BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Bruins named Jim Montgomery as the 29th head coach in team history.
“The Boston Bruins are pleased to introduce Jim Montgomery as the next head coach of the Boston Bruins and welcome Jim, his wife, Emily, and his children, JP, Colin, Ava and Olivia, to the city of Boston,” said Bruins GM Don Sweeney. “Jim has a winning history, and throughout the interview process he conveyed his ability to connect with all types of players while also demanding that his teams play with structure. We are excited for Jim to begin to make his imprint on our team.”
Montgomery will be officially introduced in a press conference with CEO Charlie Jacobs, President Cam Neely and Sweeney at TD Garden during the week of July 11.
Montgomery, 53, served as an assistant coach for the St. Louis Blues from 2020-22. Prior to his time in St. Louis, Montgomery served as head coach of the Dallas Stars from 2018-2020. Montgomery led the Dallas Stars to a 43-32-7 record in 2018-19, leading the team to its first playoff appearance in three years.
Before being hired as the head coach in Dallas, Montgomery served as the head coach for the University of Denver from 2013-17, where he led the Pioneers to the NCAA tournament in each of his five seasons, including two Frozen Four appearances (2016, 2017) and a National Championship victory (2017). Montgomery was also named the NCAA Coach of the Year in 2017.
Prior to his time with the Pioneers, he served as the head coach for the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints from 2010-13.
In his first year at the helm, he led the Fighting Saints to win the 2011 USHL championship. He would go on to lead the team to another Clark Cup win in 2013.
Prior to his time in the USHL, the Montréal, Quebec, native spent time as an assistant coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2006-10) and Notre Dame (2005-06).
Montgomery spent 14 seasons as a forward in the NHL and AHL from 1993-2005. Montgomery skated in 122 NHL games for five different teams, (St. Louis Blues, Montréal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars) tallying 10 goals and 25 assists for 35 points and 82 penalty minutes.
Montgomery also appeared in 451 AHL games for the Hershey Bears, Philadelphia Phantoms, Kentucky Thoroughblades, and Utah Grizzlies, amassing 165 goals, 328 assists, 490 points, 674 penalty minutes, and a plus-84 rating.
Prior to making the jump to professional hockey, Montgomery played four seasons at the University of Maine from 1989-93. In 1993, Montgomery captained the Black Bears team that set the NCAA record for wins in a season with 42. Maine went on to win the NCAA championship behind Montgomery’s efforts as the team’s leading scorer, including his hat trick in the third period of the 1993 Championship game to help seal victory.
