Longtime Avalanche coach makes a shocking career change
Photo credit: AP Photo / David Zalubowski
Newly appointed GM Mathieu Darche confirmed during his introductory press conference earlier this month that Patrick Roy will stay on as head coach of the New York Islanders.
Today, the Islanders have officially announced the addition of longtime Avalanche assistant coach Ray Bennett to their coaching staff.
Longtime Avalanche coach makes a big career move.
The New York Islanders via NHL.com announced the news Monday afternoon. Bennett, 63, joins the Islanders following eight seasons as an assistant coach with the Colorado Avalanche. Bennett was recently let go by the Avalanche following their Game 7 loss to the Dallas Stars in Round 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Hailing from Innisfail, Alberta, Bennett has spent 24 years as an NHL assistant coach, including a decade with the St. Louis Blues from 2007-08 to 2016-17 and six years with the Los Angeles Kings from 1999-00 to 2005-06.
"On the international stage, Bennett served as the manager of high performance/video for the Canadian Hockey Association for two years. He was an Assistant Coach in charge of video for Canada's silver medal-winning entry at the 1999 IIHF World Junior Championship, the gold medal-winning Canadian National Women's Team at the 1999 IIHF World Women's Championship and a fourth-place finish with Canada's Men's National Team at the 1999 IIHF World Championship. Bennett was also an Assistant Coach with Canada's silver medal-winning women's team at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan." -NHL.com
Bennett's coaching experience also includes serving as head coach at Red Deer College, along with roles with the Spokane Chiefs, the World Junior Hockey Championship Association, Hockey Canada, the Moose Jaw Warriors, and the Alberta Amateur Hockey Association.
Bob Boughner will also join Roy and Bennett behind the Islanders bench as an assistant coach.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 9 | 26 ANSWERS Longtime Avalanche coach makes a shocking career change Do you think Ray Bennett will ever get hired as an NHL head coach someday? | ||
| yes | 9 | 34.6 % |
| no | 17 | 65.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
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