Well-known former Ducks goaltending coach Francois Allaire announced his retirement Tuesday.
Allaire’s 32-year coaching career included a 13-year stint with the Ducks in which he mentored Jean-Sebastien Giguere during the goaltender’s 2003 Conn Smythe Trophy performance. He also helped Giguere and the Ducks win the 2007 Stanley Cup.
“I’ve always said, if it wasn’t for Frankie, I wouldn’t have had the career I had,” Giguere said in a phone interview. “He was the most influential person in my career.”
Allaire’s retirement was reported by Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports.
Giguere was a relatively unknown goalie when the Ducks acquired him from the Calgary Flames for a second-round draft pick in 2000.