(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 said enthusiastically, when we met Thursday at the Dominique Ducharme Golf Classic.
After 10 years, however, this association has come to an end. Jacob has indeed left his position as Bouchard’s assistant in Syracuse in order 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 hasn’t spoken to the media since his hiring, and it looks like that will remain the case until training camp. In the meantime, Bouchard offered some details on his good friend’s decision.
“I’m losing a big piece,” Bouchard said. “Except that I understand his family situation so much. His wife Danica, his guy Teo, I love them dearly. I’ve known Teo forever. The family situation will always take precedence. It was done with love and understanding.”
Bouchard doesn’t hold any grudges because Jacob made his decision “for the right reasons.” “I’ve seen Daniel away from his family, jumping in the car in the wee hours of the morning, going to see his guy practice, going to see his wife. I’ve seen his wife jumping in the car to come see him in Syracuse. Hockey is very demanding and I want Dan and his family to be happy.”
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Daniel Jacob, Joël Bouchard and Alexandre Burrows in 2018
“There, he will work with Pascal, he is pampered, he is a first-class coach. I will work with JD Forrest, who has been a coach in the American League for years. I will learn new things.”
Jacob’s decision was obviously difficult, but Bouchard recalled the wise words of Lou Lamoriello. “He once said to me, ‘Do you know why they call them tough decisions? Because a lot of times, they’re the only decisions you can make.'”
Bouchard made sure to thank Julien BriseBois, general manager of the Lightning, and the Canadiens. “To move so quickly to make life easier for everyone and help a family, it’s extraordinary,” said the hockey man.
Bouchard will return to the helm next fall for a second season at the helm of the Crunch. The first campaign ended with an elimination in the quarterfinals of the Calder Cup playoffs.
“Julien [BriseBois] likes to say he’s lucky, but he’s competent and it’s no coincidence that he won the Cup two years in a row. I knew the whole gang before, but working with them is beyond 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.”