Avalanche hire Jared Bednar to replace Patrick Roy as coach

— -- Colorado?has hired Jared Bednar, former coach of the American Hockey League champion Lake Erie Monsters, to replace Patrick Roy as coach of the Avalanche, the team announced Thursday.

Roy, the Hall of Fame goaltender, abruptly quit as Avalanche coach and vice president of hockey operations two weeks ago, sending the team on a late-summer quest to fill the vacancy.

Roy cited a disconnect between himself and management over his roles.

Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic called Bednar "one of the top up-and-coming coaches in our business" and said he fit the profile he wanted after going through the interview process.?

"Even though we had to accelerate the process with training camp approaching, we feel we met some real strong candidates with a lot of potential to become head coaches in the NHL in the near future," Sakic said in a statement Thursday. "I would like to thank the general managers who gave us permission to talk to key staff members at such a precarious time."

The 44-year-old Bednar never played in the NHL, but he has been coaching at the minor pro level since 2002 after the defenseman ended his playing career. The Lake Monsters are the top farm team of the? Columbus Blue Jackets.

"I feel ready for this role with the Avalanche and I am grateful for the trust that (Avalanche owner) Josh Kroenke, Joe and the organization has shown me," Bednar said in a statement. "This is a great sports market with a passionate fan base and I can't wait to get to work."

Last season was just Bednar's fourth as a coach at the AHL level. The native of Yorkton, Saskatchewan, was an assistant in the AHL for three other seasons.?He also won the East Coast Hockey League's Kelly Cup in 2009 with the South Carolina Stingrays.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.