Magog Cantonniers appoint former NHL defenseman as new head coach

Stéphane Robidas, a former National Hockey League defenseman and Montreal Canadien, has been named the head coach of the Magog Cantonniers in Ligue de Hockey Midget AAA du Québec.

The Cantonniers organization made the announcement Friday that Robidas will replace Félix Potvin behind the bench. In a statement, the team said they needed to find a “quality replacement” to lead the team.

He is also a Magog product, having suited up for the team in the 1992-1993 season. According to the Cantonniers, they felt he was the perfect person for the job, as he has an endless passion for hockey.

A Sherbrooke native, Robidas put up 50 points in 25 games for Magog as a 15-year-old. He moved to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) the following season,

Shawinigan Cataractes.

He played four seasons in Shawinigan, amassing 242 points in the regular season, 61 goals and 181 assists. He was then drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the seventh round. He played in the American Hockey League for the Fredericton Canadiens and Quebec Citadelles.

Robidas cracked the Montreal Canadiens roster in 2000. He went on to play 937 regular season games and 47 playoff games for five different franchises — Montreal, Chicago, Anaheim, Dallas and Toronto.

After he retired in 2015, Robidas joined the Toronto Maple Leafs player development staff. He has been the Leaf’s director of player development for the past three seasons. Magog is confident that his personality, charisma and experience will translate to the Cantionniers. joining the