Rocket's Jean-François Houle strengthening his teaching resumé

Article content material

As the pinnacle coach of the AHL’s Laval Rocket, Jean-François Houle’s mandate is to develop gamers, getting these with probably the most expertise able to play on the NHL stage, ideally for the Canadiens.

Article content material

And Houle, 48, has delivered in his two seasons behind the Rocket bench. This previous yr alone, attributable to accidents, there was a continuing shuttle between Laval and Montreal, with gamers like Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, Justin Barron, Jesse Ylönen, Alex Belzile and Anthony Richard all contributing to the Canadiens.

Article content material

Regardless of taking part in with a roster that was vulnerable to important adjustments all through the season, Houle was in a position to get this group to bond and succeed, Laval securing the North Division’s fifth and ultimate playoff spot by profitable eight of its ultimate 9 video games earlier than the group was swept by Utica in its best-of-three quarterfinal collection.

Houle was a marginal participant at greatest, chosen within the fourth spherical (99th total) by the Canadiens in 1993 — two years earlier than his father, Réjean, was named Montreal’s basic supervisor. He by no means performed a recreation for Montreal, his profession spent within the AHL and ECHL.

Article content material

Article content material

However Houle has spent 20 years within the teaching ranks and might be able to make the leap to the NHL.

“One step away,” he stated final Saturday, in the course of the Rocket’s season-ending media availability at Place Bell.

Houle stays below contract to the Rocket for yet one more season, and was by no means lobbying for an NHL job. Nevertheless it’s clear that teaching is in his blood, and a transfer to the NHL seems inevitable in some unspecified time in the future.

One group to keep watch over can be Edmonton, the place Jay Woodcroft is the Oilers’ head coach. Woodcroft is a former head coach at AHL Bakersfield, and Houle was one in every of his Condors assistants earlier than transferring to Laval.

When Houle was employed by Laval, Woodcroft gave him a glowing endorsement, calling him “passionate and constant.

Article content material

“He’s somebody who has an important rapport with the gamers, his fellow coaches, the gear and coaching staffs,” Woodcroft added. “It’s with nice satisfaction that we had been in a position to assist in his skilled improvement and transfer him up the teaching ladder. Very similar to we need to develop younger hockey gamers and assist them obtain their desires, we additionally take the accountability of growing all of our folks very critically.”

Whereas Houle didn’t tip his hand, he didn’t masks his want to ultimately make the leap.

“The AHL to the NHL may be very shut,” he stated. “I’ve garnered fairly a little bit of expertise within the final 10-15 years, being in professional and junior. You’re constantly studying from completely different folks. I study from the gamers lots, attempt to talk as greatest I can with gamers and choose their brains. It’s a enjoyable however demanding job.

Article content material

“All of the experiences as a coach, you at all times develop from it and study lots from it.” Houle added. “I’m not an ideal coach. I make a whole lot of errors however study from it. It’s a problem yearly. Within the AHL, you by no means know what you’re going to get. The Montreal Canadiens had probably the most man-games misplaced (751). It was one of many worst years, and that instantly impacts us. We handled that fairly good. That’s one other expertise it’s a must to undergo. Each expertise makes you a greater coach.”

Whereas it’s untimely to challenge what the total Rocket roster will appear to be subsequent season, it should most likely be a younger squad, with prospects like Riley Kidney and Joshua Roy most likely being added. Canadiens administration may additionally resolve late-season NCAA addition Sean Farrell may use some grooming within the AHL.

Article content material

However moderately than look forward, Houle was extra on what the Rocket completed with its late-season run.

“We needed to win eight of 9, and that was fairly arduous to do,” he stated. “I used to be happy with the hassle. That’s what I’m going to recollect. Each second of each recreation was so vital the final month. It was a enjoyable trip whereas it lasted.”

[email protected]

twitter.com/HerbZurkowsky1