Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St-Louis has revealed the emotional toll of his NHL journey, admitting that his rise to one of hockey’s most coveted positions came with a painful sacrifice: living apart from his wife and children.
In a candid interview with Salut Bonjour, St-Louis confessed that his coaching role in Montreal meant leaving his family behind in the United States — a move he once promised his wife Heather would never happen.
“She knew I wanted to coach, but I was only willing to leave to become a head coach in the NHL, and I had told her, ‘don’t worry, it won’t happen,’” he said. “When it did happen, she was laughing, but she was behind me”.
While his three sons supported the decision — two already playing college hockey and the youngest finishing high school — the separation has been hardest on Heather. “If I asked each of them: ‘Would you like me to stay home or go coach the Canadiens?’ they would all want me to coach,” St-Louis shared.
Now, after years of long-distance strain, the coach confirmed that Heather will soon join him in Montreal once their youngest son graduates. “Next year, she’ll be able to follow me,” he said, signaling a long-awaited reunion that fans and family alike have been hoping for.
The revelation has sparked mixed reactions. While many applaud St-Louis’s dedication to his career and family, others question the cost of ambition when it comes to personal relationships. As the Canadiens push forward this season, one thing is clear: behind the bench stands a man who’s given more than just strategy — he’s given years of his life to a dream that nearly cost him his marriage.