Foote, Tourigny join Roy, Sakic on Avs’ staff

Former Avalanche star defenseman Adam Foote will rejoin old teammates Patrick Roy and Joe Sakic with the organization, as will new assistant coach Andre Tourigny.

Tourigny joins assistant Tim Army on Roy’s coaching staff. Former Avs goalie Craig Billington has been named assistant general manager. Foote will be defense development consultant for the team, andMario Duhamelwas hired as a video coach.

Foote, 41, played 19 seasons in theNHL, 17 with the Avalanche/Nordiques franchise. He, along with Roy and Sakic, now executive vice president of hockey operations, were members ofColorado’s 1996 and 2001 Stanley Cup championship teams.

Tourigny, 39, has coached the RouynNoranda Huskies of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League since 2003. All but one of his teams made the playoffs, and he took the Huskies to the third round of this year’s playoffs, compiling a 40-24-4 record.

Nicknamed “The Bear,” Tourigny has been an assistant coach on recentCanadian junior national teams. He has a close relationship with Roy despite being a rival coach.

Billington, 46, recently completed his 10th season with theAvalanche front office, serving as the club’s vice president of player development/minor-league operations.

Duhamelhasspent thepast fourseasons as headcoachof theDrummondvilleVoltigeurs of the Quebec Major JuniorHockey League.