Evola named Ottawa Gee-Gees head coach

OTTAWA - The University of Ottawa Sports Services today announced that Yanick Evola has been named as the new head coach of the Gee-Gees women’s hockey program.

As of June 1, 2010, Evola will become the sixth head coach in the program’s history. He joins the University of Ottawa after spending the past two 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.

Since 2003, the Boucherville, Québec native has 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. From 2003 to 2007, he 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.

"Yanick has a diverse repertoire of knowledge and experience that corresponds to the needs and values of Sport Services and of the women’s hockey program, said uOttawa athletic director Luc Gélineau. He has seen a lot of success in the past and we are happy to have him join the team."

At 34 years old, the father of three has already gained tremendous experience in hockey, both as a student-athlete and as a coach.

From 1998 to 2002, he was an all-star forward for the St-Francis Xavier University men’s hockey team and served as assistant captain of the 2001 CIS silver medal team. 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.

“Having been a student-athlete myself, I know that it is very demanding,” said Evola. “My job will be to help guide these girls towards success, to set objectives in order to excel in both academics and in sport. We are going to work hard.”

“It has always been a dream for me to coach at the university level. I look forward to starting the next chapter of my career here at the University of Ottawa.”

Gélineau also thanked interim head coach Miguel Filiatrault for his dedication to the women’s hockey team during the past years. “It has been a pleasure to work with Miguel, said Gélineau. He helped ensure the success of the program during its transition and fostered a well-rounded environment in which both players and staff were able to strive for excellence.”

Evola will make his debut on home ice as the Gee-Gees play their home opener on Sunday, October 24, 2010 against Concordia.

Source:

Ottawa Sports Info