Coaching Announcement

Coaching Announcement

May 13, 2026 – The Chaleur Lightning Hockey Club announces that Head Coach Matt Wright will not be returning for the 2026–2027 season.

For family reasons, Coach Wright has decided to remain in Fredericton for the upcoming year. While we are disappointed by his departure, we are grateful for the leadership and direction he provided during our inaugural season, during which the team thrived under his guidance.

Although Coach Wright experienced medical issues that required him to miss six weeks of the season, he returned and seamlessly resumed his responsibilities. Coach Wright will continue to be involved with the organization in other capacities, including scouting and player development, and will continue supporting youth hockey in the Chaleur Region through his leadership role with Champions Hockey (Fredericton).

On behalf of the ownership group and staff, we thank Matt for his contributions to Season One and wish him continued success.

As Matt steps away from the role, we are pleased to announce that the team’s Associate Coach, Francis Rochon, who served with the club during its inaugural season, will assume the role of Head Coach.

We are confident this will be a smooth transition, and we know players and fans will welcome Francis in this role, given the important contributions he has made to the growth of the Northern Moose U18 program.

“I am excited to step into this new role. Our first season built a strong foundation with a great group of young men who demonstrated both strong character and hockey ability, which made this decision much easier. Our family will be busy, and we look forward to growing with the team in the place we call home.” — Francis Rochon

“As we work through this transition, the team will also be hiring a new Associate Coach to work alongside Francis and continue being there for the players at all times. Staff are working toward this goal and expect to have something in place quickly.” — Roger Shannon

Roger Shannon

Roger Shannon
President, Chaleur Lightning Hockey Club