VANCOUVER – Just days after appointing MP Don Davies as their interim leader, the federal NDP have announced that the role will be permanently filled by Vancouver Canucks former head coach Rick Tocchet.
With the New Democratic Party’s devastating performance in the 2025 election in mind, party officials are now looking forward by appointing Tocchet to serve as full-time party leader.
“We’ve got total confidence in Coach Tocchet,” said NDP President Mary Shortall. “He took the Canucks from sixth in the pacific division to first place in one season! We can think of no one better suited to right the course after Jagmeet Singh’s disastrous coaching.”
Tocchet won the Jack Adams Award for NHL coach of the year in 2024 for bringing the Vancouver Canucks back to prominence after they failed to make the playoffs multiple seasons in a row.
When asked about his plans for reshaping the NDP, Tocchet had this to say: “We’re going to have to make some tough trades. Several key players suffered terrible injuries in April’s election playoffs and cannot continue to be on the ice.”
While many we spoke to at NDP party headquarters were overjoyed at Tocchet’s new role, some were more apprehensive. “I just hope he doesn’t leave us hanging after a couple of seasons,” one anonymous staffer said. “Like, he’s going to stay and finish what he starts this time, right?” they asked.
Announcement of Tocchet’s leadership of the NDP was met with spontaneous celebrations around Metro Vancouver, and an hours-long riot in Calgary’s city centre.
