HEAD COACH: RÉAL PAIEMENT

Réal Paiement became the20th head coach of the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees men’s hockey program in June 2011.

With a long and impressive coaching resume spanning university, junior and international junior hockey, Paiement has reached numerous heights in his almost 30-year career including an appointment to the head coaching position of Canada’s junior team in 1997 and being named Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s (QMJHL) Coach of the Year in 2002.Read more >

ASSISTANT COACH: GUY GIROUARD

Girouard has been an assistant coach with the team since the 2009-10 season. A member of the CIS national champion York University Yeomen in 1989, Girouard is a former Air Canada Cup champion and tournament MVP (1984). He played Division I hockey in Germany from 1994 to 2000 and then went on to play for the CHL champion Oklahoma City Blazers in 2001. Girouard, district sales manager for Kleen-Flo Tumbler Industries, is fluent in French, English and German and is married with two daughters.

ASSISTANT COACH: PIER MARTIN

Martin joins the Gee-Gees team as assistant coach after successful coaching stints at the minor, amateur and international levels in Australia.

With experience in the bantam, midget, junior and women's categories, including two national championships over the past seven years, he brings a wealth of international experience to the program. Martin has been the Australian National U/18 Team head coach since 2008, winning two gold medals at the IIHF World Championships. Prior to this, he spent one season as assistant coach with the Australian U/18 Team. In addition to his coaching career, Martin has also been the Ice Hockey Australia's National Player Development Director and National Development Camp Head Coach and Manager since 2007. He is currently working towards a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) at the Telfer School of Management.

MENTOR: RYAN STEEVES

Steeves has been an assistant coach with the Gee-Gees since the 2007-08 season. A Yale University alumnus (2000-04), he was drafted in the seventh round by the Colorado Avalanche and spent three years playing at the professional level in the AHL, as well as in the CHL. Currently in his third year of Common Law at the University of Ottawa, Steeves is also heavily committed to volunteering in the community.

GOALIE COACH: MATHIEU BLANCHARD

Prior to coaching, Blanchard had a very successful hockey career in the Provincial and Ontario Central Junior “A’’ divisions, followed by an impressive CIS career as member of the Gee-Gees men’s hockey team from 2002 to 2006. In his first year, Blanchard won the Ontario-Quebec league’s top rookie award. He then went on to lead his team to their first national championship appearance in 20 years his second year, and finished second in the CIS in goals against average (G.AA) his fourth and final year. Blanchard also played for the Sherbrooke Saint-Francois of the Ligue Nord Américain de Hockey (LNAH) and the Groningen Grizzlies of the Dutch Premier Division. The Saint-Ambroise-de-Kildare native brings an extensive resume, working with young goaltenders across Canada and Europe since 1999. Having completed a degree in Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa, Blanchard’s background in this field, his playing experience and his extensive knowledge which he continues to develop through upgrading through the goalie school will be great assets for the team. The co-owner of the Gold in the Net Québec franchise is looking forward to contributing to the success of the Gee-Gees men’s hockey team.

Hassan Saeed – Strength and Condition and Academic Coordinator

Adam Kourakis – Student Athletic Trainer

Marc Bastien – Student Athletic Trainer

Michel Savard – Equipment Manager

Martin Villeneuve – Student Equipment Manager

Paolo Paiement – Assistant Equipment Manager

Justin Sproul –Scout