SB Nation College Hockey - Red Gendron replaces Tim Whitehead as hockey coach at MaineCollege Hockey's Home on the Blogospherehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49993/wchb-fav.png2013-06-11T09:01:58-07:00http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/rss/stream/41287472013-06-11T09:01:58-07:002013-06-11T09:01:58-07:00Maine: Gendron adds Ben Guite to coaching staff
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<img alt="Ben Guite" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/c7CUSaEBPbsqHCzdF0Fs-iODFC8=/72x0:670x399/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/14712587/ben_guite_pose_rink.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Ben Guite | University of Maine Staff Photo</figcaption>
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<p>Ben Guite scored the first goal of the game in Maine's 1999 NCAA Championship contest over New Hampshire that the Black Bears eventually won in overtime.</p> <p> </p>
<p>Former Black Bears forward <span>Ben Guite</span> has been named the second assistant to <a href="http://www.westerncollegehockeyblog.com/2013/5/28/4375120/red-gendron-press-conference-umaine-hockey-coach-black-bears-hockey-east" target="_blank">new head coach Red Gendron</a>. 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 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/">Boston Bruins</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighhockey.com/">Colorado Avalanche</a> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ontheforecheck.com/">Nashville Predators</a>.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Several Maine media outlets had reported that former Maine assistant and longtime NHL assistant <span>Jay Leach</span> 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.</p>
<p><i>Jeff Cox covers hockey for SBNation. Follow him on twitter </i><a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffcoxsbnation" target="_blank">@JeffCoxSBNation</a><i>.</i></p>
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/hockey-east/2013/6/11/4413670/maine-black-bears-hockey-east-coaching-staff-red-gendron-ben-guite-jay-leachJeff Cox2013-05-28T22:44:17-07:002013-05-28T22:44:17-07:00Red Gendron introduced as Maine hockey coach
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/4t0E-PYPgR0bD9IHxXpy2gpzcCo=/0x294:825x844/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/13801973/g.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Jeff Cox</figcaption>
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<p>Red Gendron will be the fourth head hockey coach to guide the University of Maine Black Bears.</p> <p> </p>
<p>Dennis ‘Red' Gendron was officially introduced as the new head hockey coach at the University of Maine Tuesday afternoon in front of fans and members of the media at the Alfond Arena.</p>
<p>Gendron has held a very special place in his heart for the University of Maine because his first college-coaching job propelled him to working in the NHL and subsequent stops in college hockey. The New England College graduate was a member of Shawn Walsh's staff when the Black Bears won the school's first NCAA Championship in 1993.</p>
<p>"To me I think about championships more than anything else. As a coach, during a championship season, as a coach, winning it is what you think of," said Gendron when asked what he remembered most about the 1993 season.</p>
<p>As passionate as he is about Maine hockey and winning championships, Gendron also appreciates the sentimental value of returning to Maine. "To put it simply, I owe this place. I made so many relationships here. Shawn Walsh gave me an opportunity. For me, this is a dream job," said Gendron.</p>
<p>There was a clear buzz in Orono around the addition of Gendron to the program. Maine starting goaltender <span>Martin Ouellette</span> was one of several players who watched the press conference. He said the team is very excited with their new head coach. "We met him through the process and then again this morning. We're very excited as a team," said Ouellette.</p>
<p>Ouellette believes Gendron will make a positive impact on the program. "I think he's going to bring back that winning culture this program needs to carry. He'll bring a compete level that we didn't have last year," said the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.jacketscannon.com/">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> draft pick.</p>
<p>Gendron is equally eager to bring championship hockey back to Orono. "I want this generation of Maine men to experience what the 1993 and 1999 did," said Gendron. The 55 year-old said he expects the Black Bears to compete for Hockey East Championships at the TD Garden and national championships and to be a fixture in the NCAA Tournament.</p>
