Kitchener Rangers name Jason Fortier as associate coach
The Kitchener Rangers announced Thursday they have named Jason Fortier as associate coach of the club.
Fortier spent the 2015-16 season as an assistant coach with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League where he helped guide the club to a QMJHL President Cup, going 16-4 in the postseason. The club earned a berth to the 2016 MasterCard Memorial Cup in Red Deer, Alberta where they went on to play in the championship final.
Prior to joining the Huskies, Fortier was the head coach of the Toronto Lakeshore Patriots of the Ontario Junior Hockey League leading them to back-to-back OJHL championships in 2013-14 and 2014-15, which included a combined record of 70-30-0-7 over two seasons. It was the first time an OJHL club accomplished the feat of winning consecutive championships since the St. Michael’s Buzzers in 2005 and 2006. He was named runner-up as OJHL Coach of the Year in 2013-14, and led the Patriots to a Dudley-Hewitt Cup title and Royal Bank Cup berth that season. He also helped guide the Toronto Nationals (Midget AAA) to the Telus Cup, Canada’s national midget championship, in 2013-14.
His foray into coaching began in the 2008-09 season with the Vaughan Vipers (OJHL) where he spent four seasons at the helm, compiling a record of 125-61-0-18 in 204 games from 2008-12.
As a player, the Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario native spent time in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (Espanola Eagles), Central Ontario Junior ‘A’ Hockey League (Newmarket 87’s), OPJHL (Newmarket Hurricanes), and OHL (Newmarket Royals). In the 1996-97 season, he played in the Netherlands and German Tier II league (Eindhoven Kemphanen, Bad Reichenhall EHC) before joining the Wichita Thunder of the Central Hockey League in 1998-99. He also spent a year in the CIS where he suited up for Sault College in 1999-00.
“I’m extremely pleased and honoured to be given this opportunity with the Kitchener Rangers,” said Fortier. “To be joining an outstanding coaching staff with the likes of Jay McKee, Matthew Barnaby and Mike McKenzie is very exciting.
“The Rangers organization is second to none, and I look forward to helping the team achieve success.”
Media inquiries can be directed to:
Alyscia Warner, Communications Manager
Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club
(519) 576-3700 x234 (W)
(647) 982-2982 (C)
[email protected]