Since Jean-François Houle’s sudden departure to the NCAA, the search for the next Laval Rocket head coach has been ongoing. Pascal Vincent will lead the Montreal Canadiens’ farm club as the team prepares for a key development season in its rebuild.
Vincent was most recently assigned the awful duty of coaching the Columbus Blue Jackets, a position that was doomed from the start. Vincent was put in a position to take over following Mike Babcock’s brief tenure in Columbus, and with Jarmo Kekalainen ousted mid-season as general manager, the writing was on the wall for Vincent before he even had a chance to make an impression as a head coach.
Prior to that, he spent five full seasons as the head coach of the Manitoba Moose, the Winnipeg Jets’ AHL affiliate. He has been coaching professionally since 2011-12, serving as an assistant coach with the Jets for five seasons until taking over the AHL bench.
The Canadiens’ rookie camp will take place in September, and the new AHL coach will almost certainly be in attendance. Following that, the Rocket will run their own camp with the Canadiens’ released players before opening the season on the road against the Providence Bruins on October 11.
The Canadiens’ rookie camp will take place in September, and the new AHL coach will almost certainly be in attendance. Following that, the Rocket will run their own camp with the Canadiens’ released players before opening the season on the road against the Providence Bruins on October 11.
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Samuel Montembeault is feted in his hometown.
Montreal Canadiens News and Notes
Samuel Montembeault will be the first thing visitors to Sainte-Gertrude see, since he is now displayed on the region’s welcome sign. [Radio-Canada]
A video report about his celebration in his hometown of Bécancour. [Radio-Canada]
Ivan Demidov is attending SKA’s development camp this week:
Ilya Kovalchuk is next in the list of former Russian Habs players. [A Winning Habit].
Around the league and abroad.
An overview of what the Columbus Blue Jackets have been up to this offseason. [NHL.com]
Zeev Buium has already experienced the thrill of victory at Minnesota’s Xcel Energy Center. [NHL.com]
The NHL organized a combine for European officials. [NHL.com]
The Carolina Hurricanes signed Dominik Badinka, a 2024 second-round pick, to an entry-level contract. [Sportsnet]
The Hurricanes also signed defenseman Joakim Ryan to a two-way deal. [Sportsnet]
Egypt is using hockey to help the country’s displaced and orphaned children. [NHL.com]
