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Coaches
2023-2024 Head Coaches
The Executive Committee of the E. O. Wild, together with the HEO Technical Director has approved the following Head Coaches for the 2023-24 season. Thank you to our board executives and the independent interviewers that spent numerous hours helping us achieve this.
U12 - Francis Wathier
The E. O. Wild is pleased to announce Francis Wathier, former NHL, AHL, and ECHL player as our U12 Head Coach. During his 10-year pro career, coach Wathier honed his coaching skills. A former QMJHL Gatineau Olympiques assistant coach, and owner/operator of Francis Wathier Hockey Academy, coach Wathier will lead our U12 team bringing together players from our 4 associations. Married and father of three amazing kids, he is passionate about outdoor living and he is looking forward to developing future elite hockey players in Ottawa.
U13 - Jake McDermott
The E. O. Wild is pleased to announce Jake McDermott as our U13 Head Coach. Winner of the Travis Crickard Award for HEO Coach Of the Year, coach Jake and his staff led their team to the U12 AAA Championships last season. Jake is excited to be returning to the Wild for a second season. Having been a Head Coach each of the past five seasons, Jake has significant experience and knowledge in working with and coaching the 2011 age group. Jake’s coaching philosophy focuses on learning and development with a competitive and disciplined mindset. Coach Jake brings a calm, measured, respectful and fair approach to his teams and is looking forward to leading the U13 E. O Wild in the upcoming 2023-2024 season.
U14 - Chris Robillard
The E. O. Wild is pleased to announce Chris Robillard as the U14 Head coach. Coach Robillard led his group last year to the finals of U13 AAA. He has been involved in minor hockey for the past 17 years, 15 of which are at the AAA level. His coaching philosophy is about respect, communication, and compete-level. These young athletes will be challenged to compete with themselves, with and for their teammates, and against opponents at the highest level. Coach Robillard has had the privilege of learning from some incredible athletes and he continues to look forward to learning from these young players and helping them prepare as they set their sights on possible future careers.
U15 Zach Gillam
The E. O. Wild is pleased to announce Zach Gillam has been selected as our U15 Head Coach. Coach Zach has been coaching Tier 1 hockey in the Eastern Ontario region for over a decade. The son of two teachers, he has developed his own teaching skills in order to pass his knowledge of our game onto the younger generations he coaches. In addition to coaching, Zach spends a lot of his time working on skill development. He is a Hockey Canada Certified Skills Coach and is the owner of SPS Hockey Development. Through that, he’s had the privilege of working with some incredible athletes, ranging from professionals to U10. One of the highlights of Coach Zach’s coaching career was winning the U15 Championship and attending the Provincial Championships with the 2002 Ottawa 67’s AAA team. Coach Zach is thrilled to be joining the Wild organization and you can find him on Twitter and Instagram at @ZachGillam94 and @zach.gillam respectively.
U16 - Dave Byrne
The E. O. Wild is pleased to announce Dave Byrne as the Head Coach of our new U16 division. Coach Byrne, is in his sixth season with the Eastern Ontario Wild and will be returning as Head Coach of this pinnacle program/division. Coach Dave values his role as a teacher and always puts a premium on player development, both on and off the ice. His attention to detail, high standards, and creative ways to communicate with players allow him to get the most out of an athlete while at the same time driving team success.
U18 - Steve Malette & Steve Norton
The E. O. Wild is pleased to announce Steve Malette & Steve Norton as the Head Coaches of our new U18 division. With two extensive coaching resumes, Coach Malette and Coach Norton will spearhead the new U18 program. Please read their extensive bio in the article announcing their acceptance to our program.
Thank you,
Mark Rossides
President
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