Eagles reach multi-year contract extension with GM Couturier

SYDNEY, NS (June 12, 2024) – The Cape Breton Eagles today announced that the team has come to terms with team general manager Sylvain Couturier on a multi-year contract extension.

Club Majority Owner Irwin Simon said, after a brief discussion, both sides were able to come to an agreement that will keep Couturier with the Eagles club for the foreseeable future.

“We know he is the man for the job,” Simon said on Wednesday. “He has done so much good for our organization in the past two seasons and so the decision to extend his contract was an easy one.  He has so much valuable experience in this league and a history of success so we are confident he is the one to help bring a championship to Cape Breton.”

The news comes just days after Couturier and team drafted 15 prospects at the 2024 QMJHL Entry Draft in Moncton.

“I am happy to see Mr. Simon has trust in me and that they seem to appreciate my work, so it’s always nice to get an extension,” Couturier said on Wednesday. “I made the move here three years ago with my wife and it quickly became our home. Talks didn’t take very long because we are happy to be here and happy to stay.”

Couturier was first hired by the Eagles in July 2022 after spending the prior 20 years with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, where he won both the President’s Cup & Memorial Cup in 2018 as general manager.

During Couturier’s time with the Eagles, he has selected defenceman Tomas Lavoie first overall in the 2022 QMJHL Entry Draft, Emile Ricard in the first round of the 2023 Entry Draft and Romain L’Italien in the 2024 first round. Over the past two seasons, the 56-year-old has traded for some of the key pieces on the Eagles current roster, including Lucas Romeo, Cole Burbidge, Cam MacDonald, Zach Biggar, Tomas Cibulka, Brayden Schmitt and Jacob Newcombe.

“I realize I am closer to the exit door in my career for sure than the entrance but we put a lot of work and effort into the Eagles the last couple years and we brought a lot of change on the ice,” Couturier said. “We are trying to build something for many years and we are heading in that direction right now. Hopefully now we can bring a championship team here.”

The hiring of head coach Louis Robitaille in July 2023 has proven to be a major acquisition for Couturiers’ club. This season, Robitaille coached the Eagles to a 39-26-1-2 record, as well as a berth in the league semi final for the first time since 2007.

“I have a lot of trust in Louis, he knows this league and he knows how to win and I really enjoy working with him.”

Couturier said working alongside the Eagles staff has made the decision to re-sign an easy one.

“Our staff is the main reason I stayed…our front office and hockey ops, we have a really good, dynamic group. Working with a guy like John Hanna, he is really the wild card in the organization. He is a guy I can count on and his hockey knowledge is so valuable,” he said “It’s really fun to come to work everyday, so that’s something. When your job is fun, you want to stay.”

“This is a really exciting time for Eagles fans,” said Simon. “Our team has been great on the ice and we have a very strong office and coaching staff behind them, so we are all looking forward to an exciting year ahead.”

For media inquiries please contact [email protected]