PORTLAND, Maine — After being named the first head coach in Maine Mariners history, as well as assistant general manager in 2019, Riley Armstrong will move on from Portland to join the Lehigh Valley Phantoms' coaching staff.
On Tuesday, the Mariners announced the next coach in the organization's history will be former University of Maine national champion, Ben Guite.
“We are thrilled to bring on Ben as the second head coach in Mariners history,” Mariners President and Governor Danny Brierre said in a team release. "He has a wealth of experience in professional hockey from his playing career, and an established connection with the state of Maine as both a player and a coach."
Guite was a member of UMaine's 1999 national championship. After his time in Orono, Guite played 13 years of professional hockey. He made his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins during the 2005-06 season.
The former forward also spent two full years with the Providence Bruins, Boston's AHL affiliate. The familiarity with the organization works well as the Mariners are now the Bruins' ECHL affiliate.
Guite will not be alone behind the bench in Portland as the Mariners announce former alternate captain Terrence Wallin was named to Guite's coaching staff.
“It’s a huge honor to be able to be a head coach in the ECHL,” Guite said in a release Tuesday. “I am very thankful for Danny [Brierre] showing the confidence in selecting me as head coach and to Riley for making the transition seamless with the players and helping in securing the best possible team for our fans for the upcoming season.”
Armstrong was named an assistant coach for the Phantoms. The team plays in the American Hockey League (AHL), which is the primary developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL).
Armstrong brought years of professional hockey experience behind the bench at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland after spending years with the San Jose Sharks organization.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic forced some ECHL teams, including the Mariners, to forgo the 2020-21 season, Armstrong helped lead his club to two winning seasons.
Last month, Armstrong and his wife Amber donated more than $3,000 to the Locker Project, a nonprofit committed to fighting food insecurity in the greater Portland area. The proceeds were raised during the Armstrong Skills Competition held at The Rink At Thompson's Point in March.