Houle: 'The Rocket will be fast and relentless'

MONTREAL - Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin named Jean-François Houle the new head coach of the AHL's Laval Rocket.

Following his appointment, Houle spoke with reporters via Zoom.
Here are a few highlights from his press conference:
Houle on his priorities as a coach:
I value engagement, discipline and integrity. Those are very important values. I'll try to pass them along to each player coming through Laval. I also believe it's very important for a coach to communicate well with their group. You need to build a connection with every individual on a personal level, not just as a hockey player. I want to form a partnership with the players. When a coach does that, it can lead to a lot of success. From a hockey standpoint, the Rocket will be fast, relentless and competitive. Those are three words that I like to use. Hockey is a fast sport. That's the way we want to play in Laval.

Houle on the process of selecting his assistant coaches:
I haven't chosen them yet. I need to talk to Scott Mellanby. I have a list of coaches I'd like to talk to. Scott probably has his own list, too. We'll make some decisions in the coming weeks.
Houle on his relationship with Canadiens head coach, Dominique Ducharme:
We have a very good relationship. We've always stayed in touch. We faced each other when I was with the Armada and he was with the Voltigeurs. He's a coach I've always appreciated. There has always been mutual respect between us.
Houle on the Habs' solid showing in the playoffs:
It was very impressive to see the young kids compete and the veterans support them. It's the same thing in the AHL. It's a very special league. It isn't easy to win. It's tough to be consistent. As a coach, however, you have an opportunity to learn a lot. It's very important to find some consistency. Players are always moving around. We'll establish our system with Dominique and I believe things will be great.

Houle on returning to Quebec after spending years in the United States:
Two big decisions were involved, including leaving Quebec and coming to Bakersfield. As a coach, you need to take risks to learn. I wanted to learn in the professional ranks. That's what led to this opportunity. Now, we're returning to Quebec. My family is older. My wife is very happy. The support from my family has been incredible. We're happy to come back to be closer to family.