<p>Gendron is one of a select few to win a NCAA Championship and to own Stanley Cup rings. Originally from Berlin, NH, Gendron boasts winning NCAA Championships as an assistant at Maine in 1993 and just last month at Yale. He also owns three Stanley Cup rings from his time in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/">New Jersey Devils</a> organization.</p>
<p>In addition to his NCAA stops at Maine and Yale, Gendron served as an assistant coach to Don ‘Toot' Cahoon at UMass-Amherst from 2005-2011. He also has head coaching experience in the USHL with the Indiana Ice and with the Abany River Rats, the Devils' AHL affiliate.</p>
<p>Gendron said he would bring an up-tempo style of play with him to Maine. "We're going to get after it. There are only two kinds of pressure. Pressure that you feel and pressure that you apply. We intend to apply the pressure," said Gendron.</p>
<p>We're excited for the fall to meet the new freshman and see all the returning guys back in better shape," said Ouellette. That seemed to be the general attitude in Orono on Tuesday. People were excited about Maine hockey again.</p>
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/2013/5/28/4375120/red-gendron-press-conference-umaine-hockey-coach-black-bears-hockey-eastJeff Cox2013-05-27T17:40:11-07:002013-05-27T17:40:11-07:00Red Gendron accepts head job for Maine hockey
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<img alt="Maine players line up for the national anthem at a Hockey East game against Northeastern at the Alfond Arena in Orono." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kwre954-E-FgNPnuYK5S1aClHuo=/266x0:1099x555/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/13732345/maineteam.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Maine players line up for the national anthem at a Hockey East game against Northeastern at the Alfond Arena in Orono. | Laura Reed (UMaine Athletics)</figcaption>
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<p>Red Gendron will return to the school that he helped guide to the 1993 NCAA Championship as an assistant coach on Shawn Walsh's staff.</p> <p>The University of Maine has officially announced that Red Gendron will be its new head hockey coach. Gendron, a 1979 graduate of New England College, will become the fourth head hockey coach in school history.</p>
<p>Gendron served on Shawn Walsh's staff at Maine from 1990-1993. In his final season in Orono, the Black Bears went 42-1-2 and won the NCAA National Championship. That team is widely remembered as one of the best ever in the history of college hockey.</p>
<p>In the university-issued press release, Gendron credits his first time spent in Orono as life changing. "All of the wonderful things that have happened to us since that time would not have been possible if not for the University of Maine, Shawn Walsh, Grant Standbrook, and all of the champion players and coaches who were part of our first experience Maine experience," said Gendron in the release.</p>
<p>Gendron left Maine after the 1993 season to work in the NHL. Most notably, Gendron's fingerprints were on the Stanley Cup in 1995, 2000 and 2003 while a part of the <a href="https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New Jersey Devils</a> staff. He garnered head coaching experience with New Jersey's AHL affiliate, the Albany Devils, as well. Before returning to the college game, Gendron was the head coach of the Indiana Ice, a junior team that competes in the USHL.</p>
<p>Most recently, Gendron was Keith Allain's top assistant at Yale as the Bulldogs won their first title in school history. Prior to that, he was an assistant at UMass-Amherst under head coach Don "Toot" Cahoon.</p>
<p>Gendron, who has his master's in educational administration from Maine, also played baseball at NEC and is fluent in French. He grew up in Berlin, NH before matriculating to NEC. He got his start in coaching as an assistant at his alma mater, Berlin High School, before moving to Bellows Free Academy in St. Albans, VT to be that school's head coach.</p>
<p>Gendron was chosen after a month-long process where a search committee interviewed several candidates over the phone and in-person. "His personal passion for the Black Bears and UMaine is extraordinary and will no doubt unite the Black Bear Nation," said Maine President Paul Ferguson.</p>
