Marc-Alain Begin carries on
He has had success in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League as a player, assistant coach and head coach. And Marc-Alain Begin will continue his NOJHL association as the bench boss of the Hearst Lumberjacks.
A 31-year local lad, Begin will return to the Lumberjacks for his third full season as the head coach in Hearst in 2023-2024. Prior to being named head coach of the Lumberjacks for what was a Covid-shortened season of 2020-2021, Begin was an assistant under Marc Lafleur and part of the 2018-2019 NOJHL championship team in Hearst.
To be sure, Begin has impressive totals as the head honcho of the Hearst bench. With Begin at the helm, the Lumberjacks had a 7-5-0 record in the Covid season followed by terms of 35-11-2 in 2021-2022 and 43-13-2 in 2022-2023. Hearst lost in overtime to the Soo Thunderbirds in a heartbreaking Game 7 championship match in 2022. The Lumberjacks also lost in OT in Game 6 to extend the series to a seventh and deciding match in Sault Ste. Marie.
As a player, Begin remains one of the most prolific producers in modern NOJHL history. Over parts of three seasons with the erstwhile Abitibi Eskimos, Begin rang up 110 goals, 226 assists, 336 points in just 162 games, playoffs included. He did so despite playing for defensive minded head coach Paul Gagne.
Begin also took his talents to the Quebec Major Jr. Hockey League as a free agent forward who skated for both the Val-d’Or Foreurs and Rouyn Noranda Huskies. Regular season and playoffs included, Begin played in 99 games in the QMJHL and came through with 21 goals, 36 assists, 57 points. He later played two seasons at the Ontario University Athletics level with Sudbury’s Laurentain Voyageurs.
Marc-Alain is first a gentleman and a fine coach. Hearst has been very fortunate to have great coach’s for their teams. You can always expect a hard working team under Marc’s guidance.