Friday, June 15, 2012

MONTREAL CANADIENS HIRE GERARD GALLANT AS ASSISTANT COACH

Press Release

SAINT JOHN, NB – Saint John Sea Dogs Head Coach Gerard Gallant has been named an Assistant Coach to the Montreal Canadiens organisation.

A native of Summerside, P.E.I., Gallant has been Head Coach of the Sea Dogs since 2009 when he was named the third Head Coach in that franchise’s history. Gallant maintained the best winning percentage ( ,791 | 159 wins in 209 games) in QMJHL history. He led the team to three Jean-Rougeau trophies, awarded to the regular season champions, two President Cups (2011 and 2012) and a Memorial Cup (2011).

“We are thrilled for Gerard,” said Sea Dogs President Wayne Long. “It’s a great day for him and our organization. We knew this day would come when Gerard would return to the next step. He has been a leader to the Sea Dogs organization and we wish him the best in the National Hockey League with the Montreal Canadiens.

Prior to joining the Sea Dogs, Gallant served as an NHL assistant coach with the New York Islanders during the 2007-08 season. He also spent seven years on the coaching staff of the Columbus Blue Jackets, serving as the team’s head coach from Jan. 1, 2004 to Nov. 13, 2006. Gallant was behind the bench as an assistant coach with Team Canada at the 2007 IIHF World Championships in Russia, capturing gold at the tournament.

Before joining the Blue Jackets, Gerard was an assistant coach with the American Hockey League’s Louisville Panthers (1999-2000) and led the Summerside Western Capitals to a Kent Cup Championship in 1997 as the MJAHL team’s head coach. During a highly-successful playing career, Gallant appeared in 615 games in the NHL as a member of the Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning, tallying 211G-269A-480P-1674PIM over the course of eleven seasons. Originally selected by Detroit in the sixth round (107th overall) of the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, Gallant enjoyed a standout major junior career with the Sherbrooke/St. Jean Beavers and Verdun Juniors, recording 129G-192A-321P-724PIM during his three-year run in the QMJHL. Gallant also led Sherbrooke to a President’s Cup Championship in 1982, contributing 14G-24A-38P to the Beavers’ playoff drive that year.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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