<p>Bob Corkum was the Interim Head Coach while the process to find a replacement for Tim Whitehead was ongoing. The former Black Bear had been an Associate Head Coach on Tim Whitehead's staff for the past six years. It is not yet known for sure what will happen with his job or that of Dan Kerluke, another Black Bears alum.</p>
<p>Whitehead was fired after 12 years at the helm of the Black Bears program. He took over for Walsh, who was a legend in the sport and a hero throughout the state. Walsh had led the program to NCAA Championships in 1993 and 1999 and several other highly successful seasons. Whitehead's first few seasons saw tremendous highs, including appearances in the NCAA Championship games in 2002 and 2004.</p>
<p>Stay with SBNation Tuesday and Wednesday for more reaction to the hiring of Red Gendron at Maine. Jeff Cox will be in Orono Tuesday for continuing coverage. Follow Jeff on twitter <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffcoxsbnation" target="_blank">@JeffCoxSBNation</a>.</p>
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/2013/5/27/4370990/red-gendron-Maine-hockey-coach-Yale-NHL-Tim-whitehead-bob-CorkumJeff Cox2013-05-26T08:26:15-07:002013-05-26T08:26:15-07:00Red Gendron: Timeline
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<img alt="Red Gendron on the ice at the Frozen Four with 2013 NCAA Champions Yale" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/TALLY_Y5tW0ssftfsog6SYx6Mh8=/0x247:825x797/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/13678123/gendron1.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Red Gendron on the ice at the Frozen Four with 2013 NCAA Champions Yale | Jeff Cox</figcaption>
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<p>Red Gendron's coaching career started at Bellows Free Academy in St. Albans, Vermont as a high school coach and teacher.</p> <p> </p>
<p>Red Gendron is set to become the new head hockey coach at the University of Maine. A press conference is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday afternoon in Orono. Gendron returns to the school where he earned a master's degree and helped guide the 1993 team to one of the best seasons in the history of the NCAA.</p>
<p><b>November 27, 1957</b>: Born in Boston, Massachusetts</p>
<p><b>Childhood</b>: Grew up in Berlin, NH in northern New Hampshire, where he learned to be fluent in French, as well as English</p>
<p><b>1975:</b> Graduated from Berlin High School (NH), winning a state championship</p>
<p><b>1979</b>: Graduated from New England College, three-time captain of hockey team as a defenseman, member of baseball team, played for current Middlebury coach Bill Beaney</p>
<p><b>1979-1981</b>: Returned to his high school alma mater as the Assistant Hockey Coach</p>
<p><b>1981-1990</b>: Head Coach and Teacher At Bellows Free Academy (VT) where his hockey teams won four state championships</p>
<p><b>1990-1993</b>: Assistant Coach for Shawn Walsh at Maine (1993 NCAA Champs)</p>
<p><b>1993-2002</b>: Assistant Coach and Scout for <a href="https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New Jersey Devils</a></p>
<p><b>2002-2004</b>: Head Coach of the Albany River Rats (AHL)</p>
<p><b>2004-2005</b>: Head Coach and General Manager of the Indiana Ice (USHL)</p>
<p><b>2005-2011</b>: Assistant Coach for Don "Toot" Cahoon at UMass-Amherst</p>
<p><b>2011-2013</b>: Assistant Coach for Keith Allain at Yale (2013 NCAA Champs)</p>
<p><b>Personal:</b> Married to his wife, Janet, and has two daughters, Katelyn and Allison</p>
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/2013/5/26/4367650/maine-hockey-coach-red-gendron-tim-whitehead-bob-corkum-black-bears-hockey-eastJeff Cox2013-05-25T11:00:09-07:002013-05-25T11:00:09-07:00Red Gendron: 4 Reasons he'll succeed at Maine
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<img alt="Red Gendron on the ice for Yale's Wednesday practice prior to the 2013 Frozen Four in Pittsburgh" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ceOYrtbxQGzjqXLG0_Rw4sNwtRA=/0x244:825x794/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/13629321/photo.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Red Gendron on the ice for Yale's Wednesday practice prior to the 2013 Frozen Four in Pittsburgh</figcaption>
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<p>Red Gendron will be the man behind the bench when Maine opens the 2013-14 season in October.</p> <p> </p>
<p>All signs indicate Red Gendron will be introduced as the next head hockey coach at the University of Maine at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon in Orono. Some Maine fans will be disappointed Athletic Director Steve Abbott didn't lure Jim Montgomery or George Gwozdecky to lead the state's flagship team.</p>
