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Jacques Cloutier joined the Avalanche coaching staff on Jan. 24, 1996 and just completed his 10th season behind the Colorado bench.
Cloutier began his professional hockey career on the ice, playing the better part of 12 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Buffalo Sabres and Chicago Blackhawks before concluding his playing career with the Quebec Nordiques in 1993-94. Originally selected by Buffalo 55th overall in the 1979 Entry Draft from Trois Rivieres of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Jacques was between the pipes for 255 NHL regular season contests, compiling an 82-102-24 ledger with a 3.64 goals against average and three shutouts. In recognition of his fine career, Cloutier was selected to the QMJHL Hall of Fame and Rochester (AHL) Hall of Fame in 2004.
Shortly after his retirement, Cloutier traded in his pads for a whistle. His first coaching opportunity came in 1994-95, when he was hired by the Quebec Nordiques to assume the dual role of Assistant Coach for the Cornwall Aces, Quebec's American Hockey League affiliate, and Goaltending Coach for the Nordiques.
Cloutier, 46, began the 1995-96 season in Cornwall, before joining the Avalanche midway through the year. Jacques' subsequent contributions behind the bench have been instrumental in helping Colorado to Stanley Cup Championships in 1996 and 2001.
A native of Noranda, Quebec, Jacques and his wife, Lynn, have two daughters, Julie and Jessica, and reside in Parker, Colo. with their dachshund, Chico. Cloutier, along with Joel Quenneville and Tony Granato, co-chaired the Salvation Army Red Kettle fund raising efforts during the 2005 and 2006 holiday season. | 