QMJHL Brings About Numerous Coaching Changes

Yesterday multiple personel moves were made in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Two coachs moved up to pro leagues, and a team named a new general manager. All in all a very interesting day for the coaches of the QMJHL.

First, Eric Veilleux, one of the more entertaining coachs in the QMJHL, left the Baie-Comeau Drakkar to be an assistant coach with the Norfolk Admirals. The 42-year old joins the Admirals with almost nine full seasons of head coaching experience in the Quebec Major Juinor Hockey League between the Shawinigan Cataractes and Drakkar.

Veilleux won the Mastercard Memorial Cup as head coach of the Cataractes in 2012, before leaving the team to become the head coach in Baie-Comeau. He lead the Drakkar to two consecutive President’s Cup final appearances.

The second move of the day was probably the most interesting. Yannick Jean, who was fired as head coach of the Victoriaville Tigres just four months ago, was named the Tigres new general manager after former GM Jerome Mesonero took a scouting job with the Colorado Avalanche.

Yannick Jean was named head coach of Victoriaville at age 31, mid-way through the 2007-08 season replacing Martin Bernard after serving as head coach of the P.E.I. Rocket the last two seasons. With 425 regular season games coached along with 229 victories, he currently holds the coaching records for the Tigres franchise.

The team’s website has stated that Jean will be introduced to the public in his new role in a press conference to be held at 10:30 a.m. EST on Friday, July 25. The location will be the Colisée Desjardins and will be open to the media.