Hockey Operations

Bégin is a cornerstone of the Hearst Lumberjacks organization, having served as an assistant coach, and the team's second-ever head coach. Born and raised in Hearst, Ontario, he has become a local hockey icon through both his prolific scoring as a player and his leadership on the bench.

Bégin has been with the Lumberjacks since their inaugural 2017–2018 season.Assistant Coach (2017–2020): He began his coaching career as an assistant under Marc Lafleur and was a key part of the staff that led the team to the 2018–2019 NOJHL Championship.

Head Coach (2020–2025): He took over as Head Coach in July 2020. During his five-season tenure, he compiled an impressive regular-season record of 160 wins, 67 losses, and 1 tie.

Before coaching, Bégin was one of the most productive forwards in the history of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) and reached the highest levels of junior hockey.

Major Junior (QMJHL): He played two seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for the Val-d'Or Foreurs and the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, recording 57 points across 99 games (including playoffs).
NOJHL Stardom: Playing for the Abitibi Eskimos, he became a league star, recording a staggering 336 points in 162 games over three seasons. He still ranks among the top 10 all-time scorers in the league.
University Level: He also played two seasons of U-Sports hockey for the Laurentian Voyageurs.

Marc-Alain is currently Hearst's Director of Parks and Recreation; he likes to spend time with family and friends and enjoy golfing in the off season.

FUN FACT / Marc-Alain cousin is NHL Superstar Claude Giroux, who was also born and raised in Hearst Ontario before moving to Ottawa at 14 years old.

Christian Gratton
Assistant General Manager and Assistant Coach

Christian is a key member of the Hearst Lumberjacks hockey operations, currently serving as the Assistant General Manager and Assistant Coach.

He has been a consistent presence on the team's staff since joining the organization for the 2021–22 season.

Gratton is part of a veteran coaching group under Head Coach Marc-Alain Bégin and last year under Guy Losier. His dual role involves both on-ice player development and off-ice management duties.

Gratton is no stranger to the NOJHL having refereed for many years before transitioning into coaching and management duties with the Lumberjacks for the past few years.

In his spare time Christian enjoys spending time with family at the lake, boating and fishing. Christian is a passionate golfer who enjoys playing many rounds during the summer.

Claude Lodin
Assistant Coach

Claude played junior hockey for the Hawkesbury Hawks before graduating to NCAA D1 program of the Northeastern Huskies where he got his degree and played 4 years. He also went on to play pro hockey in Sweden for two years afterwards.
Then, he came back to Hearst to teach at Clayton Brown Public School where he still works today. Claude also acted as an assistant coach for the Elans elite midget hockey program for several years. He is a teacher of the game and will bring a lot of expertise to the team.

Félix Morissette
Assistant Coach

A true hometown product, Félix was born and raised in Hearst and brings with him a deep passion for the game of hockey. He previously played locally with the Hearst Élans and the Hearst Lumberkings, building strong roots within the community and the sport.

Félix continues to give back to the game as a dedicated member of Hearst Minor Hockey, serving as a director on the executive committee. Over the past few years, he has also been behind the bench as Head Coach of the Hearst Lumberkings U18 even winning the NOHA championship in 2025. Felix is proud of helping develop the next generation of players.