Boughner accepts assistant coach role with Sharks; Hedberg named goalie coach

Bob Boughner is making the jump back to the NHL.

The former defenseman turned OHL owner and head coach has accepted an assistant role with the San Jose Sharks, the Windsor Spitfires announced Thursday.

"This has been a tough decision," Boughner said. "I've been fortunate to live out two lifelong dreams, playing in the NHL and becoming owner and coach of the team I grew up following."

He said this a step toward his ultimate goal.

"Once the offer was made, it became clear that if I was going to one day realize my dream of being an NHL head coach, the time was now," he said.

Boughner will join the staff of newly-named Sharks head coach Pete DeBoer.

"I’ve known Bob for more than 20 years and he’s an experienced winner, having won championships in both juniors and internationally," DeBoer said in a statement. "He had a great career as an NHL player but also didn’t have any problem going back to juniors to hone his coaching ability.

"He has a great teaching ability from working with younger players in juniors and we’re very fortunate that he was available because he could have been working in this league a long time ago if he wanted to."

Boughner has been with the Spitfires since 2006, briefly taking a leave to serve as an assistant with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2010-11. He led the Spitfires to OHL and Memorial Cup championships in 2009.

Also joining the Sharks staff is Johan Hedberg, who will serve as goalie coach after working with DeBoer during his New Jersey Devils days.