KINGSTON -- The Royal Military College of Canada introduced Adam Shell as the head coach of its men's hockey team on Monday.

A native of the Toronto area, Shell served as an assistant coach to Martin Raymond at McGill University the past two seasons. Shell also played four years of university hockey with the McGill Redmen from 1999 to 2003.

Shell is the third assistant coach in eight years to develop under Raymond and land a full-time head coaching position with another team. Others to do so include Guy Boucher (now coaching in Drummondville, QMJHL) and Kelly Nobes (Wilfrid Laurier University, OUA).

"We are very pleased to welcome Adam to RMC", said Darren Cates, director of athletics. "He clearly has a passion for hockey, and he brings tremendous energy and enthusiasm to our hockey program."

The Paladins are coming off a season where they missed the OUA playoffs for the first time in the previous seven years. Shell takes over for Jim Hulton, who was named to an assistant coaching position in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) following last season.

"I am looking forward to the opportunity of being a part of the rich and storied tradition of the Royal Military College and its' hockey program", said Shell, the 19th head coach in the history of RMC hockey. "I'm very excited at the prospect of developing student athletes within this unique educational environment, as well as continuing to develop the current hockey program at RMC".

Shell officially begins his duties at RMC on July 3.

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Former McGill star Shell named RMC hockey coach Jun 19, 07 Ice Hockey (M)

By Patrick Kennedy, Kingston Whig-Standard

Paladins pick Shell; Former McGill star named hockey coach

By Patrick Kennedy
(reprinted from Kingston Whig-Standard)

KINGSTON, Ont. -- As an erstwhile McGill Redmen defenceman, Adam Shell never looked forward to road games against the Royal Military College Paladins.

"[Constantine Arena] is a tough place to play, because it's small and you knew you were going to be hit and worked to the bone," he said.

"If you didn't work just as hard, you were going to lose."

Shell needn't fret any longer, and not just because his playing days are over. Yesterday, the 26-year-old Thornhill native was named the 19th hockey coach in school history, the third in the last three years.

"This is a great chance for me to develop as a coach, with great freedom in a program that is mine to steward."

An assistant the past two years under McGill head coach Martin Raymond, Shell was picked to succeed Jim Hulton, who left the team after one season to take an assistant-coach position with the St. Michael's Majors of the Ontario Hockey League.

Shell comes with credentials. Two years ago, the Redmen advanced to the national championship semifinal before losing to the Alberta Golden Bears. McGill sported the best defensive record in the country that year and Shell ran the defence corps.

One of 40 applicants for the position, Shell stood out for "his passion and enthusiasm and the tremendous excitement he has for hockey in general," said Darren Cates, RMC director of athletics.

"He brings a lot to the table in terms of knowledge and experience," Cates added. "In his interview, when he finished giving his presentation on recruiting, heck, I wanted to play for him. He doesn't hide anything, he's very honest in his approach."

Shell, a chartered accountant who left an accounting firm in Montreal to take the shinny job, takes over a club that missed the Ontario University Athletics playoffs for the first time in seven seasons.

He is optimistic the Paladins will return to post-season play this year.

"Are we going to challenge for a CIS title? Probably not, but we will be competitive. The majority of our players are returning."

Paladins land student of the game

He answers the phone in his new office. His first call, not surprisingly, is from a media outlet, The Hockey News. He heralds the benefit of having "salt-of-the-earth players," grinding, honest, hard-nosed types who strive to meet a school motto: Developing leaders.

"There's a balance with academics, athletics, even social, and of course the military aspect obviously doesn't hurt in the development of leaders.

"My job will be to cultivate the skill level."

Shell said he views the stringent admission standards at RMC not as a detriment to on-ice success, but a benefit.

"When I played at McGill (1999-2003), I used to think [high academic standard] hindered our team, but it was actually an advantage. Players come in with built-in discipline because they know what it takes to succeed. You add in the military aspect and it can only enhance those skills and the leadership capabilities."

Shell, who officially begins his duties July 3, said his first priority is to contact new recruits and assure all players that he'll be around for the reasonably long run.

"I'm thinking no less than five years," said Shell, whose father's law firm works for the National Hockey League, preparing arbitration submissions on the teams' behalf.

"I want this program to be successful and therefore [be] good for the school and good for me."

As for long-range plans, Shell said he has aspirations to coach a professional team.

"Even when I was young I always wanted to be a coach. I never had any aspirations of playing in the NHL."

McGill coach Raymond said RMC has landed a dedicated student of the game.

"Adam brings a university attitude, he cares for his athletes and he's enthusiastic about the game," said Raymond, who's been with McGill hockey since 1993, the last 11 years as head coach. He also coached former Paladins coach Kelly Nobes.

"Technically, [Adam is] extremely sound."

The year McGill reached the national semifinal, the Redmen dressed five rookie defencemen.

"His communication skills are excellent, especially with the younger players," said Raymond.

"He's got real tools and he's young. He'll grow into a real solid coach in this league."

Shell vowed to continue to dress reservists, up to a maximum of seven a season, a practice implemented by Nobes.

"We'll live by the rules, but we'll use all the benefits available to us.

"We're not here to be a doormat."

pkennedy@thewhig.com