Canadiens Announce Two New Sports Medicine Hires

Earlier today, the Montreal Canadiens announced the hiring of two new members of the team's Sports Medicine department. General manager Kent Hughes welcomed Jim Ramsay as both Director of Sports Medicine and Performance and Head Athletic Therapist, as well as Maxime Gauthier, who will serve as the team's Head Physiotherapist.

Ramsay and Jeff Gorton will already be well-acquainted, with the former having spent almost the past three decades working for the New York Rangers. The 58-year-old served as New York's Head Athletic Trainer during that time, and was also appointed as Rangers' Director of Sports Medicine in his final six years with the group.

Born in Toronto, Ramsay spent five season with the Winnipeg Jets before making the move to New York, as well as working with Canada's gold-medal winning teams for the Winter Olympics in 2002, 2010, and 2014.

Ramsay's dismissal in New York in May came as a surprise to those who closely follow the Rangers. 

While Gauthier hasn't worked as a staff member for a hockey club, his 23-year career as a private sector physiotherapist has brought him experience as an independent consultant for several NHL players. The 45-year-old Chicoutimi native also has experience in professional sports through his service with the Senior PGA Tour and Italian soccer club Ascoli Calcio.

The hirings of Ramsay and Gauthier come just about two weeks after it was announced that the Canadiens had parted ways with Graham Rynbend and Donald Balmforth, the team’s head athletic therapist and head physiotherapist, respectively.