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Jets’ Maurice adjusting to life in Winnipeg

Penguins Jets Hockey

Winnipeg Jets coach Paul Maurice yells at an official after the Jets were called on a delay of game against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Thursday, April 3, 2014. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, John Woods)

AP

After being ushered in as the Jets’ head coach in January, Paul Maurice finally had time to relocate his family to Winnipeg this summer.

Talking to JetsTV, Maurice says he’s settling in nicely in the Manitoba capital after signing a new four-year extension in April.

“It was a lot of travelling early on. We got (here) about the middle of July and never really left,” he said. “We settled into Winnipeg, found a place to live, got the kids in school - all those things that parents understand you’ve got to go through.

“Now we’re here. We’ve been here for quite some time and really enjoyed the summer.”

Maurice, 47, knows a thing or two about moving his family around.

The Ontario native coached the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes franchise from 1995-2003 leading the Canes to a Stanley Cup final appearance in 2002. After a stint with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, Maurice took over the coaching duties of the parent club, the Maple Leafs, from 2006-08. But after two consecutive years of missing the playoffs, he was fired.

In 2008, Maurice returned to Carolina to take over from Peter Laviolette, who had replaced him in 2003.

Maurice also spent a year overseas coaching in the KHL.

“For people that have moved a lot, like our family, they certainly understand. There’s so much that goes into just the logistics in getting your family set up,” said Maurice.

He’s also looking forward to getting on the ice with his kids and their teams.

“I like to get out on the with them, I’m not sure that I coach them a whole lot, as a matter of fact I’m sure I don’t, but I like to get on the ice when they’re on the ice,” said Maurice. “When I get a chance to do that, that’s been a lot of fun.”

Maurice better enjoy the time with his family because come October, he’s got the tall task of bringing playoff hockey back to Winnipeg. The Jets/Atlanta Thrashers organization has not qualified for the postseason since their lone appearance in 2007.

Related: Largely unchanged Jets will have tough time in reloaded Central

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