Claude Julien and Kirk Muller relieved of their coaching duties

MONTREAL – Club de hockey Canadien general manager Marc Bergevin announced on Wednesday that Canadiens head coach Claude Julien, as well as associate coach Kirk Muller, were relieved of their duties earlier today.

The organization also appointed Dominique Ducharme as interim head coach in addition to adding Alex Burrows to the Canadiens coaching staff. Luke Richardson and Stéphane Waite will retain their respective responsibilities within the group.

“I would like to sincerely thank Claude and Kirk for their contribution to our team during the last five years during which we have worked together. I have enormous respect for these two men whom I hold in high esteem, ”said Bergevin. “In Dominique Ducharme, we see a very promising coach who will bring new life and new energy to our group. We feel our team can achieve high standards and the time has come to make those changes. « 

The 47-year-old Dominique Ducharme is promoted to interim head coach after two seasons as assistant coach. A native of Joliette, Ducharme joined the Canadiens coaching staff in April 2018 after ten seasons behind the bench in the QMJHL, winning the Memorial Cup with the Halifax Mooseheads at the end of the 2012-2013 season. That same year, Ducharme was named Canada’s Junior Coach of the Year (CHL) by securing the prestigious Brian Kilrea Trophy in addition to the Ron Lapointe Trophy for the same honor in the QMJHL. He led the Canadian team during the 2017 and 2018 editions of the FIHG World Junior Championship, winning the silver and gold respectively.

Marc Bergevin and Dominique Ducharme will address the media as the team arrives in Winnipeg this afternoon. Information regarding the press conference will follow shortly.