Eric Veilleux has been named head coach of the AHL San Antonio Rampage. The Avalanche and Rampage made the announcement Wednesday.

Veilleux (pronounced VAY-you), 44, spent the past two seasons with the Norfolk Admirals, as an assistant when the team was in the AHL and last year as head coach when it moved to the ECHL. Randy Ladouceur will remain as an assistant coach.

The Admirals, who are affiliated with the Edmonton Oilers, finished last in the East Division in 2015-16 with a 30-37-4-1 record.

Veilleux replaces Dean Chynoweth, who was fired after the Rampage went 33-35-8-0 and ended in last place in the Pacific Division. Chynoweth coached the Avalanche's previous AHL affiliate, the Cleveland-based Lake Erie Monsters, for three non-playoff seasons.

“Eric is an experienced coach and is the right person to develop our players in San Antonio,” Avalanche assistant general manager Craig Billington said in a news release. “After an extensive interview process, we determined he was the best candidate based on his coaching background and expertise. We are excited to have him join the Avalanche organization.”

Veilleux, a Quebec City native, left the Admirals in May to become GM/head coach of the Victoriaville Tigres in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Now the Tigres need to replace him.

Veilleux spent seven seasons coaching in the QMJHL, seven with the Shawinigan Cataractes and two with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar. He posted 346 wins in 598 games for a .579 winning percentage. His teams made the playoffs all nine seasons.

Shawinigan advanced to the President's Cup final in 2009 and with Baie-Comeau in 2013 and 2014. He guided the Cataractes to the franchise’s first-ever Memorial Cup in 2012.

Veilleux was named the QMJHL Coach of the Year in 2013-14.

Veilleux coached against Avalanche coach Patrick Roy in the QMJHL when Roy was behind the Quebec Remparts bench.

Veilleux played professionally for eight seasons, seven in the AHL and one in the IHL. He spent three years with previous Avalanche affiliates, one with the Cornwall Aces in 1995-96 and two with the Hershey Bears from 1996-98.



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