The Halifax Mooseheads have chosen their new bench boss.
Team officials announced Thursday that Eric Veilleux will lead the club into their 2018-19 Memorial Cup run.
“I am very grateful for this opportunity,” the 46-year-old said in a statement. “Knowing the high standards the Mooseheads have always had and just to get the call from them expressing their interest was an honour for me.”
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Veilleux is coming to Halifax after two seasons as head coach of Colorado Avalanche’s AHL affiliate San Antonio Rampage.
The Quebec City native is a former CHL Coach of the Year and a Memorial Cup champion. He also led his teams to three Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) President Cup finals appearances.
Veilleux holds a 347-208-45 record in the QMJHL. He will be the 11th head coach in franchise history.
READ MORE: Halifax wins hosting rights for 2019 Memorial Cup hockey championship
Veilleux replaces Jim Midgley, who was fired by the team last month after a disappointing playoff run. Midgley was only on the job for less than a year.
The Halifax Mooseheads won hosting rights to the 2019 Memorial Cup earlier in April. The national championship will be played May 17-26, 2019, at the Scotiabank Centre and feature the host team Mooseheads, along with the champions of the QMJHL, Ontario Hockey League and the Western Hockey League.
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