Jason Fortier has always looked for opportunities to further his coaching career and another one has come.
The 41-year-old Sault Ste. Marie native was introduced on Thursday as the new associate coach of the Ontario Hockey League’s Kitchener Rangers after one season with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.
Fortier said that the decision was a tough one but also an opportunity to keep challenging himself.
“Whenever you work with people and have success you never want to leave but it’s a business and I want to keep progressing and I want to keep challenging myself,” Fortier said. “There’s a part of me that’s a little sad. I’m going to miss the players and I’m going to miss the staff. Everyone was so good to me there. The players were very special. I’ve had this feeling numerous times with teams.”
Fortier said he still would “be a friend and still be an ear if they need me” for the players with the Huskies.
“Those players know they can reach out to me any time,” Fortier said.
Fortier also said the opportunity with the Rangers wasn’t one he could pass up.
“When the Kitchener Rangers give you an opportunity, I don’t think too many guys are going to pass that up,” Fortier said.
Fortier joins the Rangers after helping the Huskies win a QMJHL title and come within a goal of a MasterCard Memorial Cup title. The team lost in overtime to the OHL’s London Knights in the tournament final in Red Deer, AB in May.
Gilles Bouchard, who serves as the Huskies head coach, said during the Memorial Cup that Fortier brought a lot to the organization.
“He’s unbelievable with the kids. It’s joke after joke with the players,” Bouchard said. “He relaxes the guys as a group. He’s very good to have with us.”
Fortier joined the Huskies prior to the 2015-16 season after two seasons behind the bench as head coach of the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Toronto Patriots.
Prior to joining the Patriots Fortier served three seasons as head coach of the OJHL’s Vaughan Vipers and he also held the same position with the Greater Toronto Hockey League’s Toronto Titans AAA Midget team.
During the Memorial Cup, Fortier called the experience of being an assistant coach a valuable one.
“It’s an excellent learning tool for a head coach to go back and be an assistant and try to keep mastering the craft,” Fortier said.
In speaking of some of his influences at the time, Fortier credited former Soo Elks AAA Midget Coach John Fuselli.
“As a head coach he was a very tough guy,” Fortier said. “He was hard on you and challenged you. But he was also a fun guy and he really wanted to make you laugh and really find the love in the game. As a head coach, that’s kind of my mentality. I learned a lot from John that way.”
“As an assistant you’ve really got to make a conscious effort sometimes,” Fortier continued. “As a head coach you’ve got to keep your distance a bit (from the players) but as an assistant you’ve got to be the big brother and be that shoulder sometimes and pick your battles. You’re not going to want to battle a kid on everything. He needs to know that you’re there with him. He’s going to make mistakes and you’ve got to be that shoulder to lean on and be there to give some mentorship.”
Fortier said Thursday he made sure he “tried to become the best complement to the staff he could be” with the Huskies.
Fortier said there isn’t a major difference between being an assistant coach and an associate coach.
“There’s no more duty,” Fortier said. “It’s a pat on the back and a gesture by an organization that feels you’re important to them. It says that you’ve been around and are experienced and (the team) has deemed you to be a head coach in this league at some point.
“It shows a lot of care that they believe in you,” Fortier added.
He also spoke of an opportunity to work with Rangers Coach Jay McKee, a former NHL defenceman.
“I think he’s going to be a great guy to work with,” Fortier said of McKee. “I spoke with him and (Assistant Coach) Matt Barnaby as well. They each have their own characteristics and personalities. They seem to be passionate. Both guys have tons of experience in hockey.
“I’ll find myself maybe shutting up and listening more than normal,” Fortier joked.
The Rangers make a pair of trips to Sault Ste. Marie, the first coming on Feb. 17.
“It will be a treat,” Fortier said.