It's not the NHL, but to Ted Nolan, his new job is just as great of an opportunity.

The former NHL coach of the year is finally back behind the bench full time, after being fired by the Buffalo Sabres nearly eight years ago, and this time Nolan has been appointed the coach and director of hockey operations for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Moncton Wildcats.

'It's a great opportunity because this year, we're going to be hosting the Memorial Cup,' said Nolan in an interview from his Ontario home earlier this week.

'The owner of the team (Robert Irving) called me two games after they were eliminated from the playoffs. The number one thing for me was he really wanted me to come. Feeling wanted by an organization like Moncton is amazing.

'I'm probably more excited about this job than I've ever been about any job so far.'

The 2006 Memorial Cup will be the first one ever held in New Brunswick. In a news conference last week, Irving said he wanted to take the Wildcats organization to the next level, and felt they needed someone who understood what it takes to win a Memorial Cup.

'In my mind, that person is Ted Nolan,' stated Irving.

Nolan guided the Ontario Hockey League's (OHL) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds to the national junior championship in 1993 he went to the Cup finals three times in his time there.

Now that he's back in the fold, Nolan said he's going to remember to enjoy every minute of it, since he learned first hand how fickle the sports world can be.

'In sports, if you win, they like you around, but if you lose, you're out. I'm going to savour and pay attention to the final details every day.'

While he hasn't been on the front page of the sports section for years, Nolan said he's probably coached more in the last eight years than ever before.

He's been attending numerous hockey schools he's been part of the Yukon's Summit Hockey School for the past two years and this past season, he coaches his son's AAA midget hockey team.

'Hopefully, I'm a better coach now than I was before,' he joked.

As director of hockey operations for Moncton, Nolan will also be heavily involved in the recruiting and trading of players on the Wildcats, as well as have authority over all personnel decisions.

One of his first decisions was to bring back last year's head coach, Daniel Lacroix, as part of the coaching staff. And the Wildcats are getting set to officially announce St. Francis Xavier head coach Danny Flynn, who has been the head instructor at the Summit Hockey School since it started, as assistant coach to Nolan.

'You want to make sure your athletes are surrounded by great people who know great success,' said Nolan.

Flynn plans on taking a one-year leave of absence from StFX, instead of quitting outright. In the interim, fellow Summit Hockey school attendee Brad Peddle, who played university hockey at StFX, will take over the head coaching duties for the X-MEN.

Unfortunately, the new opportunities for Nolan and Flynn will mean the loss of two excellent instructors for the Summit school. Nolan said knowing he would be too busy now to make the trip to Whitehorse in July was probably the disappointing part of accepting the job.

'I've been to a lot of schools, and to tell you the truth, the one there is probably one of the better ones as far as great people. It takes a little bit of time in order to really develop a school, but I think what they've done in the past couple of years has them well on their way.'

Summit organizer Greg Haggard said while the loss of Nolan and Flynn is a bit of a disappointment, Vancouver Canucks assistant coach Mike Johnston is making a return this year, as well as Sir Wilfred Laurier men's head coach Steve Martell and Peddle. And a new addition will be Nolan's son, Brandon, who plays for the American Hockey League's Manitoba Moose the Canucks' farm team.

'I might be a typical proud father, but my son, he's done really well for himself in hockey,' said Ted, who recommended his son come in his place to Haggard. 'And he works really well with young kids.'

Brandon played three years in the OHL before being chosen by New Jersey in the 2001 NHL entry draft. The 21-year-old couldn't come to terms on a deal with the Devils by the deadline and re-entered the draft in 2003, where he was taken by Vancouver.

He was in his first season with the Moose this year, and unfortunately broke his hand about three weeks ago and needed surgery, forcing him to to watch their current playoff run from the sidelines. But he fully expects to return to the club next year.

'He's a fine athlete and better yet, he'll fit right in with the quality of guys (in the Yukon),' said Ted. 'I told him to really enjoy his time on the ice but also see the territory. It'll be a great opportunity for him.'

With the addition of Brandon, and a couple of possible instructors in the works, Haggard said the quality of the hockey school 'hasn't been hampered at all.

'It's good to get some new faces once in a while, too,' he said.

Ted said he too has no doubt the local school will still be a huge success.

'The quality of instructors that Hags brings up there... these kids aren't going to find any better if they went to downtown Toronto, or downtown Calgary.'

The Bell Summit Hockey School runs July 25-29 at Takhini Arenas in Whitehorse.

The cost of the school is $500 per player, plus GST, and players can register by mail or in person at Sport Yukon.