The Avalanche front office has undergone a shake-up before the team opens what is likely to be a full 2005-06 season.
Eric Lacroix has left his position as director of hockey operations with the Avalanche to pursue part ownership of a Central Hockey League expansion franchise in Prescott, Ariz.
Lacroix, son of Avalanche president and general manager Pierre Lacroix, is one of several investors with the CHL team. He served the Avalanche in an executive capacity since 2001 after retiring as an NHL player. He was the team’s video coach in 2001-02 before becoming director of hockey operations.
“For me, this is something I’ve been looking to get into for a little while,” said Eric Lacroix, who played for the Avs from 1996-98. “It’s a great opportunity, a chance to start a franchise in a growing market. We think it’ll be like the situation the Colorado Eagles had in Loveland. We hope so, anyway, because they were definitely a model situation.”
No successor for La- croix has been named, said Jean Martineau, Avalanche senior vice president of communications. The NHL lockout is likely to end before this season is scheduled to begin.
There had been speculation whether Eric Lacroix might succeed his father as Avalanche GM, but Eric said he never thought that far ahead.
“I’m a guy who takes it one day at a time,” he said. “Who knows what will happen in the future? I’m just excited to have this opportunity in front of me, and we’ll go from there.”
Also joining Lacroix in Prescott is Hayne Ellis, who served under Martineau in the public relations department for eight years. Ellis will serve in an executive capacity under Lacroix.
The Avs also will be looking for a new video coach. Mike McCready, who most recently served in the role, has left to pursue other opportunities.
Paul Jerrard, a former Avs video coach and assistant coach with the Hershey (Pa.) Bears of the American Hockey League, recently accepted an assistant position with the Iowa Stars of the AHL. Jerrard served as an assistant under Paul Fixter with the Avs’ former AHL affiliate in Hershey. Fixter has yet to be reassigned in the Avs’ organization.
In March, the Avalanche ended its affiliation with Hershey and later signed a one-year agreement to become a partial affiliate with the Lowell (Mass.) Lock Monsters of the AHL. As part of the agreement, the Avs and the Carolina Hurricanes will supply their top prospects to Lowell.
Adrian Dater can be reached at 303-820-5454 or adater@denverpost.com.
