Where are they now?…with Guy Chouinard

Guy Chouinard coached seven teams over sixteen seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He holds the all-time record for most regular season wins in QMJHL history. He also led four teams to regular season crowns (Jean-Rougeau Trophy) and won the President Cup in 1987 with the Longueuil Chevaliers. In 2005, Guy Chouinard was inducted into the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Hall of Fame. We tracked him down to ask him a few questions.

<i>What have you been up to?</i>

"I’ve been involved with a company for just over a year now, which specializes in the sale of very specific telecommunication home services. I’ve bought into a franchise, and I must confess, it’s nice to be your own boss. The company’s name is "ACN". It has a number of great franchise opportunities, and the telecommunications market is just booming right now. If people want to learn more about it, they can send me an e-mail at <u>[email protected]</u>."

<i>What do you consider as the pinnacle moment of your coaching career?</i>

"There’s actually quite a few, but the President Cup win in 1987 with the Longueuil Chevaliers is definitely the highlight of my career. It’s always special to win a championship. Sadly, we weren’t able to bring home the Memorial Cup, but the whole experience was special, especially since the club hadn’t made the playoffs the last two seasons. Also, after playing three years with the Quebec Remparts, it was nice to come back home and coach in my own backyard. In 1998, we managed to go 27 straight games without a loss, quite a feat for a junior team, and just one game short of the League record."

<i>Do you still pay close attention to the QMJHL landscape?</i>

"A little bit. I used to be more into it. I renewed with the "Q" when Sidney Crosby started playing. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know that he was something special."

<i>Do you like what you’re seeing on the ice with the new officiating standards?</i>

"I like the new style of play, and I think it’s good for the game. The fans love it since it’s a more entertaining brand of hockey. It’s what they want to see and I can’t really blame them; they’re the ones buying the tickets. I’m sure coaches don’t enjoy the 6-5 games, but the fans sure do. Today, it takes a good goaltender to be successful because the game is so wide-open. Personally, I had the reputation of adopting a tight-checking style."

<i>If you had an opportunity to come back behind the bench, would you consider it?</i>

"Every coach will tell you that at the core of their being, they’ll always remain a coach. I worked in the North American Hockey League after my last stint in the "Q". I’d probably consider another opportunity, but I’d have to think about it."