Gerard Gallant has won the Canadian Hockey League's coach of the year award after guiding the Saint John Sea Dogs to a franchise record of 53 wins.

Gallant, who received the award Saturday night in Brandon, Man., was in his first year of coaching in the QMJHL and was behind the bench as the Sea Dogs led the league with 109 points.

A former National Hockey League player and coach, Gallant said his role as head coach includes more than what fans see on the ice.

"With our job, we go to the rink and we try to prepare the team as best we can to play hockey," he said.

"But we also have to realize these kids go to school and have other things going on. So we try to be fair with them and have a lot of fun with them."

Gallant was nominated for the CHL's top coaching award after being named coach of the year for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

'Great group of kids'

He said it was a new challenge to motivate the players, ranging in age from 16 to 20.

"We got to make sure they're doing the right things off the ice, they're living away from their families so there's a little bit of babysitting involved in making sure they're doing the right thing," he said.

"We got to make sure they're in for their curfews and make sure they're eating right, So most of these kids are from away and last year I had a great group of kids and there were very few issues so it was a lot of fun."

The Sea Dogs won the QMJHL's Atlantic division, before losing out to their cross-province rivals, the Moncton Wildcats, in the league championship series on May 10.

Mike Hoffman of the Saint John Sea Dogs lost in his bid to become the CHL's top player. That award went to Jordan Eberle of the Regina Pats.