Former Montreal Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien will be Canada’s bench boss for the Spengler Cup later this month.
Therrien, who most recently was an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers from 2019-21, was selected for the position by general manager Marc Bergevin, who he worked under with the Habs.
The coaching staff also includes assistants Drew Bannister, Rob Cookson, and Patrice Lefebvre, as well as video coach Jérémy Coupal.
“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. We believe this is a well-rounded group that will be complimented by a world-class support staff,” Bergevin said. “Michel’s extensive résumé as a head coach in the National Hockey League will allow him to be a great leader for our team, and Drew, Rob, Patrice and Jérémy bring many years of experience in the NHL, American Hockey League and Europe, as well as in international competition, and we look forward to representing Canada in Davos.”
Therrien had two stints as head coach of the Canadiens from 2000-03 and from 2012-17 and led the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Stanley Cup final in 2008 as head coach of that franchise from 2005-09.
Bannister served as head coach of the St. Louis Blues to end the 2023-24 season and to start the 2024-25 campaign, being promoted after two-plus years behind the bench with the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds.
Cookson is currently an assistant coach with Lausanne HC of the Swiss National League, while Lefebvre is serving as head coach of Forward Morges HC of the Swiss Regio League.
Canada is grouped with host HC Davos and the U.S. Collegiate Selects for the preliminary round and will open the 2025 Spengler Cup against the U.S. Collegiate Selects on Dec. 26. The championship game is set for Dec. 31.
