The Rimouski Océanic announces the appointment of its former player Michel Ouellet as assistant coach.
The former number 28 of the 1998 to 2002 editions of the Nics returns home just in time for the 2025 Memorial Cup campaign, with experience as general manager and head coach with the Albatross du Collège Notre- Damme in the M18AAA.
Michel Ouellet already lifted the precious trophy at the turn of the millennium with the team of an entire region, after winning the championship in the QMJHL.
“It is a great honor for me to return to the great L’Océanic family. There was no other place where I wanted to have the chance to continue my coaching journey, admits the one who wanted to thank the Albatros organization, as well as Mr. Alain April, who gave him his first chance behind a bench. My biggest wish is to inspire players and help them achieve their dreams. I want to enable them to achieve their objectives,” he says.
The native of Rimouski knows the inner workings of the organization well, since he held the role of director of the player development program with the Océanic between 2014 and 2019.
“Michel fit exactly into what we were looking for for the organization. He will help our group of talented forwards reach another level. He has always excelled on the power play when he played and this will be one of his first mandates with our team,” assures head coach Joël Perrault.
Michel Ouellet also made his mark in the professional ranks, having been a 4th round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2000. He notably won top honours in the American Hockey League in 2011-2012 with the Norfolk Admirals.
In total, Ouellet had 116 points in 190 NHL games with the Penguins, Lightning and Canucks.
Its number 28 has been hoisted to the heights of the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski since January 30, 2015.
