So far so good for Lambert


By
February 10, 2017

As the new associate coach of the Gatineau Olympiques, it has been a triumphant return to the major junior ranks for Denny Lambert thus far.

With Lambert alongside new head coach Eric Landry, Gatineau has won all three of its games to improve its record to 23-26-4 and climb from 15th place to 13th overall in the standings of the hotly-contested Quebec Major Jr. Hockey League.

Lambert joined the Gatineau staff on February 3 after Landry was promoted to head coach following the firing of Mario Duhamel.

Gatineau’s latest win was a 3-2 overtime triumph over the second-seeded Rouyn-Noranda Huskies on Thursday. With Lambert back of the bench with Landry, Gatineau also has a 3-2 overtime win over the third-ranked Shawinigan Cataractes and a 7-5 triumph over the Val-d’or Foreurs.

The Olympiques will try to extend their winning streak tonight when they play host to the last-place Moncton Wildcats.

Sixteen teams make the playoffs in the 18-member QMJHL.

As for Lambert, the 47-year old Wawa native and long-time resident of Sault Ste. Marie told HockeyNewsNorth.com that he is getting re-acquainted with the fast pace of the major junior game.

“It took me until the second period of the first game to get back into the match-up and speed of the game,” Lambert began. “It was very fast and I didn’t know my own players let alone the other team’s top players for match-ups but it all came back quick. I guess experience took over.”

Lambert had not coached at the major junior level since the latter portion of the 2010-2011 season when he was let go as head coach of the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League. At the time, Lambert was in his eighth season behind the Greyhound bench — and third as head coach — when he was made the fall guy for the team’s losing ways.

Later, after being fired by the Greyhounds, Lambert spent a season as coach of the Batchewana Attack of the now-defunct, junior-level Canadian International Hockey League and led the team to the championship.

Lambert has spent the majority of his life in the sport including 11 years as a player, assistant coach and head coach with the Greyhounds mixed between an improbable career in the National Hockey League as a relentless winger who stuck it out to skate in more than 500 games.

As an example of his character, desire and fortitude, Lambert was never drafted into the OHL or the NHL.


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