Gee-Gees men’s hockey program hire Patrick Grandmaître as head coach for 2016
The University of Ottawa made several key announcements on the relaunch of its varsity men’s hockey program on Wednesday, including the hiring of a head coach. Patrick Grandmaître will be behind the bench in September 2016, when the team is slated to return.
The University of Ottawa made several key announcements on the relaunch of its varsity men's hockey program on Wednesday, including the hiring of a head coach. Patrick Grandmaître will be behind the bench in September 2016, when the team is slated to return.
The return will mark the 125th season of men's hockey at the University of Ottawa.
Grandmaître, 36, is a graduate of St. Francis Xavier University, where he received degrees in human kinetics and education. At St. FX, he was captain of the men's hockey team, which won the 2004 Canadian Interuniversity Sport national championship. Grandmaître's teams also made it to the national championships in 2001 and 2003, winning silver both times.
The Hull, Que., native received the 2005 Atlantic University Sport award for a men's hockey player who demonstrates outstanding qualities in sport, in academics and in the community, and was twice named an Academic All-Canadian.
"We are extremely pleased with the selection of Patrick to lead the team going forward," said Marc Schryburt, director of Sports Services. "The participation of our alumni in this process has been energizing and the hockey community sees this as a success in the making."
"My five years as a CIS student-athlete allowed me to develop considerably as a person, particularly in leadership and becoming involved in the community. A coach must lead as well as coach, and I look forward to working with the Gee-Gees organization to put a great team on the ice," said Grandmaître, who played five seasons in the QMJHL with the Victoriaville Tigers and the Quebec Remparts, serving as captain for both teams, before attending university. He also spent four seasons as a professional player in Germany following his interuniversity career.
Since 2010, Grandmaître has taught at Gatineau's Collège Nouvelles-Frontières, where he helped launch and has headed the hockey program. He also worked with the Gatineau Intrépides midget AAA team, and served as an assistant coach with the University of Ottawa's women's hockey team in 2010-11.
It was also announced that Grandmaître will be a guest coach at the Ottawa Senators rookie camp this September. As well, hiring committee member and 17-year National Hockey League head coach Jacques Martin will act as a special advisor for at least one year.
Members of the relaunch committee have committed to ensuring that potential student-athletes will also be financially supported. "As alumni, we want to ensure Coach Grandmaître has the tools he needs to attract the best student-athletes. Working closely with other alumni, business leaders and the University, the committee will secure funding for entrance scholarships for all incoming hockey players in the 2016-17 season," said committee chair Jean Lépine.
"We will then turn our focus to raising additional funds for the ongoing operational priorities of the program, to create a national championship level program for these players and future Gee-Gees," added Lépine.
Source: Ottawa Gee-Gees
