The Islanders made official Friday what had already become an open secret, hiring Benoit Desrosiers as their third assistant coach.
Desrosiers, who joins John MacLean and Doug Houda on Patrick Roy’s staff, worked with Roy for six seasons with the Remparts in the Quebec Maritimes Junior League, winning the 2023 Memorial Cup.
He became head coach of the Gatineau Olympiques before this season but resigned after 47 games to go to the Islanders.
Desrosiers, 35, served as an assistant coach in the QMJHL from 2021-23 and spent the last five seasons working alongside Roy with the Remparts, winning a Memorial Cup in 2023. LinkedInThis is the first job in the pros for the 35-year-old Desrosiers, who worked with the Sherbrooke Phoenix — also in the QMJHL — prior to joining Roy in Quebec.
He was initially reported to be joining the Isles within days after Roy’s hiring, but the team issued a statement shooting down that report while saying Desrosiers would meet with Lou Lamoriello in the future.
He was initially reported to be joining the Isles within days after Roy’s hiring, but the team issued a statement shooting down that report, while saying Desrosiers would meet with Lou Lamoriello in the future.
Patrick Roy took over as Islanders coach in January. Getty ImagesDesrosiers is said to operate similarly to Roy, with Gatineau general manager Serge Beausoleil calling them “twins” in a conversation with The Post this week.
“He’s a smart guy,” Olympiques winger Justin Dumais told The Post. “He’s got Patty Roy with him. It’s nothing new that he hasn’t done before.”
