Sylvain Favreau resigns as head coach of the Halifax Mooseheads

Head coach Sylvain Favreau is resigning from the Halifax Mooseheads after spending six seasons with the team.

A news release from the team on Monday said he's leaving for personal reasons.The team's general manager, Cam Russell, told CBC News Favreau's departure was expected.

"Him and I have been speaking to each other and and you know, talking about [how] we spend a lot of time together, so it wasn't sudden," Russell said.

Russell said Favreau had an impressive run with the Mooseheads. Originally from Orleans, Ont., Favreau joined the team as an assistant coach in 2017. He was promoted to head coach in 2021 and, according to the news release, compiled a record of 88-48 in 136 games over the last two seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

"He'll be one of the coaches that we remember for a long time that left a positive impact," Russell said.

In a news release, Favreau expressed his gratitude to the Mooseheads.

"I am grateful for the support, collaboration and camraderies I have experienced throughout my tenure with the Mooseheads," Favreau said in the news release.

'We wish him the best'

The news release noted Favreau led the Mooseheads to a Maritimes Division title in 2022-23 "and a berth in the QMJHL's Gilles Courteau Trophy Finals with the second-best record in franchise history at 50-11-4-3."

Sam Simon, the chairman and owner of the Halifax Mooseheads, thanked Favreau in the news release for his "unwavering commitment, dedication and immense contributions" to the team.

"We wish him the best in his future," Simon said.

The Mooseheads will begin looking for a new head coach immediately.

"We're already getting lots of resumes and we know Halifax is a destination that a lot of coaches would like to come to," Russell told CBC News.