“It was a fun three years with the Otters,” said Marc Gagnon, who is stepping down as head coach but will remain with the Otters club as a player development coach.
As a member of the former Huntsville Huskies, Gagnon loved playing hockey here and wanted to give back to the community, but after three years—two as co-coach with Brent Tomlinson and one as head coach—he felt it was time to move on. He’ll be joining the staff of the North Central Predators Midget AAA program.
Otters president Monty Clouthier said Gagnon’s new role will be a good thing for the club. “We are happy he is staying with us after he decided not to coach. He is a great asset to the club and the players and I know he will have a big impact on us recruiting players in the future. We have not searched for another coach yet but have a few people in mind at this time but we have to wait and see what will happen this year. We currently have a motion in council for another five-year extension of our ice contract beyond next year.”
Gagnon said he is “proud of the start of the Ambassador program with HMHA [Huntsville Minor Hockey Association] but most of all I am happy with the relationships I developed with the players and the community along with the structured program I was able to bring to the team.”
He also acknowledged being able to coach his son, #21 Glen Gagnon, as a highlight. “We tried not to act like a father-son combo at hockey and thought we did well in that regard. Glen was probably pointed out more than anyone, so there was no favouritism but the truth is, I enjoyed being able to do hockey with him more than anything else in this world.”
Gagnon is grateful to everyone who contributed to the team and helped to make each season the best it could be. “Thank you to Adam and Gilly for being my assistants. To Britt for being the team’s GM. Also to Monty, Brian, Deb, and Steve for the opportunity. Thank you to Bob, Tim and Steve for doing a great job in taking care of the guys and dressing room. Barry for your great personality and work.”
And finally, he offers a big thank you to Otters fans and community sponsors for supporting the team—”Without you there, there would be no team,” he said—as well as to the “latest edition of the Otters for being a great group of people on and off the ice. Thank you, Huntsville.”
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