Sault Ste. Marie’s Paul Maurice received some added job security on Thursday.
The 50-year-old has signed a multi-year extension to remain on as head coach of the Winnipeg Jets. The team also gave a contract extension to General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff Thursday
“I’m excited,” Maurice said in his media availability on Thursday. “I’m excited about this team and where it’s going.”
“But I’m most excited for my family,” Maurice added. “My kids, I’ve moved them a lot and they love it here. They’ve got friends here. Of all of the people that we told yesterday and got notes back from, my kids were probably the happiest people in Winnipeg.”
“This is home for us now,” Maurice said.
Prior to signing his new deal, Maurice was heading into the final year of his contract this season with the Jets.
Maurice was hired by the Jets to replace Claude Noel in January 2012 and spoke of the organization’s plan at the time to begin a full rebuild, which would mean some struggles early on.
“Consistency is the big challenge to drive in a younger group,” Maurice said. “We want to be incrementally better in everything that we do this year.”
The team is coming off a season in which it missed the playoffs by seven points after posting a 40-35-0-7 record.
Maurice has a 136-112-33 record in just over three seasons with the team.
Maurice served two separate terms as head coach with the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes franchise and spent two seasons as head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.