University of Maine Men's Ice Hockey

Guite spent 13 years in professional hockey. The University of Maine hockey program is delighted to have acquired the services of Ben Guite, commented Gendron. As a player here at Maine, he was an extraordinary leader and national champion, combined with excellence in both the community and his academic endeavors. He had an exceptional professional career and now he returns to the program that he loves as deeply as any Maine hockey player whos ever played here. I am thrilled and very excited to be back where it all started for me at the University of Maine, said Guite. Im very passionate about Maine hockey and feel honored to represent and give back to the University as a coach. I am looking forward to working with Red and Jay. He has incredible drive and experience and we both share a common goal; to bring Maine hockey back to prominence by competing for national championships year after year. For me, this is a chance to give that back to the program. I was very fortunate for my experience as a student and a player here at Maine. I want to provide the same opportunity to our players. And hopefully deliver a championship to our fans While at Maine, Guite helped lead the Black Bears to their second national championship in 1999 before being named an assistant captain and guiding the Black Bears back to the Frozen Four in 2000. Guite totaled 47 goals, including nine game-winners, and added 49 assists for 96 points in 146 games at Maine. A Montreal, Quebec native, Guite scored the first goal in Maines national championship victory over New Hampshire and added an assist in the Frozen Four semifinal win over Boston College. During his senior year in 1999-00, Guite totaled a team-high 22 goals with 14 assists for 36 points in 40 games.  As a junior, the former Black Bear forward had 12 goals and 16 assists in 40 games after totaling six goals and 12 assists in 32 games as a sophomore. During his rookie season, Guite ranked second among Maine first-year players with 14 points on seven goals and seven assists in 34 games. After his time at Maine, Guite spent 13 years in the professional hockey ranks where he totaled 175 games in the National Hockey League (NHL), 585 games in the American Hockey League (AHL) and 68 contests with the ECHL (East Coast Hockey League). Guite spent four years in the NHL where he competed for the Boston Bruins (2005-06), Colorado Avalanche (2006-07, 2008-09) and Nashville Predators (2009-10). Guite totaled 19 goals, including one playoff goal, and 26 assists while with the NHL. Guite tallied 103 goals and 176 assists with the AHL after notching 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points in the ECHL. Guite also has significant experience with the Players Association as he spent the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons as a PHPA Executive Committee member after serving the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons as an NHLPA player representative. Guite also served as a PHPA player representative in 2005-06 and 2009-10. The former Black Bear assistant captain participated in the 2012 NHL Draft Coaching Clinic. Guite also dedicated countless hours to hockey school coaching around the country including the University of Maine Hockey School in Orono, Bill Armstrong Hockey in Providence, R.I., Can/Am Hockey in Lake Placid, N.Y., Huron Hockey in Orange, N.J. and Outside Edge Hockey in Denver, Colo. Guite earned his Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Maine in 2000 before achieving his Masters in Business Administration from Maine in 2009. Guite and his wife, Kristen, a Portland, Maine native and University of Maine alumna, are the proud parents of two sons, Patrick, 5  and Maxime who is 3. Promoted to Associate Head Coach on October 14, 2015. Ben Guite, who helped lead Maine to the 1999 NCAA National Championship, begins his fourth season as assistant coach of the Black Bears. Following his graduation from the University of Maine, Guite spent 13 years in professional hockey. The University of Maine hockey program is delighted to have acquired the services of Ben Guite, commented Gendron. As a player here at Maine, he was an extraordinary leader and national champion, combined with excellence in both the community and his academic endeavors. He had an exceptional professional career and now he returns to the program that he loves as deeply as any Maine hockey player whos ever played here. I am thrilled and very excited to be back where it all started for me at the University of Maine, said Guite. Im very passionate about Maine hockey and feel honored to represent and give back to the University as a coach. I am looking forward to working with Red and Jay. He has incredible drive and experience and we both share a common goal; to bring Maine hockey back to prominence by competing for national championships year after year. For me, this is a chance to give that back to the program. I was very fortunate for my experience as a student and a player here at Maine. I want to provide the same opportunity to our players. And hopefully deliver a championship to our fans While at Maine, Guite helped lead the Black Bears to their second national championship in 1999 before being named an assistant captain and guiding the Black Bears back to the Frozen Four in 2000. Guite totaled 47 goals, including nine game-winners, and added 49 assists for 96 points in 146 games at Maine. A Montreal, Quebec native, Guite scored the first goal in Maines national championship victory over New Hampshire and added an assist in the Frozen Four semifinal win over Boston College. During his senior year in 1999-00, Guite totaled a team-high 22 goals with 14 assists for 36 points in 40 games.  As a junior, the former Black Bear forward had 12 goals and 16 assists in 40 games after totaling six goals and 12 assists in 32 games as a sophomore. During his rookie season, Guite ranked second among Maine first-year players with 14 points on seven goals and seven assists in 34 games. After his time at Maine, Guite spent 13 years in the professional hockey ranks where he totaled 175 games in the National Hockey League (NHL), 585 games in the American Hockey League (AHL) and 68 contests with the ECHL (East Coast Hockey League). Guite spent four years in the NHL where he competed for the Boston Bruins (2005-06), Colorado Avalanche (2006-07, 2008-09) and Nashville Predators (2009-10). Guite totaled 19 goals, including one playoff goal, and 26 assists while with the NHL. Guite tallied 103 goals and 176 assists with the AHL after notching 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points in the ECHL. Guite also has significant experience with the Players Association as he spent the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons as a PHPA Executive Committee member after serving the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons as an NHLPA player representative. Guite also served as a PHPA player representative in 2005-06 and 2009-10. The former Black Bear assistant captain participated in the 2012 NHL Draft Coaching Clinic. Guite also dedicated countless hours to hockey school coaching around the country including the University of Maine Hockey School in Orono, Bill Armstrong Hockey in Providence, R.I., Can/Am Hockey in Lake Placid, N.Y., Huron Hockey in Orange, N.J. and Outside Edge Hockey in Denver, Colo. Guite earned his Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Maine in 2000 before achieving his Masters in Business Administration from Maine in 2009. Guite and his wife, Kristen, a Portland, Maine native and University of Maine alumna, are the proud parents of two sons, Patrick, 5  and Maxime who is 3.

