Remparts, Patrick Roy, after his team were eliminated last Wednesday.

Serge Beausoleil won the title of General Manager of the Year in 2018. The native of Val-Bélair will have imbued the Océanic with an identity that was recognized by everyone in the QMJHL.

Dany Dupont assumes the interim

The Océanic is giving itself the next few weeks to analyze and structure the new direction of its hockey department. Until further notice, Danny Dupont will act as interim general manager.

It's no secret that the Océanic will be in the running for the presentation of the Memorial Cup in 2025. He looks like the team owners wanted a change in the direction of their hockey department.