<p>What Gendron lacks in terms of pizazz, he'll make up for in getting down to the business of restoring the Black Bears hockey program.</p>
<p>Let's take a look at four reasons Red Gendron will succeed in Orono.</p>
<p>1. Gendron will demand perfection out of his players. According to several former UMass players, where he was an assistant prior to his recent stint at Yale, he was demanding, but very well respected by the team. Each former UMass player I spoke with said he was a great x's and o's coach and really knew the intracasies of the game.</p>
<p>2. Gendron can tell his players and prospective players he knows what it takes to develop their games to get them to the next level. He can boast having Stanley Cup rings and NCAA Championship rings. Gendron has experience as a head coach in the USHL and AHL so all of his time wasn't just as an assistant. He is fluent in French, which could be a positive in recruiting Quebec and other areas of Canada.</p>
<p>3. Players will come to Maine. The atmosphere has fallen a little with the tough times recently, but it is still a great arena to play college hockey. Think back to some of the terrific weekends in the past few years when Maine has big weekend sweeps over North Dakota and Boston College. The tradition speaks for itself. It also helps to have alums such as <span>Jimmy Howard</span>, <span>Gustav Nyquist</span>, <span>Dustin Penner</span>, <span>Teddy Purcell</span> and <span>Brian Flynn</span>, just to name a few, playing in the NHL Don't underestimate the power of Howard, Nyquist and Penner being on national television in the Stanley Cup Playoffs every night.</p>
<p>4. The team slated to take to the Alfond Arena ice in October has more promise than some casual observers might see. <span>Devin Shore</span>, Ryan Lomberg and Will Merchant lead a group of returning scorers while there is some potential in the incoming recruits. Some of the freshmen forwards could make an impact if given the opportunity. <span>Martin Ouellette</span> proved himself to be a legitimate number one goaltender in this league. Jake Rutt and <span>Ben Hutton</span> will lead the blue line.</p>
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/2013/5/25/4364714/four-reasons-red-gendron-will-succeed-as-maine-hockey-coach-gwozdecky-osiecki-montgomery-black-bearsJeff Cox2013-05-24T22:17:17-07:002013-05-24T22:17:17-07:00Maine offers coaching position to Red Gendron
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<img alt="Red Gendron, seen here leading Yale's practice at the Frozen Four in Pittsburgh last month." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mM0caspZmpVeMxd82BIJVkW8ZOs=/0x255:825x805/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/13628117/photo.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Red Gendron, seen here leading Yale's practice at the Frozen Four in Pittsburgh last month. | Jeff Cox</figcaption>
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<p>Red Gendron has won a Stanley Cup as a scout and assistant coach for the New Jersey Devils and has been assistant at Maine and Yale for NCAA Championship seasons.</p> <p> </p>
<p>According to multiple sources, the University of Maine will offer the position of head hockey coach to Yale associate head coach Red Gendron. The New England College alum was chosen over recently fired Ohio State coach Mark Osiecki. Gendron is a 1979 graduate NEC, a Division III school in Henniker, NH.</p>
<p>Gendron served on Shawn Walsh's staff at Maine from 1990-1993. In his final season in Orono, the Black Bears went 42-1-2 and won the NCAA National Championship. That team is widely remembered as one of the best ever in the history of college hockey.</p>
<p>Gendron left Maine after the 1993 season to work in the NHL. Most notably, Gendron's fingerprints were on the Stanley Cup in 1995, 2000 and 2003 while a part of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/">New Jersey Devils</a> staff. He garnered head coaching experience with New Jersey's AHL affiliate, the Albany Devils, as well. Before returning to the college game, Gendron was the head coach of the Indiana Ice, a junior team that competes in the USHL.</p>
<p>Most recently, Gendron was Keith Allain's top assistant at Yale as the Bulldogs won their first title in school history. Prior to that, he was an assistant at UMass-Amherst under head coach Don "Toot" Cahoon.</p>
<p>A former UMass player I spoke with Friday night, on the condition of anonymity, said, "Red really knows the game, the ins-and-outs, and gets the most out of his players. We really respected him and he'll turn that program around," he said.</p>
