LEWISTON – Familiarity breeds success. At least, Lewiston High School athletic director Jason Fuller is hoping so.
Fuller’s search for a new hockey coach for the Blue Devils was wide, but it took a turn back toward home, and ended on the school’s back doorstep.
Jamie Belleau, a Lewiston High School hockey alumnus and Lewiston resident, who last coached Edward Little during the 2004-05 season, will be the team’s new head coach.
“I feel very fortunate that Jamie had an interest,” Fuller said. “I think he’ll do a good job with the program over the next few years. (Former coach Norm Gagne) did a great job, and we’re fortunate to have Jamie who can come in behind him and continue the work that (Gagne) did.”
“When the job came up, it looked like an opportunity that, if I didn’t take a chance to get the job, it might be something I would look back on and regret,” Belleau said. “I look at coaching at Lewiston as an opportunity. It’s a challenge, but it’s a challenge I’m ready for.”
Belleau, an attorney at Skelton, Taintor and Abbott in Auburn, guided Edward Little to back-to-back state titles in 2003 and 2004, his first two years coaching at the varsity level. He hung up his whistle after the following season, citing a need to be closer to his young family.
Three seasons later, when the chance arose to return to his alma mater, Belleau was one of the first to apply – and one of the first to have his name spread like wildfire in the local hockey rumor mill.
“If you’ve been born and raised in this community, you hear a lot of rumors about all sorts of things,” Belleau said. “It’s an honor to have had people talking about me being a viable candidate for this job.”
At Edward Little, Belleau preached discipline on and off the ice, respect and solid fundamentals. He doesn’t envision any of that changing on the other side of the river.
Maybe the only thing that will change, he said, will be the color of his warm-ups.
“I wouldn’t be here today, probably, if I didn’t have the opportunity provided to me at EL,” Belleau said. “Things happen for a reason.”
Perhaps equally important in Belleau’s hiring is the supporting cast he plans to bring with him. Tom St. Onge, who helped Belleau at Edward Little, former Lewiston head coach Tim Smith and Marc Frenette are on board as volunteer assistants.
“The program’s very lucky to have all three of them,” Belleau said.”
Smith and Belleau have combined to lead teams to three state titles in the last seven seasons. Smith guided the Blue Devils to their most recent championship in 2002.
“When you coach at the varsity level, and when you coach at Lewiston High School, the goal every year is to win a state championship,” Belleau said. “I know that. That is the expectation I think needs to be sent to the players.”
Belleau played for Lewiston High School from 1987-1989.
“Having an alumnus always helps,” Fuller said. “It always makes it a little better because he knows what the program is about, and what’s at stake in where the program goes. It’s going to be a win-win for Lewiston High School.”
Fuller also said Monday that the junior varsity coaching position is still open, though the school has received a gaggle of applications for that position as well.
“We wanted to make sure Jamie was established and in the head position first,” Fuller said.
Belleau met with hockey parents Monday night to set up the summer hockey program and to address any concerns they might have.
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