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Jacques Demers

Jacques Demers is a Canadian former ice hockey coach, executive, broadcaster and senator, born in Montreal, Quebec, on August 25, 1944.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Jacques Demers is a Canadian former ice hockey coach, executive, broadcaster and senator, born in Montreal, Quebec, on August 25, 1944. He is best known for coaching the Montreal Canadiens to the 1993 Stanley Cup, the franchise's 24th championship and the last Stanley Cup won by a Canadian NHL team.

Early life

Jacques Demers was born in Montreal, Quebec, in 1944. Available sources do not provide many early-life details beyond his birthplace and later entry into hockey administration.

Coaching career

Demers began coaching in junior hockey and later moved to the WHA, where he coached the Chicago Cougars, Indianapolis Racers and Cincinnati Stingers. He then coached in the NHL with Quebec, St. Louis, Detroit, Montreal and Tampa Bay.

Montreal Canadiens and Stanley Cup victory

Demers became head coach of the Montreal Canadiens in 1992 and led them to the 1993 Stanley Cup in his first season. That championship is widely noted as the Canadiens' 24th and most recent Stanley Cup title.

Awards and honours

Demers won the Jack Adams Award twice, becoming the only coach to win it in consecutive years. NHL records also credit him with two Stanley Cups and a long postseason coaching career.

Later career and public life

After coaching, Demers became a senator, with sources stating that he was appointed in 2009. He is also described in sources as having worked as a broadcaster and as a public figure in Canadian hockey.

Key facts

  • Demers coached in both the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League over a long career.
  • He won the 1993 Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in his first season with the club.
  • He also coached the Detroit Red Wings and won back-to-back Jack Adams Awards in 1986 and 1987.
  • NHL records list his coaching career as spanning 14 seasons with 1,007 games coached.
  • He was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 2009.
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Canadian context

Demers is strongly relevant to Canadian hockey history: he is from Montreal, coached the Canadiens to their most recent Stanley Cup championship, and later served in the Senate of Canada.[2][3][14][15]

Frequently asked questions

Who is Jacques Demers?
Jacques Demers is a Canadian former ice hockey coach best known for leading the Montreal Canadiens to the 1993 Stanley Cup.
When was Jacques Demers born?
He was born on August 25, 1944, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Which teams did Jacques Demers coach?
He coached the Chicago Cougars, Indianapolis Racers, Cincinnati Stingers, Quebec Nordiques, St. Louis Blues, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning.
What is Jacques Demers best known for?
He is best known for winning the 1993 Stanley Cup with Montreal and for winning consecutive Jack Adams Awards with Detroit.
Did Jacques Demers serve in the Senate?
Yes. Sources state that he was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 2009.
Was Jacques Demers the last coach to win the Stanley Cup with the Canadiens?
Yes. Sources identify him as the coach of Montreal's 1993 championship team, the club's most recent Stanley Cup winner.

References

  1. NHL Records — https://records.nhl.com/coaches/jacques-demers-43
    Supports: Birth date and place; coaching career span; teams coached; games, wins, losses, ties; awards.
  2. French Wikipedia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Demers
    Supports: Career chronology; Montreal Canadiens coaching years; 1993 Stanley Cup; Tampa Bay ending.
  3. English Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Demers
    Supports: Montreal Canadiens hire in 1992; 1993 Stanley Cup Final victory; Tampa Bay ending; postseason totals.
  4. Tampa Bay Times archive — https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1997/11/13/jacques-demers/
    Supports: Coaching history across WHA and NHL; Detroit and Montreal highlights; Jack Adams awards; Stanley Cup win.
  5. The New York Times — https://www.nytimes.com/1993/06/11/sports/hockey-a-bitter-past-sweetens-the-cup-for-demers.html
    Supports: 1993 Stanley Cup with Montreal and significance as hometown team.
  6. Elite Prospects — https://www.eliteprospects.com/staff/1309/jacques-demers
    Supports: Birth details and Senate appointment noted in profile.