Former Habs Coach Therrien Takes the Helm for Canada at Spengler Cup
Michel Therrien, the former head coach of the Montreal Canadiens, has been appointed to lead Team Canada at the upcoming Spengler Cup. This event is scheduled to take place later this month in Davos, Switzerland. General manager Marc Bergevin made the selection, having previously worked with Therrien during their time with the Canadiens.
Team Canada Coaching Staff for the Spengler Cup
Therrien will be joined by a talented coaching staff. The team includes:
- Drew Bannister
- Rob Cookson
- Patrice Lefebvre
- Jérémy Coupal (video coach)
Bergevin expressed enthusiasm about the coaching team, stating, “We are excited to unveil the coaching staff that is tasked with leading Team Canada at the Spengler Cup with the goal of reclaiming the championship for the first time since 2019.” He highlighted the coaches’ extensive experience in both the NHL and international competitions.
Coaching Experience
Therrien brings a wealth of experience, having coached the Canadiens twice, from 2000 to 2003 and again from 2012 to 2017. He also led the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Stanley Cup final in 2008 during his tenure from 2005 to 2009.
Assistant coach Drew Bannister recently completed his role as head coach of the St. Louis Blues, while Rob Cookson currently serves with Lausanne HC in the Swiss National League. Patrice Lefebvre is the head coach of Forward Morges HC in the Swiss Regio League.
Spengler Cup Schedule
For the preliminary round, Canada is set to compete against:
- Host HC Davos
- U.S. Collegiate Selects
Team Canada will open the tournament on December 26 against the U.S. Collegiate Selects. The championship match is slated for December 31. The team aims to reclaim the title they last won in 2019.
