The Montreal Force have announced their 2023-2024 coaching staff led by head coach Peter Smith, as well as additions to their hockey operations department.
The Montreal Force have announced their 2023-2024 coaching staff led by head coach Peter Smith, as well as additions to their hockey operations department.
The PHF's Montreal Force announced that head coach Peter Smith and assistant coach Katia Clemen-Heydra will be returning to the bench this season.
Olivier Gervais will be joining the team in the role of goaltender coach. Hockey operations will be led by Mikael Nahabedian and his team.
“It was a priority for us to keep stability at the head coaching position," said president Kevin Raphaël. "Peter and I share the same vision and I’m glad to have him back behind the bench. I’m looking forward to seeing what he and his team can do with a full offseason to work with. He’s been a winner all his life. We are building a strong team to complete his trophy case.”
Smith was the inaugural coach for the Montreal Force, an expansion team last season.
"I am really looking forward to this second season for La Force de Montréal," said Smith. "With a super group of returning veterans and a great crop of incoming players, the team will be highly competitive. The PHF is a terrific hockey league and continues to grow every season as will La Force de Montréal."
Prior to Montreal, Smith coached the McGill University women’s varsity hockey program for 20 seasons and guided his teams to four national championship titles in 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2014, and was a three-time U SPORTS Coach of the Year, winning the award in 2003, 2008, and 2012.
On the international stage, Smith has extensive experience with Canada’s National Women’s Team, most notably serving as an assistant coach for the gold medal winning teams at the 2006 and 2010 Olympic Winter Games. He also won gold as an assistant coach at the 2007 and 2009 IIHF Women’s World Championships, plus a silver medal at the 2008 tournament while elevated as the team’s head coach.
Also announced as members of the Montreal Force staff were Mikael Nahabedian, Director of Hockey Analytics, Alyssa Longmuir, Manager of Hockey Analytics, François Kik, Video Coordinator, Max Tixador, Data Engineer, and Emma Piers, Scout.