2023-08-01 21:05:11
Bob Hartley holds the 27th edition of his hockey school in Drummondville. Among all of Hartley’s guests is his good friend and new assistant with the Golden Knights Dominique Ducharme who commented on the low number of French-speaking coaches in the NHL.
If we exclude the Canadiens, who count on Martin St-Louis, Alexandre Burrows and Stéphane Robidas behind the bench, there are only a total of nine head coaches or assistants behind an NHL bench. Among them, Dominique Ducharme who will assist Bruce Cassidy with the Vegas Golden Knights.
“We are in our generation, admitted Ducharme. Before, there was Alain Vigneault, Michel Therrien and Bob Hartley. Now, there is Pascal Vincent, André Tourisgny, etc. These are guys we worked with or faced. It would be even better if we could have 15.”
“Our daily life is done in French through the QMJHL and the Montreal Canadiens,” summarized Hartley. When you follow the Canadiens, you follow the National League. »
As much the case of Hartley earlier in his career as Ducharme last winter, the two coaches say they have redoubled their efforts to make sure they come back behind a better equipped bench than the previous time. »
“I watched hockey everywhere and not just in the National League,” added Ducharme. In Europe and at all levels. It’s good to take a step back and see what’s happening elsewhere too. »
“We don’t look at a game the same way, because we analyze it,” Hartley said. When I wanted to be a coach, I tried new ways of coaching or operating a bench. »
Hartley hasn’t coached in the NHL since the 2015-2016 season and despite everything, he still answers the phone to listen to confidences or give advice to the youngest coaches. “I am an old coach. There are many young coaches who call me. I spoke to Benoit Groulx a few weeks ago who asked me for advice or shared certain emotions with me. »
The relationship between Hartley and Ducharme dates back to the 90-91 season when Hartley managed Ducharme with the Hawkesbury Hawks. Ducharme then coached Hartley’s son, Steve, while he was a AAA level goaltender with the Action de Joliette in 2005-2006.
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