In a somewhat unconventional, yet intriguing move for the world of professional hockey, Olympic figure skating champion David Pelletier is trading his specialized role for a broader position behind an NHL bench. The Dallas Stars have officially announced that Pelletier is joining their coaching staff as an assistant coach under newly appointed head coach Glen Gulutzan.
Pelletier, a 50-year-old native of Sayabec, Quebec, is widely recognized for his distinguished figure skating career. Alongside partner Jamie Salé, he captured a coveted gold medal in pairs figure skating at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Their victory, however, was steeped in drama, becoming one of the most talked-about stories of those Games due to a judging controversy that ultimately resulted in them sharing the top of the podium with the Russian pair.
Beyond the Olympic drama and triumph, Pelletier and Salé enjoyed a highly successful career, securing a world championship title and three Canadian championships. Their prowess on the ice also earned them the prestigious Lou Marsh Trophy (now known as the Northern Star Award) as Canada`s top athlete in 2001.
Following his competitive skating career, Pelletier seamlessly transitioned into the realm of hockey, applying his profound understanding of edge work, balance, and agility to the sport. For the past eleven seasons, he served as a dedicated skating coach for the Edmonton Oilers, working directly with NHL players to enhance their fundamental mechanics on the ice – a critical, though often behind-the-scenes, aspect of modern hockey performance.
His move to the Dallas Stars represents a significant promotion, shifting from a specialized skill coach to a general assistant coach role. He joins a revamped coaching collective under Gulutzan, who himself spent the preceding seven seasons as an assistant coach with, yes, the Edmonton Oilers. Gulutzan took over the Stars` head coaching duties on July 1st, succeeding Peter DeBoer. The context for this change? The Stars were eliminated by those very same Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Final for two consecutive years, a somewhat ironic twist given the recent hiring patterns from the Oilers organization.
Pelletier integrates into a coaching group that includes assistant coaches Alain Nasreddine and Neil Graham, goaltending coach Jeff Reese, head video coach Patrick Dolan, and assistant video coach Chris Demczuk. While his background in competitive figure skating is unique in the NHL coaching fraternity, his extensive experience specifically as an NHL skating coach provides a solid foundation for this expanded role.
The Stars` decision to add an assistant coach with Pelletier`s distinct resume suggests a strategic focus on leveraging specialized skill sets within their broader coaching structure. It marks a fascinating progression for the Olympic champion, bringing his intricate knowledge of skating dynamics from a focused coaching role into the wider tactical and developmental responsibilities of an NHL assistant coach.
