The Boston Bruins hired Marco Sturm as their new head coach, the team announced Thursday.
Sturm replaces Jim Montgomery, who was fired in November after the team got off to an 8-9-3 start. Assistant Joe Sacco was named the interim head coach and Boston finished 33–39–10, tied for the worst record in the Eastern Conference.
For the past three seasons, the 46-year-old Sturm, a native of Dingolfing, Germany, was the head coach of the American Hockey League’s Ontario Reign, leading the team to a playoff appearance each season.
Sturm has also been an assistant with the Los Angeles Kings and played in 938 NHL games with the San Jose Sharks. Bruins, Kings, Florida Panthers, Washington Capitals and Vancouver Canucks, scoring 242 goals in his career.
He scored 106 goals with 87 assists in 302 games over five seasons with the Bruins.
‘I’m incredibly honored to be named head coach of the Boston Bruins,’ Sturm said in a statement. “I want to thank Charlie Jacobs and the Jacobs family, Cam Neely, and Don Sweeney for trusting me with this opportunity. Boston has always held a special place in my heart, and I know how much this team means to the city and to our fans. I’ve felt that passion as a player, and I can’t wait to be behind the bench and feel it again. I’m excited to get to work and do everything I can to help this team succeed.’