The Toronto Maple Leafs organization has named Paul Maurice as the team's next head coach.

The NHL club held a news conference at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto Friday to announce the appointment.

"I'd like to introduce to you all our new head coach, Paul Maurice," said John Ferguson Jr., general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Maurice, 39, said the promotion marks a major milestone in his career.

"As a coach, as a player, or probably in any of your professions, you want to work for the big paper, you want to work for the national network, you want to coach the big team. This is the Toronto Maple Leafs. This is the dream," Maurice told the news conference.

He added that his parents are currently in Toronto visiting, and it's especially exciting to have them nearby to share the good news.

"It's been a great couple of days. I'm very excited about the future of this hockey team, and I'm quite honoured to be here today," Maurice said.

Ferguson met with the board of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment on Tuesday, and recommended Maurice for the appointment, according to reports.

Ferguson then hosted a dinner party for Maurice, and his assistant coaches Dallas Easkins and Joe Paterson, who are expected to join him on staff with the Leafs.

When Ferguson held a news conference on April 20 to announce the dismissal of Pat Quinn as head coach, he made it clear Maurice was on a short list of possible candidates.

"We certainly have a proven, capable, successful NHL head coach as our head coach in the American Hockey League," Ferguson said. "Paul is an obvious prime candidate for the position."

Maurice has coached the American Hockey League's Toronto Marlies since last year. The Leafs farm club made the playoffs this season under his leadership, but was eliminated in the fifth game of the first round by the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Maurice was believed to be seeking a four-year contract worth $750,000 per season with the Leafs.

The Sault Ste. Marie native began his own hockey career with the Ontario Hockey League's Windsor Spitfires, where he played from 1984-88. He was then drafted to the Philadelphia Flyers in 1985, but never made it to the NHL due to an eye injury.

Maurice then went on to coach the OHL's Detroit Jr. Red Wings before doing a stint as assistant coach with the Hartford Whalers in 1995-96.

He was promoted to head coach 12 games into the season, becoming the youngest head coach in the NHL at 28.

He then took the Carolina Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup finals in 2002, but lost to the Red Wings.

Maurice was dropped by Carolina in 2003, but was picked up by the Marlies in June of 2005.

At the time, many speculated Maurice had been brought in as the future replacement of Pat Quinn.

With files from The Canadian Press