Cataractes Fire Head Coach

Embed from Getty Images

Just hours before a big game against the Saint John Sea Dogs, the Shawinigan Cataractes have fired head coach Martin Bernard.

According to the Shawinigan newspaper Le Nouvelliste, Claude Bouchard will take over head coaching duties. Bouchard previously acted as head coach of the Val-d’Or Foreurs in the early 2000s and then went on to be an assistant with a number of different QMJHL teams.

Tout le reste du personnel des Cataractes demeure à Shawinigan. Steve Larouche agira par intérim ce soir contre SNB. #tvasports

— Mikaël Lalancette (@MLalancetteTVA) February 17, 2016

The Cataractes loaded up at the trade deadline, bringing in Danny Moynihan, Dmytro Timashov, Philippe Cadorette and others. Despite the acquisitions and still leading the East Division, Shawinigan has sputtered along of late, losing to the rebuilding Halifax Mooseheads on the road, nearly losing to the Moose again this past weekend at home and fell to the Quebec Remparts – who also unloaded at the deadline – last night.

Shawinigan still has a commanding lead on the Rimouski Oceanic for the division lead but could fall out of second place overall tonight if they lose to Saint John. Tonight’s game begins at 8 p.m.