Joel Bouchard Named Syracuse Crunch General Manager

Sports stats

AHL Syracuse Crunch

Joel Bouchard Named Syracuse Crunch General Manager

July 7, 2025 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Tampa Bay Lightning have named Joel Bouchard as general manager of the Syracuse Crunch, Lightning Vice President and General Manager Julien BriseBois announced today. Bouchard will also remain head coach of the Crunch.

Bouchard, 51, was named as the 10th head coach in Crunch franchise history on June 26, 2023. In the past two seasons, Bouchard has guided the Crunch to a 76-47-12-9 record with back-to-back appearances and first-round byes in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Under his guidance, the Crunch advanced to the North Division Finals of the Calder Cup Playoffs in 2024 for the first time since the 2017-18 season.

"Joel has a wide bandwidth for work and he is used to the dual general manager and head coach role from his time with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada," said BriseBois. "He is a strong and enthusiastic leader with a track record of helping players and teams reach their full potential. He will work closely with myself and Tampa Bay Lightning Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel Jamie Pushor in maintaining a competitive and winning culture with the Crunch."

A native of Montreal, Quebec, Bouchard previously served as general manager of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the QMJHL from 2011 to 2018. In addition to his duties as general manager, he also worked behind the bench as head coach of the Armada from 2014 to 2018. In 272 games as head coach of Blainville-Boisbriand, Bouchard accrued a 160-80-18-14 record. The team made consecutive QMJHL President Cup Finals appearances in 2017 and 2018. Bouchard also served as the general manager of the Canadian National Junior Team for the 2018 and 2017 IIHF World Junior Championships, winning Gold and Silver Medals, respectively.

Bouchard has coached in 386 career AHL games with the Crunch, San Diego Gulls and Laval Rocket, posting a 187-147-30-22 record. In addition to his success in Syracuse, he led San Diego, affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks, to the Calder Cup Playoffs during the 2021-22 season. Prior to joining the Gulls, Bouchard spent three seasons with the Rocket, affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens, guiding the team to an 83-67-14-10 record. He coached the Rocket to a 23-9-3-1 record in 2020-21, winning the Canadian Division while posting the second-highest points percentage in the AHL at .694. A veteran of 364 career NHL games, Bouchard recorded 22 goals and 75 points while playing for the Calgary Flames, Nashville Predators, Dallas Stars, Arizona Coyotes, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders. He also played in 293 career AHL games and was named an All-Star during both the 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons. Internationally, Bouchard won Gold Medals at the 1997 World Championship and the 1993 and 1994 World Junior Championships.

Ticket packages for the 2025-26 season are on sale now and can be purchased in person at the Crunch office located inside the Upstate Medical University Arena at Onondaga County War Memorial at 800 S. State St. in Syracuse, by calling the office at 315-473-4444 or online through Ticketmaster. For the latest Crunch news, visit www.syracusecrunch.com or follow the club on Facebook (www.facebook.com/syracusecrunch), X (@SyracuseCrunch) and Instagram (@syracusecrunch).

Check out the Syracuse Crunch Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from July 7, 2025


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Syracuse Crunch Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central