<p>Gendron, who has his master's in educational administration from Maine, also played baseball at NEC and is fluent in French. His knowledge of the French language could be pivotal in re-establishing a pipeline in Quebec and the rest of Canada.</p>
<p>Bob Corkum was the Interim Head Coach while the process to find a replacement for Tim Whitehead was ongoing. The former Black Bear had been an Associate Head Coach on Tim Whitehead's staff for the past six years. It is not yet known for sure what will happen with his job or that of Dan Kerluke, another Black Bears alum. The unfortunate side effects of a coaching change are the possibility that assistants could lose their job as the new coach will look to bring in his own staff. </p>
<p><i>Jeff Cox will have continuing coverage of the situation at Maine. Follow him on twitter </i><a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffcoxsbnation" target="_blank">@JeffCoxSBNation</a><i>.</i></p>
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/2013/5/24/4364596/maine-coaching-search-red-gendron-tim-whitehead-bob-corkum-mark-osiecki-black-bears-hockeyJeff Cox2013-05-23T21:29:07-07:002013-05-23T21:29:07-07:00Maine set to announce new head coach next week
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<img alt="Maine players line up for the national anthem at a hockey game at Alfond Arena this past season." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/WfshxeBV5teth1-n8_XHOIE1ags=/266x0:1099x555/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/13580595/maineteam.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Maine players line up for the national anthem at a hockey game at Alfond Arena this past season. | Laura Reed - UMaine Athletics</figcaption>
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<p>Maine is set to announce its new head hockey coach at a press conference Tuesday or Wednesday, according to a source.</p> <p>According to a source, the University of Maine is expected to announce its new head hockey coach at a press conference Tuesday. Bob Corkum is currently serving as the Interim Head Coach following the ouster of Tim Whitehead after twelve years behind the Black Bears bench. Sources indicate he will not be named the permanent coach.</p>
<p>Mark Osiecki visited Orono this week and met with the search committee, but returned home Thursday. He is one of the two candidates for the job. Yale assistant coach Red Gendron and UNH assistant coach Jim Tortorella are rumored to be one of the other finalists.</p>
<p>Gendron played at Division III New England College and was a member of the Black Bears coaching staff in 1993 when Maine won the National Championship. He has Stanley Cup rings from his time on the staff of the New Jersey Devils. He has also been an assistant at UMass-Amherst.</p>
<p>Tortorella spent 16 seasons as the head coach of Colby College after graduating from Maine where he played goalie. He has been on the staff at New Hampshire for the past two seasons, assisting Dick Umile.</p>
<p>Osiecki was relieved of his duties at Ohio State last month. He has previous experience as an assistant at Wisconsin and a head coach in the United States Hockey League (USHL).</p>
<p><i>Jeff Cox will have continuing coverage of the search to find a new head hockey coach at Maine. Follow Jeff on twitter </i><a target="_blank" href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffcoxsbnation">@JeffCoxSBNation</a><i>.</i></p>
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/2013/5/23/4350660/ncaa-college-hockey-nhl-maine-black-bears-coaching-search-jack-capuano-bob-corkumJeff Cox2013-05-10T10:49:21-07:002013-05-10T10:49:21-07:00A month later, coaching search continues at Maine
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<img alt="Could Mark Osiecki come in out of left field to take the job?" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SAPdMmuFfC4dR99b5oHjcmhJ_sQ=/0x9:1000x676/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/12971679/137130651.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Could Mark Osiecki come in out of left field to take the job? | Gregory Shamus</figcaption>
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<p>It has been a month since Tim Whitehead was fired by Steve Abbott following a dismal season where the Black Bears snuck into the Hockey East playoffs and failed to make the NCAA Tournament for a fifth time in six years.</p> <p> </p>
