Maine: Gendron adds Ben Guite to coaching staff

Former Black Bears forward Ben Guite has been named the second assistant to new head coach Red Gendron. The 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, Guite spent 12 years playing professional hockey, including 175 games in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche and the Nashville Predators.

Guite met his future wife in Orono as a student and has a tremendous amount of passion for the Maine hockey program. The Montreal native was always considered a very smart hockey player. He is a very hard worker who has played both the role of scorer and third line grinder during his career.

He was a member of the 1999 Maine team that won the school's second NCAA National Championship under legendary head coach Shawn Walsh. Guite had 47 goals and 49 assists during his career in Orono.

Several Maine media outlets had reported that former Maine assistant and longtime NHL assistant Jay Leach would be the other assistant, but that is not official. According to Larry Mahoney of the Bangor Daily News, Leach and Gendron have spoken about the position. However, according to another source, Leach is still contemplating other positions in professional hockey.

Jeff Cox covers hockey for SBNation. Follow him on twitter @JeffCoxSBNation.