Martin St-Louis won't be the only Canadiens coach working with a new face in Montreal's organization this season.
Another bench change is now official inside the Canadiens' development system.
The Laval Rocket have filled an assistant coaching position, adding an experienced voice with ties to both the AHL and university hockey.
That new assistant is David Urquhart, who joins Laval after serving as head coach of the McGill University Redbirds since May 2021.
The move gives the Canadiens another experienced development coach working directly with prospects trying to make the jump from Laval to Montreal.
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Urquhart, 41, already knows the American Hockey League. He previously spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the San Diego Gulls, the Anaheim Ducks' affiliate.
David Urquhart brings AHL experience back to Laval
His coaching résumé goes beyond the professional level. Before taking over McGill's program, Urquhart spent four seasons there as an assistant coach and also worked with Serbia's national team.
There is also a direct Canadiens connection from his playing days. Urquhart suited up for the Hamilton Bulldogs, Montreal's former AHL affiliate, before also playing for the Hartford Wolf Pack.
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He appeared in 130 AHL games before finishing his playing career in Italy, giving him experience across different levels and hockey environments.
That background now puts him in a position to work with a Laval roster built heavily around development, deployment decisions and preparing players for NHL responsibilities.
The timing matters because Montreal's organization continues to put major attention on the path between the Rocket and Canadiens.
For young players fighting for NHL opportunities, coaching continuity and clear expectations between Laval and Montreal can carry real weight during a long season.
Urquhart now steps into that process with previous AHL bench experience and several years running his own university program.
It's another change behind the bench for the organization, and one that gives Laval a new voice as the Canadiens continue shaping their next wave.
Is David Urquhart the right addition for Laval's young players?
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