Leach, who previously served as an assistant at UMaine for Shawn Walsh, has over 30 years of coaching experience, including a total of 22 years with the National Hockey League. We are absolutely thrilled at the hiring of coach Leach, commented coach Gendron. His knowledge, passion, and teaching ability are beyond exceptional. Ive worked with Jay before now while coaching US National Teams and with the New Jersey Devils organization so I know from first-hand experience exactly what we will get from Coach Leach. His recruiting and coaching excellence was instrumental in Maines rise to national prominence working with coach Walsh. He knows Maine Hockey, he loves Maine Hockey, and he doesnt accept anything less than the best from himself, from his peers, and from the players he coaches. I know how important Maine Hockey is to the state, said Leach. The University of Maine is a very special place to go to school and also to play hockey. Maine has been very fortunate to land Coach Gendron. I have known Dennis (Gendron) for over 30 years. His passion and knowledge of the game is extensive and I would not have accepted a job like this under any other college coach. Red and I simply speak the same language and understand the task involved. I would like to also thank Steve Abbott for his support of both the program and myself. I look forward to seeing Alfond Arena full and being part of the excitement that has always been Maine Hockey. Leach began building his extensive coaching resume in 1983 where he spent a year as an assistant coach at then Division II Merrimack College. Following his year at Merrimack, Leach became the associate head coach at the University of Maine, spending four seasons with the Black Bears and eventually helping to guide Maine to the NCAA Final Four in 1988. After his time at Maine, Leach began his professional career as an assistant with the NHLs Hartford Whalers from 1988-91 before assisting Team USA to the Canada Cup Silver Medal in 1991. Leach earned his first head coaching job in 1991 when he spent three seasons at the helm of the Whalers American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate Springfield Indians, guiding the Indians to the Northern Division Championship in 1991-92 and to the Calder Cup finals in 1992-93. Leach became the head coach of the AHLs Hershey Bears in 1993, spending three seasons with the team while leading the Bears to the Southern Division Championship in 1993-94. In 1996, Leach served as a special assignments scout with the New York Islanders before returning to the NHL coaching ranks as an assistant with the Los Angeles Kings from 1996-99. Leach also returned to Team USA in 1997 as her served as an assistant with the programs team which competed at the World Championships in Helsinki, Finland and was also an assistant with the 1999 team which attended the World Championships in Oslo, Norway. Leach spent the next 12 years as an assistant coach in the NHL, serving 1999-2001 with the Atlanta Thrashers; 2001-03 with the New Jersey Devils and 2003-10 with the Washington Capitals, while also serving three more stints as an assistant with Team USA during those 12 years. Most recently, Leach has spent the last three years working with the Thunder AAA Hockey Under-18, U-16 and U-15 programs, serving as a mentor, working with the coaches program, coaching the kids and working directly with player personnel. I am looking forward to the challenge ahead and, at this stage of my life, going back to a place that is very special to our family, added Leach. My coaching career got its initial boost at Maine and also more important we started our lives as a family in Maine.  Leach and his wife, Jeannie have three grown children. Heather, a UMaine grad, Chris and Mackenzie, who is pursuing a career in hockey.

Gendron enters his third season as head coach of the University of Maine mens ice hockey team. He led the Black Bears to a mark of 14-22-3 in his second season at Maine.