HOA ELITE COACHING
Meet Our Coaches
Mario Durocher
Mario began his coaching career in 2000–01 as Head Coach of the Victoriaville Tigres. In just his second season (2001–02), he led the team to a QMJHL Championship and a Memorial Cup Final appearance, where they finished as runners-up to the Kootenay Ice.
He continued his QMJHL coaching career as Head Coach of the Lewiston Mainiacs (2003–04) and Acadie-Bathurst Titan (2005–06). Mario then spent five seasons with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, serving two years as Assistant Coach followed by three seasons as Head Coach.
In 2011–12, he joined the Chicoutimi Saguenéens as an Assistant Coach before returning to a Head Coach role with the Val-d’Or Foreurs in 2012–13, where he guided the team to Game 7 of the QMJHL Championship Final.
Mario has also represented Canada internationally, serving as an Assistant Coach for Team Canada at the 2003 World Junior Championship and as Head Coach at the 2004 tournament.
He currently serves as a Special Consultant to a QMJHL General Manager and Head Coach, and as Development Coordinator for Lithuania’s U18 and U20 World Junior programs.
Shawn Evans
Shawn Evans, a defenseman from Kingston, Ontario, was selected in the second round of the NHL Draft by the New Jersey Devils during his junior career with the Peterborough Petes. Prior to beginning his professional career, he was traded to the St. Louis Blues.
Evans started his pro career with the Peoria Rivermen (AHL), the Blues’ primary affiliate, and was called up to St. Louis, appearing in seven NHL games. In 1986, he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers, where he spent two seasons with the Nova Scotia Oilers (AHL).
He later signed as a free agent with the New York Islanders in 1988, spending most of his time with their Springfield affiliate while also appearing in two NHL games, scoring his first NHL goal. Evans went on to sign additional NHL contracts with the Boston Bruins and Hartford Whalers.
Following his playing career, Evans transitioned into coaching. He served as an Assistant Coach for Team Canada East (Junior A) in 2018 and currently holds a coaching role with the Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL).
Craig Russell
Craig Russell is in his 14th season as Head Coach of the Plymouth State Panthers (2014–15) and his 16th year overall with the program. A former Panther player, he spent four seasons on the ice before transitioning to the coaching staff, serving five years as Assistant Coach and two years as Associate Head Coach. In 2010, he became the eighth head coach in the program’s 40-year history.
Russell enjoyed immediate success in his early years as head coach. In 2011, he led the team to a 15–6–5 record and a third-place finish in the MASCAC. He followed that with an outstanding 2012 season, guiding the Panthers to a 17–7–3 record, capturing both the MASCAC regular season and tournament championships — the first titles in program history — and earning the program’s first-ever berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament.