Jacques Lemaire is a Canadian former ice hockey player and a former coach. The former ice hockey player played for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League and coached for Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, and Minnesota Wild.
Jacques Gerard Lemaire was born in Quebec, Canada on September 7, 1945. Lemaire is the uncle of former goaltender Manny Fernandez and a hockey arena in Quebec is named after him. Jacques played hockey professionally for twelve years and was an NHL head coach for seventeen years.
The former ice hockey player and coach spent more than three decades in ice hockey. Jacques Lemaire estimated net worth is $5 million. Jacque's career earnings as per the internet sources are approximately $6,104,888, but his coaching career earned him a great fortune, so his career earnings are estimated to be more than $10 million.
The former hockey player had earned more than $5 million during his professional hockey career, during the old day hockey players weren't as privileged as they are now. Brand sponsors were almost non-existent and players were paid based on their popularity and clubs would dominate over players' rights.
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Athletes have it hard when it comes to choosing a life partner, cause many can't maintain the same level of enthusiasm and energy. Jacques Lemaire found his soul mate with whom he would spend the rest of his life.
The duo kept their first rendezvous away from the spotlight, but Jacques Lemaire and Mychele Lemaire exchanged their wedding vows in July 1968. Lemaire and Mychele will celebrate their 55th anniversary in July of 2023 with their three children, Patrice Lemaire, Danyk Lemaire, and Magalie Lemaire, plus six grandchildren.
The former ice hockey player is renowned for his coaching rather than his professional ice hockey career. Jacques spent his 12 years long career solely playing for Montreal Canadiens. Although Lemaire is retired, he still works as a special assignment coach for the New York Islanders. Jacques Lemaire was enshrined in the hockey hall of fame in the year 1984.
Jacques Lemair assisted Montreal Canadiens in winning 8 Stanley Championships 1968, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979 and he guided New Jersey Devils to their Stanley Championships as a coach. Lemaire had also won the Stanley championships 2 times as a general manager of the Montreal Canadiens.
Lemaire has quite an eccentric style when it comes to coaching, he is known for using his defensive-minded system called as the neutral zone trap. It's a type of strategy that is used to prevent an opposing team from proceeding through the neutral zone.
The dispute between him and the player, Guy Lafleur was popular among his fanbase in Quebec. Unlike most coaches, Jacques is reputed as a great teacher for young players, and has kept is in good relationships with veterans. Though Lemaire was a great coach for young players, however, the star players had issues with his coaching style and controversies related to it.
Guy Lafleur played in the same team as Jacques Lemaire but the relationship between them degraded after, Lemaire became a head coach. The then head coach implemented his strategy, but Lafleur couldn't accept those changes and retired in the same year 1984.
Jacques Lemaire Arena was named after the former player and coach Jacques Lemaire and is located in his hometown in Quebec, Canada. The arena has changing rooms and showers with access to free skating and free hockey under certain rules and regulations. The arena is open from 8:00 a.m. on the morning to 10:00 p.m. till the night.
Jacques began his ice hockey career in 1967, he played in the center position as a forward under jersey number 25. The coaching career of the legend began with the same club with whom he spend 12 years of his ice hockey career, honing and crafting his skill. Lemaire served as a head coach for the Canadiens, the Devils, and Minnesota.
Jacques played committed his entire career for The Montreal, but he served as head coach for 3 different teams. Lemaire is well known for his coaching career than his playing career. He stands at 5 feet 10 inches and weighed around 82 kilos during his prime phase.
Lemaire was the head coach of the Canadiens for 2 years; the Canadiens offered him a contract extension of $225,000 every year for 5 years, but Jacques rejected the offer and decided to coach the New Jersey Devils from 1993 to 1998. Finally, Jacques coached Minnesota Wild from June 19, 2000, until his retirement on April 11, 2009.
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