Leafs name Horachek interim coach

Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - The Toronto Maple Leafs have named Peter Horachek as the club's interim head coach.

Horachek will take over behind the bench for Randy Carlyle, who was fired on Tuesday.

Steve Staois, a former NHL defenseman who has served as the Leafs' manager of player development, will join Horachek behind the bench in a supporting role.

It was initially announced that Horachek and assistant Steve Spott would handle the coaching duties for Wednesday's home game against Washington. Spott will remain one of the assistant coaches.

Horachek joined the Leafs as an assistant in July 2014 and will become an interim NHL head coach for the second year in a row. He guided the Florida Panthers for the final 66 games last season after Kevin Dineen was fired and compiled a record of 26-36-4.

The 54-year-old Ontario native had been in his first season coaching the Panthers' American Hockey League affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, when he was promoted.

Prior to his position in San Antonio, Horachek spent nine seasons (2003-13) with the Nashville Predators, serving the last two years as associate head coach.

Carlyle was dismissed after a 2-5-0 road trip. The Leafs were 91-78-19 during his tenure, including 21-16-3 this season.