Patrick WilliamsTheAHL.com Features Writer
Louis RobitailleHis journey from beloved Hershey Bears fan to newly hired Bears assistant coach has spanned multiple continents, leagues and roles and included even more learning.
But 18 years after first leaving central Pennsylvania, Robitaille is back. The Bears named him an assistant coach last week, bringing him back to a place where he still has a lot of fans. He played three seasons with the Bears, starting with the Bears’ first season with the Washington Capitals in 2005-06. By the end of his career, he had played 200 regular-season games, won the Calder Cup, reached another Calder Cup final, and won over Bears fans with his rough, hot-tempered and passionate style.
“I’m super excited,” Robitaille said of his return to Hershey. “The family is excited. It’s always been a special place. They’ve always welcomed me like a son.”
He added that returning to coach with the Bears is his goal.
“I knew when I retired I had to take the appropriate steps.”
Robitaille ended his career in 2011 (playing 382 AHL games and winning the 2006 Calder Cup) and immediately returned to his native Quebec to pursue a career in coaching and management. He spent 14 successful seasons in the QMJHL junior ranks, with stops in Drummondville, Valledore, Victoriaville, Gatineau and Cape Breton. His teams participated in the playoffs and reached the conference finals twice. Robitaille, who has a record of 310-193-42-21 (.603) as a head coach, also adds international experience to Hockey Canada, including serving as an assistant coach on the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship team that won a gold medal.
Last year’s stop took him deep into the Russian interior on an entirely different mission. Former NHL and AHL head coach Guy Boucher An opportunity to play for Pioneer Omsk, one of the top clubs in the KHL. The organization wants Robitaille to lead its main affiliate team Omskie Krylia. Omsk is located more than 1,300 miles east of Moscow and the Division II VHL plays one of the most demanding schedules in professional hockey. Robitaille’s team achieved a record of 38 wins, 20 draws, 3 draws and 1 loss.
when Nick Butland Robitaille resigned as an assistant coach in Hershey on June 30 to become the head coach of the Cleveland Monsters, seeing an opportunity to reunite with the Washington team.
A call from the director of operations for the Washington minor leagues. Jason Fitzsimmons.
“For me, it’s [was] “Let’s make this happen,” Robitaille said.
In Hershey, he will work closely with the head coach Derek King and assistant coach Brent Thompson.
“Would I have had a chance to get a job in Hershey five years ago?” Robitaille recounts. “Yes. Am I fitter today? Am I a better coach? Yes.
“I think now is a good time for me to come home.”
Robitaille has also been linked to some of the franchise’s glory days. The Bears had a significantly revamped roster last season that was younger and going through growing pains. After finishing fifth in the Atlantic Division with a 32-31-6-3 record, the Bears advanced in the best-of-three first round and then reached the conference semifinals. Their top two scorers in 2025-26 are both rookies Ilya Protas and Andrew Kristol.
Expectations are sure to be rising this fall, with Robitaille bringing a winning mentality from his playing career in Hershey and his success as a coach and manager.
‘Louis understands our championship culture,’ Bears vice president of hockey operations Brian Helmer said in a written statement announcing the hire.
So Robitaille returned to Hershey, now with hard-earned experience. Going to Russia meant leaving his comfort zone, including leaving his wife Amelie and their three children returned home. But there is also a strong developmental component to this position, which is an important learning opportunity.
“I think that’s the most important thing when you become a coach,” Robitaille said. “You want to surround yourself with good people, you need to learn, be open to coaching, be open to different techniques. Guy (Boucher) has been a mentor to me. I’ve been able to see how he does things. He’s been able to challenge me in different aspects and bring something to my coaching that makes me better.
“I became a better coach last year. It was a lot of sacrifice. But it paid off today. I’m back where I want to be.”
Covering the American Hockey League for more than two decades, TheAHL.com features writer Patrick Williams also currently covers the league for NHL.com and FloSports and is a regular contributor for SiriusXM NHL Network Radio. He received the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for outstanding coverage of the league during the 2015-16 season.
