The University of Maine announced on Wednesday morning that Ben Guite has been named interim head coach of the men’s ice hockey team, taking over for the late Red Gendron who tragically collapsed and died last Friday while playing golf in Orono at the age of 63.
The news came from Director of Athletics Ken Ralph, who said about Guite, “We are fortunate to have someone of Ben Guite‘s experience and character to guide our program through this difficult time. Ben is a Black Bear alum, a national champion, played in the National Hockey League, and has established himself as one of the top assistant coaches in college hockey. More importantly, there is no one who cares more about the University of Maine and the success of its hockey program.”
Guite, a former player with the Black Bears, helped lead the team to their second national championship back in 1999. After his college career he went on play 13 professional hockey seasons, that spanned 600 total games that included the ECHL and AHL levels and a 175 game stint in the NHL with three different teams. He has been on Gendrons coaching staff since the summer of 2013, serving as an assistant for the first two years before being promoted to associate head coach on October 14, 2015.
Guite said after receiving the news, “I would like to thank Director of Athletics Ken Ralph and President Joan Ferrini-Mundy for their confidence in me to help guide our team through this difficult time. At the moment, our thoughts are with Coach Red’s wife Jan, and their daughters, Katie and Allie, and we are here to support our players in any needs that they may have. Our program will honor Coach Red through our passion for Maine Hockey and our effort on and off the ice. I am honored to serve on the Maine Hockey staff and strive to represent all that Maine Hockey means to myself, our University, our state, and our region. I will continue to give back to a program which has given so much to me both as a player, and as a coach.”
