Yanick Jean, head coach and general manager of the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, established a new mark in the Maritimes Quebec Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) this season when he won his 590th victory. He thus beat Richard Martel who had previously hired him as an assistant coach. Without a doubt, the Saguenéens are his life.
As a child, he followed them and the players became his heroes. Then he played for them and later became their head coach and general manager. Its main objective is for supporters to be proud of their team.
He is ready to listen to offers from professional teams, but never to the detriment of his family.
Respect for authority was important to you.
In elementary school, I had good grades, I was disciplined and above all fearful of authority.
Why “fearful of authority”?
My parents instilled in me the importance of respecting authority. So respect for authority is always part of my life values. Until the age of 9, I lived in Alma before my parents, Laurier-Jean and Michèle, decided to move to Chicoutimi.
The influence of your parents.
My father was a foreman for many years at Alcan and my mother worked for 40 years for a bank; she managed employees. They taught me the values of life, especially the importance of family life.
Did you have a lot of friends in high school?
No, because I was too busy playing baseball and hockey. In the summer, I played baseball, but also hockey, just like in the winter in my neighbors’ yard. I was able to count on an excellent minor hockey coach, Carl Bouchard, whose son, Olivier, is one of my assistant coaches.
Summer vacation with the family.
My father rented a tent trailer and we would go camping, or we would go on vacation to Old Orchard, not forgetting our trips to Montreal to attend Expos games.
You excelled at both baseball and hockey.
I had the chance to play baseball with the Voyageurs de Jonquière of the LBJEQ and hockey with the Saguenéens de Chicoutimi of the LHJMQ. Just before the NHL draft date, the Washington Capitals asked me if I would stop playing baseball if they ever drafted me. The answer was yes.
When you were young, who was your favorite Saguenéens player?
None other than the renowned Marc Fortier, who has had an exceptional career. Before his arrival with the Saguenéens, my favorite players were André Villeneuve and Jean-Marc Richard, because, just like me, they were defenders.
Do you remember your first Canadian match at the Forum?
How could I forget it! Patrick Roy, who was ridiculed by the crowd and angry with head coach Mario Tremblay, suddenly announced to president Ronald Corey that he and the Canadian were finished.
You spent an entire summer in Washington.
The Capitals had invited their young prospects to train. This allowed me to learn English, without forgetting that it was the first time in my life that I lived somewhere other than Chicoutimi. However, I didn’t believe I had the talent to play in the NHL.
The last season of your playing career was in the East Coast League.
I wanted to learn how to coach under John Marks in Greenville, who helped me a lot.
Your younger brother is in the Canadian Armed Forces.
The years pass quickly, because it seems to me that not so long ago, he was playing in the atom hockey category, and I, who played in the bantam category, was the assistant coach in his team which was led by our uncle.
Your brother spent a trip to Bosnia.
He was assigned to peace operations intended to protect the lives of civilians and enable stabilization and reconstruction initiatives.
Have you experienced moments of worry?
Compared to today, there were no daily communications. It was very distressing not knowing what my brother was going through.
Your parents were good taxi drivers.
And how ! They continually drove my brother and I to both our practices and our matches.
What was your first job and what was your first car?
My first job was a gas station attendant at Sears and I was only 12 years old. A few years later, I worked as a teller at the Royal Bank.
Your car !
I thought you forgot the question. A 10 year old used Honda Prelude. I can’t help but laugh, because today some players have better cars than their coach, including me.
Was there any added pressure from playing for the team in the town you grew up in?
At the beginning of my junior career, I didn’t feel any pressure until I was drafted by the Washington Capitals. From the day of my draft, I put a lot of pressure on myself because I didn’t want to disappoint the people in my region.
At the end of your professional hockey career, you returned to university.
I was hired as part-time defender manager with the Saguenéens. I subsequently enrolled at university to take courses in psychology and physical activity.
For what ?
I realized I had to make a major adjustment if I wanted to lead today’s youth. Gone are the days when 20 players had to adapt to their coach. Today, it’s the opposite: the coach must adjust to each player.
Your partner, Annabel, played an important role in your life.
Even today, she is a woman who agrees to make sacrifices to allow me to pursue my career. She has always been there for our two children, including my son who is studying law at the University of Ottawa and my daughter who is currently in CEGEP. My priorities and my life values are my partner, Annabel, and my two children.
2024-03-23 04:06:20
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