Paiement named new head coach, program manager for the Gee-Gees men�s hockey team
The search for a new men’s hockey head coach has come to an exciting conclusion. The University of Ottawa is very proud to announce the hiring of Réal Paiement as the new head coach and program manager for the Gee-Gees men’s hockey team.
Athletic director Luc Gélineau is very pleased to have someone with Paiement’s stature and experience at the helm of the men’s hockey program. “We are very fortunate to welcome a hockey coach of his expertise and credibility,” said Gélineau. “Given Réal’s extensive experience at the international level, national level, major junior level as well as the CIS level, I believe we have found someone that will be able to take this program to the next level.”
Paiement’s hockey resume is long and quite impressive. His coaching career started with the CIS when he served as an assistant coach with the McGill Redmen back in 1984 through 1985. He has since gone on to coach in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QJMHL) with the Granby Bisons (1986-90), the Chicoutimi Saguenéens (1995-97), the Moncton Wildcats (1997-00), the Acadie-Bathurst Titans (2000-04 and 2010-11), and the St. John’s Fog Devils (2005-08). Paiement has also coached professional hockey in Italy and most recently in Switzerland.
Yet, Paiement’s biggest coaching job came in 1997 when he was named head coach for Canada’s World Juniors team in Finland after serving as an assistant coach the year prior wherein he won the 1996 WJHC gold medal in Switzerland.
Undoubtedly for Réal Paiement, with experience has come success. In 2002 he was named the QMJHL’s Coach of the Year after finishing the regular season atop of the standings with Acadie-Bathurst. He has coached over 1000 games in the QJMHL, and on January 26, 2008 Paiement got his 500th win as a head coach in the QJMHL.
Gélineau made it clear that they have given Paiement a clear mandate to build a winning program. “We have a great University, a strong core of players, state of the art facilities, and now a top-level coach to foster a successful hockey program here at the University of Ottawa,” explained Gélineau.
For his part, Paiement stated: “I am honoured, humbled, and very excited for the opportunity to lead the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees men’s hockey varsity program. I am thrilled to join an organization like the University of Ottawa who shares such spirit, pride and passion among its students, staff and alumni.”
When asked what influenced his decision to come to Ottawa, Paiement explained that the potential for success and the chance to build and mold a successful program were huge motivational factors in his decision.
“I look forward to the challenge, and I look forward to bringing my experience to the service of the program and the players here at the University of Ottawa,” said Paiement. While he is very eager to get to work, Paiement also commended the hard work that has already been done by Guy Girouard in the interim.
Paiement will begin his work as the Gee-Gees men’s hockey coach on June 20, 2011.
