McGill grad Kelly Nobes appointed head coach of hockey Redmen

PHOTO COURTESY OF LAURIER ATHLETICS & RECREATION

MONTREAL - Kelly Nobes, a McGill University graduate, has been appointed head coach of the McGill men's hockey team. The 36-year-old native of West Hill, Ont., becomes the 28th coach in team history and the 11th former Redmen player to guide the squad. He replaces Jim Webster, who had served the past season on an interim basis and led McGill to a 34-14-1 record overall and the Queen's Cup title as champions of the Ontario University Athletics conference.

Nobes brings nine years of head coaching experience in Canadian Interuniversity Sport and his teams have qualified for post-season play in each season. He spent the past four campaigns at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, where he posted an impressive 77-34-1 regular-season mark (.692), guiding the Golden Hawks to the second-highest win total of all 19 teams in the OUA during that span and also a berth at the CIS championships in 2007.

His first head coaching position was a five-year stint at Royal Military College in Kingston, where he led the Paladins to more career victories (32) and playoff appearances (5) than any other coach in RMC history.

He established single-season school records for coaching victories at both institutions and registered CIS-leading win totals in 2006-07 and 2008-09.

"I'm pleased to find a coach of Kelly's experience, calibre and passion for the game," said Drew Love, executive director of athletics and recreation at McGill. "He possesses all the qualities we were looking for. He is very familiar with the recruiting process, has directed a very successful program at Laurier and is well-respected by our alumni as he both played and coached with the Redmen. It's a good fit for us to bring back an energetic graduate from our hockey program."

Prior to his posting at RMC, Nobes spent six years at McGill, where he played from 1993 to 1997, then played professionally in Spain. After teaching for a year in Toronto, he returned to serve two more years with the Redmen as an assistant coach under Martin Raymond, who is now part of Guy Boucher's coaching staff with the Hamilton Bulldogs, an American Hockey League affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens.

"I have been involved in OUA hockey since 1993, first as a player then as a coach," said Nobes. "I now have the unique opportunity for my career to come full circle and go back to McGill where I began my CIS experience.  Several factors have contributed to my decision including: having an affinity for McGill; being close to family and having an appreciation for the city of Montreal. It's a great environment to be in, especially from a professional coaching perspective."

Nobes played four seasons at McGill, where he earned a bachelor's degree in physical education (1997) and master's degree in exercise physiology (2001). A speedy centre, he graduated as the ninth-leading scorer in Redmen history with 181 points, including 64 goals, in 131 career games. His most productive season was in 1995-96, when he tallied 20 goals and 63 points in 37 games overall.

Nobes is married to Michelle, a McGill graduate (B.Ed '97) originally from Dollard des Ormeaux, Que., whom he met during his undergraduate years. They have three young children (son Bodie, 6, daughter Darcy, 4, and son Jetlyn, 2).

 
McGill Redmen Hockey Coaches (since 1909-10)

SEASON    COACH    W - L - T
1909-10    *Harry Trihey (4-3-0)
1910-11    Art Ross (4-2-1)
1911-14    Laurie Roberts (17-14-2)
1914-16    (no head coach) (5-18-3)
1916-17    F.D. Poulin (6-6-1)
1917-18    *Vincent P. Heney (see overall record listed in 1929-20)
1918-19    *Harry Hyland (7-4-1)
1919-27    Frank Shaughnessy (61-56-2)
1927-28    Wallace Whitehead (8-7-0)
1928-29    *Vincent P. Heney (see overall record listed in 1929-20)
1929-30    *Vincent P. Heney (17-24-4) & Walter Smaill (4-8-1)
1929-37    *Dr. Bobby Bell (see overall record listed in 1944-45)
1937-42    *Hugh Farquharson (46-18-3)
1942-43    *Dr. Bobby Bell (see overall record listed in 1944-45)
1943-44    Lorne White (3-11-3)
1944-45    *Dr. Bobby Bell (137-58-25)
1945-51    Dave Campbell (62-40-4)
1951-58    *Rocky Robillard (54-64-5)
1958-61    Ken Murray (12-37-4)
1961-64    Kelly Burnett (22-29-6)
1964-68    Dave Copp (28-62-6)
1968-71    Brian Gilmour (29-41-6)
1971-72    Dave Dies (3-28-0)
1972-79    *Herb Madill (47-92-16)
1979-88    Ken Tyler (130-200-27)
1988-90    Al Grazys (46-24-6) & Jean Pronovost (see overall record listed below)
1990-94    Jean Pronovost (76-77-11)
1994-95    *Jamie Kompon (16-9-0) & *Martin Raymond (see overall record listed below)
1995-96    Terry Bangen (19-16-2)
1996-09    *Martin Raymond (293-192-35)
2009-10    *Jim Webster (34-14-1)
2010-11    *Kelly Nobes

*former Redmen player

SOURCE:

McGill Sports Info