The American Hockey League's Laval Rocket unveiled Daniel Jacob as its new head coach, marking the culmination of a career that blends playing grit with coaching acumen.
A Fresh Direction for the Laval Rocket
Jacob arrives after a storied tenure that includes seven seasons as an assistant in the AHL, where he contributed to the Rocket, the Syracuse Crunch and the San Diego Gulls.
A McGill University alumnus, Jacob captained the university's men's hockey team in his final season and earned OUA first‑team all‑star honors.
His playing journey took him from the QMJHL's Drummondville Voltigeurs to professional stints in Austria, Sweden and Serbia before he closed his career back in Serbia.
Beyond the rink, Jacob holds a kinesiology degree from McGill and spent four years directing a local hockey school linked to the university program.
Internationally, he served on Hockey Canada's staff for events such as the 2016 World Under‑17 Hockey Challenge and the gold‑medal‑winning under‑17 team at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.
Colleagues and players alike cite his enthusiasm, work ethic and deep passion for the game as defining traits that should translate into a strong leadership role with the Rocket.