Lightning Name Joel Bouchard Head Coach of the AHL's Syracuse Crunch

The Crunch hire Joel Bouchard to replace Benoit Groulx, who will be offered a new position with the Lightning.

The Lightning are making moves to the coaching staff of the Syracuse Crunch, hiring Joel Bouchard as the new head coach. He replaces Benoit Groulx, who was behind the bench for the Crunch for the past seven seasons and is the franchise’s winningest coach.

Groulx will be offered another position within the Lightning organization per the Lightning news release.

The team has also hired Daniel Jacob as an assistant coach at Syracuse. He has coached alongside Bouchard since 2014.

Bouchard, 49, has coached in 242 career AHL games with the San Diego Gulls and Laval Rocket, posting a 111-100-31 record. He most recently led San Diego, affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks, to the Calder Cup Playoffs during the 2021-22 season.

"We are thrilled to welcome Joel to the Lightning and Crunch organizations,” GM BriseBois said.“The head coach position for our American Hockey League affiliate is one of paramount importance with regards to our player development program. Joel brings a contagious enthusiasm to everything he undertakes. He is a strong leader with a proven track record in helping players and teams reach their full potential.”

“With him overseeing the pipeline of future Lightning players on a day-to-day basis, we expect Joel to be an important contributor to the overall mission of the Tampa Bay Lightning for years to come.”

“I feel extremely blessed to join such a great organization like the Tampa Bay Lightning,” Bouchard said. “The next few months and beyond will be very exciting with the Crunch. I’m looking forward to continuing the tradition of excellence both on and off the ice in Syracuse. I can’t wait to get started.”

BriseBois also credited Groulx in the release. 

“The leadership he provided and for his relentless pursuit of excellence during his seven seasons as the head coach of the Crunch.”

“He has been an important contributor to the Tampa Bay Lightning organization’s success during his time in Syracuse which has included two Stanley Cups, three Conference championships, a President’s Trophy and a Calder Cup Final appearance,”

The announcement makes Bouchard the 10th head coach in the storied history of the Crunch franchise, replacing Benoit Groulx, who had been the team’s head coach for the past seven seasons and who leaves the Crunch as its all-time leader in coaching wins.