<p>It has been a month since the University of Maine terminated head hockey coach Tim Whitehead. Athletic Director Steve Abbott formed a search committee to find the next bench boss of the school and state's premier sports team.</p>
<p>Bob Corkum was named the Interim Head Coach, but a source with direct knowledge of the search committee denies rumors that it is a foregone conclusion the former Black Bear will be offered the job on a permanent basis.</p>
<p>The Black Bears missed out on one of the early favorites to become the next coach when Jim Montgomery took the top job at Denver University. Montgomery, the captain of the 1993 NCAA Championship team and the school's all-time leading scorer, had been the head coach of the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL. A former assistant at RPI and Notre Dame, Montgomery is considered to be one of the up-and-coming names in the college game.</p>
<p>Providence coach Nate Leaman, a graduate assistant under Shawn Walsh during the 1999 NCAA Championship season, has reportedly been in talks with PC Athletic Director Bob Driscoll on a contract extension after Maine asked permission to speak with him.</p>
<p>Former Black Bear goaltender and current UNH assistant coach Jim Tortorella has supposedly been in contact by members of the search committee. He led Division III Colby College for 16 seasons, compiling a record of 230-138-33. He is the brother of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/">New York Rangers</a> head coach John Tortorella who also played at Maine.</p>
<p>Yale assistant coach and former Black Bear assistant Red Gendron is another name being bandied about. He was Keith Allain's right-hand-man as the Bulldogs captured the NCAA Championship last month in Pittsburgh. He also has NHL experience, winning Stanley Cups as an assistant with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/">New Jersey Devils</a> in 1995 and 2000. The former New England College (Division III) hockey and baseball player earned a masters in educational administration at Maine when the Black Bears went 42-1-2 en route to the school's first of two NCAA Championships. He will turn 56 in November.</p>
<p>The homerun hire would be former Denver coach George Gwozdecky. The 59 year-old led the Pioneers to NCAA Championships in 2004 and 2005. He led Denver to 12 NCAA Tournament appearances since taking over in 1994. He coached Miami and Division III Wisconsin-River Falls before his stop in the Mile High City. Overall, the 1978 graduate of Wisconsin has won 202 more games than he has lost.</p>
<p>Gwozdecky would certainly cost a lot more money than Tortorella, Gendron, or Corkum, but the investment would be well worth it. He is a proven commodity that would bring Maine hockey back to a position of national prominence. It was reported by ESPN's John Buccigross that Gwozdecky was in the running for the UConn job, but Boston College associate head coach Mike Cavanaugh was given the nod. ESPN personality and Denver Post scribe Woody Paige even suggested Gwozdecky could be a good candidate to replace Joe Sacco as head coach of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighhockey.com/">Colorado Avalanche</a>.</p>
<p>That is not to say Gwozdecky is the only one that can get the job done, but he would bring instant credibility back to Orono. Some have criticized Corkum for the sole reason of having been on the bench with Whitehead. He wouldn't be the homerun hire of Gwozdecky, but he has loads of international experience with USA Hockey and played in over 700 games in the NHL.</p>
<p>One positive from how this has been handled is the very few leaks of information. There has been very little information sifting outside. It might have fans on edge with how things are being conducted, but sometimes a stealth search is better. The worst thing to happen would be having coaches publicly denying rumors, like the disaster at UMass-Amherst last summer.</p>
<p>Maybe a Mark Osiecki, the recently fired Ohio State coach, or Gwozdecky will emerge as the next head coach even with all signs currently pointing to Corkum, Tortorella or Gendron.</p>
<p>This process has gone on for over a month, counting the evaluation that led to the firing of Whitehead. This is a marquee job, and Steve Abbott must do everything in his power to bring success back to Alfond Arena.</p>
<p>Jeff Cox covers college hockey and the AHL for SBNation. Follow him on twitter <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffcoxsbnation" target="_blank">@JeffCoxSBNation</a>.</p>
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/2013/5/10/4311278/maine-hockey-coaching-search-continues-george-gwozdecky-bob-corkum-steve-abbott-red-gendronJeff Cox