OHL Rangers hire Jason Fortier
Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League have hired Sault Ste. Marie native Jason Fortier to replace Daniel Tkaczuk as associate coach, HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed.
Tkaczuk recently left Kitchener for a coaching position within the National Hockey League system of the St. Louis Blues.
Fortier told HockeyNewsNorth.com that his contract with the Rangers to be their new associate coach is for two years.
A rising star in the coaching ranks, the 41-year old Fortier coached the Toronto Lakeshore Patriots of the Ontario Jr. Hockey League to back-to-back championships before joining the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the Quebec Major Jr. Hockey League as an assistant in 2015-2016. Rouyn-Noranda went on to win the QMJHL championship and advance to the 2016 Memorial Cup which was won by the London Knights of the OHL.
Prior to turning to coaching in the OJHL, Fortier was a hard-nosed winger who skated in the OHL, the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and at the pro level in Germany. He also won a championship as a player with the Sault College Cougars, formerly of the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association.
In heading to Kitchener, Fortier joins a Rangers staff which also includes the aforementioned McKee as head coach, Matthew Barnaby as assistant coach and Mike McKenzie as assistant coach/assistant general manager.
“I’m extremely pleased and honoured to be given this opportunity with the Kitchener Rangers,” said Fortier. “To be joining an outstanding coaching staff with the likes of Jay McKee, Matthew Barnaby and Mike McKenzie is very exciting.
“The Rangers organization is second to none and at the top of the food chain. I wanted to be a part of this extremely bad,” Fortier added.
PHOTO: Jason Fortier, new associate coach of the Kitchener Rangers.
Another SOO boy that the HOUNDS missed out on.
Congrats FORTS!
Jerry must be very proud of his boy!!
Well deserved, Hounds lose out on local talent again.
Good for Jason. Good luck with the OHL”s Rangers.
Wel, those Rangers know hockey . Congrats . Can I say Jerry sent me ?
FORTCH!!!!!!!
Good for Kitchener and we are left to wander why The Greyhounds did not hire Jason to be there Asst Coach.
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Congratulations Forch, no one has won like him in the last 5 years . Quality guy and family . Only shame is it isn’t home in the Soo .
Since Al Doria folded the Vaughan Vipers behind his back when he was trying to keep the team around. Al just took the money the OJHL offered him and ran leaving Forts without a job. Then the Toronto Lakeshore Patriots came, and he won 2 league championships and a DHC. The Rangers are lucky to have Forts as an assistant coach.
My buddy forch will a head coach in the next few years, a very smart guy behind the bench who only knows how to win.
Hi Randy ,
I met Jason a few years back at Chesswood Arena’s while I was coaching my spring/summer team of 2000’s . We had a great conversation about hockey and life in the Soo . After I met him I kind of kept track of his coaching accomplishments and WOW , this guy is the “real deal” … Success follows him and I’m sure he will do a wonderful job with the Kitchener Rangers . Good Luck Jason , hope to see you in a rink some time this season .
Good to hear, Wayne. And good to hear from you, man.