Monsters name Ladouceur assistant coach

The Lake Erie Monsters have added valuable National Hockey League experience for the upcoming 2013-14 American Hockey League season in the form of new assistant coach Randy Ladouceur, the team announced Tuesday.

The former defenseman has almost 25 years of combined NHL experience between playing and coaching.

Ladouceur joins the staff of Monsters head coach Dean Chynoweth, himself a former NHL player and NHL assistant coach.

Since retiring from playing in 1996, Ladouceur served as an assistant coach with four NHL franchises for 10 overall seasons, most recently the Montreal Canadiens in 2011-12. Prior to that he was with the Toronto Maple Leafs for two seasons (2006-08), the Carolina Hurricanes for seven (1997-2004) and the Hartford Whalers for one (1996-97). Ladouceur also spent time coaching in the AHL (Hamilton Bulldogs, 2010-11) and the Ontario Hockey League.

An undrafted defenseman out of Brockville, Ont., Ladouceur played 930 games over 14 seasons in the NHL with Detroit, Hartford and Anaheim from 1982-96.

"We are extremely excited to add a coach to our staff that has the highest professional level of both playing and coaching experience that Randy has,” said Chynoweth. “His wealth of knowledge will be an asset in the development of our young players."

With the addition of Ladouceur, David Oliver will return to solely focusing on his original role of director of AHL operations. Having been with the Monsters since the team’s inception in 2007, Oliver had served as an assistant coach the last two seasons along with his management duties.

Jock Callander will return to the bench for his second season as assistant coach under Chynoweth, and the Monsters have also added goaltending coach Jean-Ian Filiatrault to the staff. The former goalie played collegiately at St. Laurent University followed by a 10-year professional career.