Devils associate coach and former Panthers interim head coach Andrew Brunet was arrested Wednesday in Broward County, Florida, for driving under the influence, according to the county’s arrest log.
Brunet was also charged with disobeying a stop sign or yield sign, and is being held on a $500 bond, according to the arrest log. He was taken to the Broward County Main Jail. WPLG Local 10 and Andy Slater First reported the arrest of Brunette.
“We are aware of the reports today regarding associate coach Andrew Brunet and are currently in the process of gathering additional information,” a Devils spokesman told The Post.
According to an October 2021 ESPN article, Brunette, 49, became Florida’s interim coach last season after Joel Quenneville “met with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman about the Chicago Blackhawks’ involvement in the sexual abuse case.” After that he resigned.” Brunette inherited a 7-7 0-0 record and led the Panthers to the Eastern Conference semifinals, where they lost to the Lightning.
He was not named the team’s permanent head coach after the season, although Florida chose to replace Paul Maris.
In July, the Devils hired him as an associate coach on head coach Lindy Ruff’s staff. New Jersey general manager Tom Fitzgerald called Brunette “a walking encyclopedia in terms of hockey” and cited Brunette’s desire to work under Ruff – and Ruff’s desire to work with Brunette – as reasons for the hire. But, according to a July NHL.com article.
According to WPLG Local 10 and Broward County court records, Brunet was involved in two other traffic violations while on Florida’s staff as an assistant and head coach. He was cited on February 4, 2021, for going 27 mph in a 15 mph school zone, in a case where Brunet was cited three months later by a traffic hearing officer before being fired. He pleaded not guilty. Brunet was cited and fined for traveling 58 mph in a 40 mph zone.
The Devils are currently second in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 32-13-4 entering the All-Star Game – this weekend in Sunrise, Florida – with eight wins in their last 10 games.
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