If there were any doubts, they are gone now. Patrick Roy is the new head coach of the Colorado Avalanche.
The Avs announced Thursday that Roy will be the sixth head coach in club history, and Roy will also serve as vice president of hockey operations. He’ll work closely with former Avalanche teammate Joe Sakic, who is serving as the club’s executive vice president of hockey operations.
“This is an unbelievable day for me,” Roy said in a release from the club. “It’s a new and exciting challenge that I am really looking forward to. I would like to thank Stan and Josh Kroenke for this opportunity as well as Joe Sakic for the trust they are putting in me. Almost 10 years to the day that I announced my retirement as a player, I am back in Denver and hope the fans are as excited as I am.”
Roy has no NHL head coaching experience, but he did spend the last eight seasons as head coach of the Quebec Ramparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Roy also served as general manager for the Ramparts. Quebec went 348-196 under Roy and won the Memorial Cup in 2006.
“All along Patrick was our top candidate, and we are thrilled that he has decided to accept this offer,” Sakic said. “Patrick has a great hockey mind, is a tremendous coach and there is no one more passionate about this game. He will bring that winning attitude to our dressing room to help this young team grow.”
The Hall of Fame goaltender played seven-plus seasons with the Avalanche, where he won two Stanley Cups.
