Hockey (W) - Coaches | uOttawa Gee-Gees

HEAD COACH: YANICK EVOLA

On June 1, 2010, Yanick Evola became the sixth head coach in the history of the women's hockey program.

The Boucherville, Québec native joined the University of Ottawa after spending the past three years at the helm of the Édouard-Montpetit College AA women's hockey team, during which time he led the team to two consecutive provincial championship titles. Read more >

From 2003 to 2007, Evola worked at the professional level, serving as head coach and director of operations for the Montreal Axion in the National Women's Hockey League. Under his direction, the team won the Clarkson Cup in 2006. Since 2003, he had also been a coach for the sport-études hockey program at De Mortagne high school (Boucherville, Qué.), as well as a technical coach for the city's minor hockey league.

Evola was also an all-star forward for the St-Francis Xavier University men's hockey team from 1998 to 2002 and served as assistant captain of the 2001 CIS silver medal team. On the ice, Evola amassed an impressive 199 regular season points during his five year career with the X-Men and proved to be a dominant player throughout his university career in Antigonish. A three-time CIS all-Canadian (1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01), he obtained a bachelor's degree in physical education as well as a bachelor of education from St-FX, and later pursued studies in sport psychology at the University of Montreal. Evola also made his mark in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), amassing over 300 points in four seasons with the Shawinigan Cataractes and the Foreurs de Val D’Or.

Evola enters his second season behind the Gee-Gees bench and is looking forward to sharing his knowledge and experiences in hockey to better the University of Ottawa women’s hockey program.

“Our program aims to ensure the global development of every one of our student-athletes, at each the athletic, academic and personal levels. We offer a rich environment to all of our players, in order to help them develop in each of these areas. The main objective of our hockey program is to prepare our players to achieve the national level.”

ASSISTANT COACH: ANGELA MARTIN

Angela Martin joined the Gee-Gees in 2009 after a stint as head coach with the Gloucester-Cumberland Girls Hockey Association Midget AA team. She was selected on two occasions to coach Team Ontario, once at the Canada Winter Games and once at the Under-18 Championships. Read more.

Martin is also a former assistant coach with the St. Lawrence Saints, an NCAA Division I hockey team and is the daughter of well-known NHL bench boss Jacques Martin.

The four-year captain was a two-time academic All-Canadian and recipient of the 2004 Godfrey Award given to the Atlantic University Sport men's hockey player who best represents the spirit of intercollegiate hockey by his leadership on and outstanding achievement hockey, academics and community involvement. In 2005, Grandmaître was named St-FX male athlete of the year after playing soccer and hockey at the CIS varsity level.

With his human kinetics and physical education diplomas in hand, Grandmaître then headed for Germany to play at the professional level. Due to multiple concussions, he had to put an early end to his playing career after four years of European hockey. Patrick is now a full time physical education teacher in Gatineau and started his coaching career as an assistant-coach with the Gatineau Intrépides (Midget AAA) last season.

ASSISTANT COACH: GENEVIÈVE LAVOIE

Geneviève Lavoie came to the University of Ottawa in 2010 after studying for four years at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York, while playing Division I hockey for the university’s Golden Knights. In her four years, she finished third overall for most points scored and in 149 games, recorded 45 goals and 65 assists for a total of 110 points. This made her one of only three players in the history of Clarkson's women's hockey program to reach 100 points. Read more >

She was named rookie of the year her freshman year (2007) and made the ECACHL all rookie team. She was also a member of the All-Academic team, maintaining an above 80% average while completing a dual degree in communications and psychology.

Prior to her time with the Golden Knights, Lavoie played three years for Cégep St-Laurent in Montreal while completing her DEC in social sciences. She was awarded most improved player in 2005 as well as best offensive player and athlete of the year in 2006. Lavoie is now working towards a Master's degree in sport psychology at the University of Ottawa while helping out with the women's hockey program.

For the past few months, Lavoie has been assisting athletes with the Ottawa rowing club as well as track and field athletes at the high school level. Lavoie conducts workshops and team building sessions on how to set goals, manage stress and distractions, ways to achieve maximum focus, as well as ways to increase confidence and motivation. She also conducts workshops in high schools on self-confidence, fitness, and lifestyle management.

