Montgomery Will Take Dallas Stars Job [VIDEO]

Former UMaine hockey captain Jim Montgomery is not going to turn down the NHL this time. Multiple reports have the University of Denver coach accepting the head coaching job of the Dallas Stars. The announcement is expected Friday.

Montgomery has been the Pioneers coach for five years. His team won the NCAA national championship in 2017.

A year ago, he was a finalist for the Florida Panthers coaching job before withdrawing his name.

Now at 48-years-old, Montgomery will make the jump to the NHL and coach players such as Tyler Seguin and former Black Bear goalie Ben Bishop.

In Dallas he will take over for Ken Hitchcock who retired after 22 years on NHL coaching.

Montgomery is UMaine's career leader in points and helped lead the Black Bears to a national title in the spring of 1993. He was back in Orono last fall as the team celebrated the 25th anniversary.

NOTE: Other former UMaine hockey players now coaching in the NHL include John Tortorella with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Jack Capuano, former NY Islanders head coach, now associate head coach with the Florida Panthers.