Andre Ouellette is a grade 8 Math teacher at Hanwell Park Academy. Andre Ouellette has coach for 26 years starting back in 1997. He has coached many teams like Tobique valley panthers, FHS Black Kats, Carleton North Stars, ESA Castors, FYHA, and the U18 AAA Caps. Andre grew up in Grand Falls and also played hockey there. He was inspired to play hockey by his family, and he was exposed to hockey at very young age by his dad and his uncles. He started to play hokey when he was 6 and was first put on skates at the age of 3. Andre has won Atlantic's with his Bantom AAA team. His favorite NHL hockey team being the Boston Bruins as his uncle played 34 games for the bruins in 1960-1961.
1.What inspired you to play hockey ?
My family inspired me to play hockey. My dad and uncles exposed me to hockey at a very young age and I never looked back. I remember looking up to them and wanting to be just like them. I was very lucky to have positive role models in my life that gave me the opportunities to try the sport with the hopes of finding love in hockey. At the end of the day, I can honestly tell you hockey, sports in general, saved my life and provided me with the foundation that was built on sacrifice, discipline, commitment, punctuality, and being part of a TEAM. Assets that drive me during my day-to-day tasks as a human, teacher, father, son, and husband.
2.What is your favorite moment in your hockey Career?
It is hard to mention one favorite moment because there are so many. I will always cherish winning my three consecutive AA High School NB championships from 1986-1989. I have a tattoo representing all three years. My 3rd and final one was very special because we won it in our barn in Grand-Falls in double OT. The rink was packed, and my father was there. That was the last game he ever saw me play.
Another moment was when my Bantam AAA team won Atlantic's in 1985 and our team got invited to take part in an International tournament in Port-Coquitlam, BC. Can you tell me which famous Canadian comes from Port-Coquitlam, BC Ethan? One of my highlights of that trip was going to a Canucks practice in the morning and watching them play that night against the Oilers. Ask Mr. Stone about the Oilers dynasty of the 80's.
As a coach, my most memorable year was coaching Competitive Peewee hockey in 2016. One day, ask me about my angry strawberry tattoo I have on my arm 😉. That year, we played 56 games. We won 53, lost 2, and tied one. Played 6 tournaments and won 5 of them. What made that year sweeter was that we ended up winning zones and the Championship in AA Division. I will never forget the end of the year banquet. I have never seen so many won banners in one year. My speech to players and parents was to make sure they understand that years like the one we just had didn't happen very often. I wanted them to cherish and be in THAT moment.
3. How old were you when you started to play hockey?
I was three years old when my dad put skates on me for the first time. Started playing at the age of six.
4. Who is the most famous person that you know?
I am very fortunate to have met many famous people during my time in hockey, but I will never forget meeting and playing alongside of legends Ray Bourque, Terry O'Reilly, Rick Middleton, John Wensink to name a few. I will never forget shaking hands with Guy Lafleur, Willie O'Ree and the late Bobby Hull. Only after shaking their hands, I understood why they had rockets for shots. I always enjoy having conversations with Paul Henderson when we connect on the phone. I also have his iconic 1972 goal inked on my left arm. Don't know if you know Dave Morissette but I did meet him and spent a weekend fishing with him thanks to my good friend Eric Bissonnette. Dave was an enforcer for the Canadians in the 90'. Another person I enjoy taking to is my uncle Red. He scored his 1st NHL goal in Detroit in the old Olympiad in November 1960. The goaltender's name was Terry Sawchuck. Look him up 😉.
5.What's the most famous team that you have coached?
Here are the hockey teams I have coached:
1997: Tobique Valley Panthers A
1999-2002: FHS Black Kats AAA
2006-2007: Carleton North Stars AA
2007-2012: ESA Castors AA
2012-2015: Coached FYHA Atom and Peewee
2015-2019: ESA Castors AA
2021-2022: U18 Caps AAA
2022- ??? : HHL 😉
6.How many years have you coached hockey?
I coached for 16 years at various levels. Also coach other sports when I was a Phys.Ed teacher at Devon Middle School.
7. How far did your hockey career go? Like the NHL, the Q, Miget,
After High School, I attended the University of Moncton in Edmundston (CUSLM). During those 4 years, I played two years of Senior B hockey for the Grand-Falls Cataracts. When I enrolled at the University of New Brunswick in education, I traveled weekends to play Senior for the same team. My senior career ended in 1995 when I suffered an AC joint separation on my right shoulder. After securing a B contract in teaching in Fredericton, I played in a commercial gents' league until starting up the ESA program in 2007.
8.When you went to college did you play for the hockey team there? If so what's the team's name?
No, I did not play for the University of Moncton's hockey team. They are called "Les Aigles Bleus" - Blue Eagles. As mentioned in answer 7, I played Senior B Hockey.
9.What made you like the Boston Bruins?
Hockey runs deep in the Ouellette-Godbout family. My uncle Gerry "Red" Ouellette played 34 games with the Boston Bruins in 1960-1961. During that time, one of his teammates was from Fredericton, NB. Can you name him? My uncle ended up playing 12 years in the AHL before accepting a Sports Director position in Campbellton, NB where he became player/coach for the Campbellton Tigres. Next time you visit the NB Sports Hall of Fame on Queen Street, look him up. He has been inducted as both a player and a coach. So, I guess you might say I was brought up a Bruins fan because of my uncle but Bobby Orr revolutionized the D position, and he will always be my favorite Boston Bruins Player.
10. In your opinion what is the best way to make it to the NHL?
Ethan, the best advice I can give you in making ANY team is by putting in the time, setting goals for yourself, and never giving up until those goals/dreams become reality. Believe in yourself and when your workouts/life become tough, push yourself even harder because rewards will come. The key is not to give up and keep moving forward. The Booster zjuice Caps in 2016 had a chant every time we step on and off the ice. That saying is "HARD WORK PAYS OFF" The key is to Believe and put in the time.
