A dignified exit for Paul Maurice

Nothing about the past two days has been easy for Sault native Paul Maurice.

Today, he met with Toronto media at the Air Canada Centre after having been fired as head coach of the Maple Leafs 24 hours earlier.

A poised and articulate Maurice began the news conference by thanking many people, including his assistant coaches, team staff, management past and present, and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment’s board of directors.

The Leafs’ 26th head coach also commended Interim General Manager Cliff Fletcher who ended Maurice’s employment with the organization.

“I really appreciated the fact that when the time came, he didn’t wait,” Maurice said.

The deposed coach also thanked Leaf fans, whom he described as “inspirational in many ways.”

Elaborating on his tenure with the team, Maurice noted: “It’s an experience I can’t put into words.... I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

Maurice said his biggest regret came when John Ferguson was dismissed as the club’s general manager in January.

As pressure and speculation mounted before Ferguson’s termination, Maurice said he "watched in complete admiration with how he handled himself in a very, very difficult position.”

Responding to a reporter's question, the 41-year-old Maurice left no doubt that he wants to coach again in the NHL.

“It’s what I do,” he said simply.