DENVER, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- General Manager Pierre Lacroix of the Colorado Avalanche has signed a long-term contract extension.
The signing ends speculation that he would leave the team at the end of the season to manage Canadian pop Celine Dion.
Terms were not disclosed.
Team owner Stan Kroenke announced the deal, one day after Colorado began defense of its unprecedented ninth consecutive division title with a 5-0 rout of the Chicago Blackhawks. Lacroix signed two of the key producers in that victory, wingers Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne, last July in the free agency coup of the offseason.
"Every hockey fan in Denver can appreciate what Pierre Lacroix and his hockey staff have accomplished with this franchise since it arrived in Denver in 1995," Kroenke said. "We are pleased to see him continue this relationship and fully realize that his management skills represent a great asset to our company."
There was speculation Lacroix would leave hockey to manage Dion. Both are Quebec natives, and he was the best man at Dion's wedding.
