Canucks Announce Coaching Staff Additions
The Vancouver Canucks have announced several updates to their coaching staff, including the appointment of Ryan Mougenel, Jordan Smith, and Jason Krog as assistant coaches. Additionally, Andrew Shaw has been named Assistant to the Video Coach. These additions are part of an effort to build a strong foundation and implement the desired system and style of play for the team.
General Manager Ryan Johnson emphasized the importance of finding quality individuals who are effective teachers and possess intelligent hockey minds. He expressed satisfaction with the assembled group, highlighting their potential to connect with both veteran and younger players.
New Assistant Coaches Bring Diverse Experience
Ryan Mougenel joins the Canucks after spending eight seasons with the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League (AHL), where he served as head coach for the last five seasons. He was recognized with the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL Coach of the Year. During his tenure with Providence, Mougenel guided the Bruins to the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy. His coaching career also includes time with the San Jose Sharks organization, working with the San Jose Barracuda and Worcester Sharks, as well as a season with the Hershey Bears. Before his AHL experience, Mougenel spent eight seasons in the ECHL, including a dual role as Head Coach and General Manager for the Las Vegas Wranglers.
Prior to coaching, Mougenel played professional hockey for six seasons in the ECHL, AHL, and International Hockey League (IHL). He captured the Kelly Cup with the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies in 2002-03.
Jordan Smith transitions to the Canucks’ coaching staff after two seasons as an Assistant Coach with the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL), where he was part of the team that captured the Calder Cup in 2024.25. His experience with Abbotsford placed him under the leadership of Manny Malhotra, the current Head Coach of the Vancouver Canucks. Before Abbotsford, Smith spent two seasons with the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL). His coaching background also includes five seasons as an Associate Coach in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Soo Greyhounds and Sudbury Wolves. Smith was also Head Coach of the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL), where he earned back-to-back NOJHL Coach of the Year awards in 2013-14 and 2014-15, and led the Thunderbirds to an NOJHL Championship in 2015-16.
Smith played 60 career AHL games with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks and Portland Pirates. He also played parts of four seasons in the OHL with the Soo Greyhounds and was selected by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the second round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
Jason Krog receives a promotion to Assistant Coach, having previously served as a Skills & Skating Coach for both the Vancouver Canucks and Abbotsford Canucks for the past two seasons. Before joining the Canucks organization, Krog worked with the Burnaby Winter Club as both a Head Coach and Assistant Coach from 2021 to 2024, and as a Hockey Advisor for Simon Fraser University during the 2023-24 season.
Krog had an extensive 18-season professional playing career after being signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Islanders in May 1999. He played parts of nine seasons in the NHL with the Islanders, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Atlanta Thrashers, New York Rangers, and Vancouver Canucks. In the AHL, Krog appeared in parts of nine seasons, playing for teams such as the Lowell Lock Monsters, Providence Bruins, Springfield Falcons, Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, Chicago Wolves, and Manitoba Moose. He won the Les Cunningham Award as the AHL’s Most Valuable Player, the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL Playoff MVP, and the Calder Cup in 2007-08 with Chicago.
Video Coaching Staff Sees New Addition
Andrew Shaw joins the staff as Assistant to the Video Coach. Shaw spent the previous two seasons as the Video Coach for the Abbotsford Canucks, contributing to their Calder Cup victory in 2024.25. Before his time in Abbotsford, Shaw worked with the Chilliwack Chiefs and Prince George Spruce Kings of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) in various coaching roles, including Video Coach, Assistant Coach, and Associate Coach. Shaw also played junior hockey for the Nipawin Hawks of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) and the Castlegar Rebels of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL), and played one season at the University of the Fraser Valley.
The updated coaching staff for the 2026-27 season will consist of Manny Malhotra as Head Coach, Ryan Mougenel, Jordan Smith, and Jason Krog as Assistant Coaches, Marko Torenius as Goaltending Coach, Ian Beckenstein as Video Coach, and Andrew Shaw as Assistant to the Video Coach.
Former Assistant to the Video Coach Evan Mathias is no longer with the organization.
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Source: nhl.com
Chloe Tremblay is the Sports Reporter at CasinoNews, covering basketball, tennis and athletics with nine years of reporting experience. She reported on the Raptors' rise and two Olympic cycles. She holds a degree in Journalism from Concordia University. Based in Montreal, she plays recreational basketball and follows track athletics. “The best stories come from the athletes everyone overlooks.”
