Montreal Canadiens executive vice president and general manager Marc Bergevin announced today the appointment of Sylvain Lefebvre as head coach of the Hamilton Bulldogs in the American Hockey League.
Clement Jodoin, who completed in 2011-12 his first season as the Bulldogs head coach, will meet Michel Therrien for a position of assistant coach with the Canadiens.
A native of Richmond, Que., Lefebvre enjoyed a 14-year playing career in the NHL suiting up for five teams, including the Canadiens in his first three seasons from 1989-92. Lefebvre played 945 career NHL games totaling 184 points (30 goals, 154 assists), 674 penalty minutes and a plus-108 plus/minus differential.
Lefebvre also participated in 129 playoff contests, recording 18 points (four goals, 14 assists) and 101 penalty minutes. The defenseman won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 1996.
Lefebvre, 44, spent the past five seasons with the Avalanche organization, including the last three (2009-12) as an assistant to head coach Joe Sacco. He previously had similar duties with the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters in 2007-08 and 2008-09. Lefebvre becomes the 11th head coach in Hamilton Bulldogs history, succeeding Jodoin (2011-12), Randy Cunneyworth (2010-11), Guy Boucher (2009-10), Ron Wilson (2008-09), Don Lever (2005-09), Doug Jarvis (2003-05), Geoff Ward (2002-03), Claude Julien (2000-03), Walt Kyle (1998-2000) and Lorne Molleken (1996-98).
Lefebvre made his pro debut with the AHL’s Sherbrooke Canadiens during the 1987 Calder Cup Playoffs and spent two full seasons in Sherbrooke before making it to the NHL in 1989-90. He also had a stint with the Hartford Wolf Pack in 2001-02, appearing in 15 games.
