2024 – Assistant coach of the Laval Rocket

(Joliette) From Boisbriand to Syracuse, via Laval and San Diego, Joël Bouchard and Daniel Jacob have worked hand in hand. “Daniel is my friend, my coach, I love him,” Bouchard enthused, when we met on Thursday at the Dominique Ducharme Golf Classic.

However, after 10 years, this collaboration has come to an end. Jacob has indeed left his position as Bouchard’s assistant in Syracuse to return to Quebec. He returns to the Rocket as an assistant, a position he held from 2018 to 2021. Except that the head coach will now be Pascal Vincent, and not Bouchard.

Jacob has not spoken to the media since his appointment and it seems that will remain the case until training camp. In the meantime, Bouchard gave some details about his good friend’s decision.

“I lose a big piece,” Bouchard said. “Except that I understand his family situation so well. His wife Danica, his friend Teo, I love them very much. I have known Teo my whole life. The family situation will always take priority. It was done with love and understanding.”

Bouchard doesn’t hold a grudge because Jacob made his decision “for the right reasons.” “I’ve seen Daniel leave his family, jump in the car in the early hours of the morning, go to his friend’s practice, go to his wife’s. I’ve seen his wife jump in the car to see him in Syracuse. Hockey is very demanding and I want Dan and his family to be happy.”

“He’ll be working with Pascal, he’s being pampered, he’s a first-class coach. I’ll be working with JD Forrest, who’s been coaching in the American League for years. I’ll be learning new things.”

Jacob’s decision was clearly a difficult one, but Bouchard remembered the wise words of Lou Lamoriello. “He once said to me, ‘You know why they call them tough decisions? Because they’re often the only decisions you can make.’”

Bouchard thanked Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois and the Canadiens. “To act so quickly to make life easier for everyone and help a family is extraordinary,” the hockey man said.

Bouchard will return to the helm next fall for a second season at the helm of the Crunch, whose first campaign ended with a quarterfinal exit from the Calder Cup playoffs.

“Julien (BriseBois) likes to say he’s lucky, but he’s competent and it’s no coincidence that he’s won the Cup two years in a row. I already knew the whole gang, but working with them has exceeded my expectations. The communication is good, they have a plan, we take care of our own business. I was there because it spoke to me, not because I felt obliged to coach.”