GOALIE COACH: ROBYN RITTMASTER

Robyn Rittmaster joined the Gee-Gees as goalie coach in 2010 after six seasons as a goalie in the NWHL/CWHL and a very successful CIS career. As a player, she has won numerous national championships including three CIS championships, two with the University of Alberta (2003, 2004) and the other with University of Calgary's soccer team (1998). Read more >

Her other national banners include three senior women's national championships, two with the Calgary Oval X-treme (1998, 2001) and one with the Brampton Thunder (2006). She has also been invited to U22 and Senior National team camps.

Off the ice, Rittmaster is a two time Academic All-Canadian earning a master's degree in environmental economics. She has spent time coaching at hockey schools across Canada, as well as lending her knowledge to local minor hockey programs. She is currently an economist at Health Canada and is an active volunteer at the Ottawa Humane Society.

EQUIPMENT MANAGER: BOB BOWES

A graduate from the University of Ottawa in 1977 with a M.Sc. in human kinetics, Bob Bowes is currently a self-employed fitness and lifestyle consultant in Ottawa as well as equipment manager for the Gee-Gees women’s hockey team.

Bowes’s volunteer involvement with the University of Ottawa women’s hockey team began 6 years ago assisting with fitness testing and conditioning. For the past 4 years, Bowes has been team equipment manager, handling the transportation, repairs, and regular service of Gee-Gees equipment, including skate sharpening. Bowes is more than just an equipment manager – his hard working and motivating character positively influences the Gee-Gees’ team atmosphere.

MOLLY ALLGOOD

ASSISTANT EQUIPMENT MANAGER: MOLLY ALLGOOD

Molly Allgood, a University of Ottawa women's hockey alumna, is currently in her fifth year studying Human Kinetics (BSc) at the University of Ottawa. She has been the assistant equipment manager for the Gee-Gees for the past three seasons. Allgood's plans after school include becoming a police officer and moving to Toronto, Ont. She is a dedicated person and she is passionate about the game of hockey.

KAYLA HOTTOT

STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH: KAYLA HOTTOT

Kayla Hottot joined the Gee-Gees as the strength and conditioning coach in the summer of 2011 after five seasons as a forward for the University of Ottawa women’s hockey team. In 2005, Kayla was a member of U-18 Team Ontario which completed in Salmon Arm, British Columbia. As a player in the CIS, she was selected as a member of the CIS all-star team from 2007-2009 as well as a member of the 2009 Gold medal winning FISU team that competed at the World University Games in Harbin, China. She is responsible for the implementation and maintenance of all fitness aspects of the team's training, including fitness testing and workout programs.

STUDENT THERAPISTS: SARAH ACHTEREEKTE

Sarah Achtereekte will be the Gee-Gees women’s hockey student therapist for the upcoming 2011-12 season. It is her first year with the team. Achtereekte is currently in her fourth year of an Honours Bachelor of Human Kinetics degree and plans to pursue a Masters in physiotherapy. Although she has never been involved with a hockey team, she has played with the national broomball team for many years, winning several championships and awards.

STUDENT THERAPISTS: TRACY MacGREGOR

Tracy MacGregor is in her fourth year of the Honours Bachelor of Science in Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa. She graduated from St. Lawrence College with a diploma in General Arts and Sciences. MacGregor enjoys a variety of sports and activities, but her main focus has always been broomball. She has competed with teams that have won Regional, Provincial and National championships.

TEAM MANAGER: CASSIE SEGUIN

Cassie Seguin joins the Gee-Gees women’s hockey team this season as their team manager. She transferred to the University of Ottawa after completing two years at NCAA Division I school Princeton University, where she was a goaltender for the Tigers. Before competing at the University level, Seguin won Gold at Provincial Championships with the NCCP Jr. AA Capitals, and Gold at National Championships with Team Ontario Red. At both of those events, she received Top Goaltender honours. She also represented Team Canada Under 18 at the World Championships in Fussen, Germany where the team won silver.

Seguin is now a third-year student studying in the Honours with Specialization in Psychology program, and she is planning on pursuing a Masters in Sports Psychology. She is looking forward to playing for the Garnet and Grey next year.