The University of Ottawa women's hockey program is pleased to announce that Patrick Grandmaìtre, Geneviève Lavoie, and Robyn Rittmaster will be joining head coach Yanick Evola and returning assistant coach Angela Martin to form this year's 2010-11 coaching staff. All of these coaches come to the women's hockey program with a wealth of hockey experience and knowledge.
Patrick Grandmaìtre is a former QMJHL player, scoring over 400 points in his five year career. He followed his junior hockey career by joining the St-Francis Xavier X-men where he was a teammate of now Gee-Gees head coach Yanick Evola for two years.
Grandmaìtre had a very successful stay at the CIS level where he reached the national championship finals at three different occasions, winning the title in 2004.
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, Grandmaìtre was named St-FX male athlete of the year after playing soccer and hockey at the CIS varsity level.
With his Human Kinetics and his Education diplomas in hand, Grandmaìtre 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 Intrépides of Gatineau last season with the boys Midget AAA league in Quebec.
Geneviève Lavoie comes to the University of Ottawa after studying four years at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York, and playing Division I hockey for the Golden Knights.
In her four years, she finished third overall for the most points scored. In 149 games she recorded 45 goals and 65 assists for a total of 110 points, becoming one of only three players in the history of Clarkson's women's hockey program to reach 100 points. 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 Communication and Psychology.
Prior to her time with the Golden Knights, Lavoie played three years for Cegep 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 will now be working towards a Master's degree in Sport Psychology at the University of Ottawa while helping out with the women's hockey program.
"I've heard many great things about Yanick and the team behind him, says Lavoie. I hope to bring a positive attitude and help the team to many accomplishments throughout the year. I am really looking forward to being a part of the Gee-Gees this year."
Robyn Rittmaster will be the Gee-Gees' new goaltending coach and joins uOttawa after six seasons as a goalie in the NWHL/CWHL and after a very successful CIS career.
As a player, she has won numerous national championships including three CIS championships, two with the University of Alberta hockey team (2003, 2004) and the other with University of Calgary's soccer team (1998). 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.
"I am extremely excited to be part of the Gee-Gees coaching staff and I look forward to helping their goalies succeed as elite athletes in the CIS," says Rittmaster.
Angela Martin will also be returning to the Gee-Gees for her second consecutive year. Martin is a former head coach of 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. 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.
