Sylvain Cloutier
GM/Head Coach
Sylvain Cloutier was named Head Coach on June 22, 2022 and returns for his second stint as a head coach with the IceRays. He is the second coach in IceRays history to coach in both the professional and junior eras after making his coaching debut in 2008-09 and earning a 21-25-4 record in 50 games, joining Brent Hughes, who succeeded Cloutier that season. He would continue his coaching career as a player-assistant coach in the EIHL with the Hull Stingers for five seasons from 2009-14.
He joins the IceRays after serving four years as Head Coach & General Manager of the Severn Stallions in the Canadian Premier Junior Hockey League (CPJHL) beginning in 2017-18. The Mont-Laurier, Que. native led the Stallions to a 106-21-3 record over his three seasons as Head Coach and earned back-to-back CPJHL Championships in 2018 and 2019 while also tabbing the 2017-18 regular season championship with an impressive 42-2-0 record. The Stallions have not played since the 2019-20 season due to the pandemic. Cloutier began his junior coaching career with the Bradford Rattlers (GMHL) in 2014-15 and helped the team to a 31-11-0 record.
The former center played 1,202 professional games across six leagues spanning from 1993-94 through 2013-14, including seven games in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks from 1998-99. He was a member of the AHL’s 2003 Calder Cup Championship with the Houston Aeros and helped the Coventry Blaze (EIHL) to back-to-back EIHL Championships in 2007 and 2008 while serving as an assistant captain then team captain. Most of his career was in the AHL, tallying 86 goals and 188 assists for 274 points with 1,073 penalty minutes through 565 games over 10 seasons. In total, Cloutier amassed 826 points (282g, 544a) and 2,073 penalty minutes over his 19-year professional career.
Patrick Oberlin
Equipment Manager
Patrick Oberlin is entering his 1st season with the Corpus Christi IceRays program. Before coming to Corpus Christi, Patrick spent last season as an assistant coach with the Austin Ice Bats in the NA3HL. Previously Patrick spent 6 years coaching with Ohio University Division 2 and served as Head Coach in 2019-20. Oberlin played at Ohio University from 2010-2013 before joining his brother Phil on the bench. Native of Athens, Ohio Patrick played for the Athens Youth Hockey Association. Patrick Graduated from Ohio University in 2021 with a Bachelor's Degree in Recreation Management with minors in Business and Coaching Education.
Ryan Bennett
Director Of Hockey Operations
Ryan Bennett joins the IceRays staff just under ten seasons after serving as the team's Assistant Coach during the 2011-12 season. Since his time as an assistant coach in Corpus, Bennett has gained a plethora of experience serving as an assistant coach for Des Moines Buccaneers, general manager for the Chicago Steel, and general manager for the Muskegon Lumberjacks. During his time with the Chicago Steel, Bennett brought the franchise their first Clark Cup in the 2016-17 season. Bennett also played for the IceRays during the team's CHL days playing 127 games from 2008-2010.