Guy Gaudreau steps downs as Gloucester Catholic ice hockey coach
Guy Gaudreau is the father of Calgary Flames star Johnny Gaudreau as well as Boston College standout Matt Gaudreau. In a sense, Guy Gaudreau also is the father of Gloucester Catholic ice hockey.
Guy Gaudreau is the father of Calgary Flames star Johnny Gaudreau as well as Boston College standout Matt Gaudreau.
In a sense, Guy Gaudreau also is the father of Gloucester Catholic ice hockey.
After 11 seasons during which the Rams rose from little more than a club team to one of the state's most respected programs, Gaudreau announced his retirement on Monday.
"It's been a good run," Gaudreau said. "But it's time."
Gaudreau, who is the director of ice hockey operations at Hollydell Ice Arena in Sewell, said he hopes to spend more time with his wife, Jane, and to be able to see more games in person involving his sons.
"I've only been out to Calgary one time this season," Gaudreau said. "It's not like you can just drop everything and run out there during high school hockey season."
With Johnny Gaudreau, a three-time NHL all-star, entering the prime of his career and Matt Gaudreau likely to begin a professional career as well, Guy Gaudreau felt the time was right to step away from the demands of coaching at Gloucester Catholic.
In addition, the Gaudreaus' youngest child, Katie, is scheduled to graduate from Gloucester Catholic this spring.
Gaudreau's teams were 101-97-21 in his 11 seasons. In 2010, the Rams reached the Non-Public state championship game behind Johnny Gaudreau, a junior playing his final scholastic season before spending his senior year in junior hockey.
In addition to his sons, Guy Gaudreau also coached another future NHL player, Buddy Robinson, a defenseman for the Ottawa Senators.
Under Gaudreau, Gloucester Catholic advanced from a start-up program to a member of the state's prestigious Gordon Conference, which features the best high school teams in New Jersey.
"That's pretty good high school ice hockey," Guy Gaudreau said of the conference.
Gaudreau joined the Gloucester Catholic staff as an assistant coach under Chris Voit shortly after the program was started in the mid-2000s.
"In the early years, we weren't well-organized as a program," Gaudreau said. "We let the program evolve, and then it just took off from there. We always had a lot of interest and commitment from some great families and players."
John Colman, the former Gloucester Catholic principal who helped to start the ice hockey program, said Gaudreau made a major impact.
"Guy was instrumental along with Chris Voit with introducing ice hockey to Gloucester Catholic," Colman said in a statement. "I'm saddened to hear the news of Guy's retirement as coach, but it is totally understandable with his sons John and Matt enjoying such successful careers and his daughter Katie ready to graduate from GC."
Gloucester Catholic athletic director Pat Murphy announced that a search will be conducted for the school's next coach.
Murphy said replacing Gaudreau will be a difficult task.
"Guy's passion for the game and his blue-collar approach were passed on to his players," Murphy said in a statement. "His players took their lead from him as the coach. Guy coached during a great era in hockey at Gloucester Catholic and will be missed."
@PhilAnastasia
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