LEWISTON – Sometimes, it’s just time to go.

Three years ago, John Pleau took over the helm of the vaunted St. Dom’s hockey program after 13 years as an assistant coach. He did so at the request of longtime head coach and athletic director Bob Boucher.

“Bobby felt that it would help ease the transition,” Pleau said.

At the end of last week, Pleau turned his resignation into St. Dom’s athletic director Lee Hixon.

“I’ve been coaching for 33 years,” Pleau said. “I was supposed to get done when Bob was going to get done, and he convinced me to stay on. I did that for a couple of years, and then when Lee took over as AD, I figured I didn’t want to leave him high and dry in his first year, so I went another year.”

After a few years, Pleau, who operates a local painting and coating business, decided it was time to hang up the skates.

“I hit the wall,” Pleau said. “Thirty-three years I’ve been coaching, and you can tell when you’re just about done.”

“We’re going to miss him, that’s for sure,” Hixon said Monday.

In his 13 years as an assistant to Boucher, Pleau coached the junior varsity program. He helped coach three state champion varsity teams, in 1994, 1999 and 2000, and led the JV program to two undefeated seasons and several tournament victories.

“Every coach who coaches in the Lewiston-Auburn youth program would love a chance to coach at St. Dom’s,” Pleau said. “It’s one of the historic programs, there’s a lot of winning tradition here. I enjoyed every aspect of it.”

One of the best parts of his years at St. Dom’s, Pleau said, was being able to work with Boucher, who died last year. The Class A Hockey Coaches’ Association renamed its coach of the year award in honor of Boucher.

“Working with Bobby was an absolutely pleasant experience,” Pleau said.

In 1999, Pleau also got the chance to coach some of the state’s top talent. The Saints that season had a line of Greg Moore, Joey Dumais and Derek Damon, all of whom went on to play Division I college hockey. Moore, from Lisbon, was an assistant captain for the AHL’s Hartford Wolfpack this past winter.

“Everybody would love to say they coached a kid who made it to the professional level,” Pleau said. “I even had (Moore) in the festival program, too.”

From 1990 to 2005, Pleau also ran Maine State Select teams. From 1990 to 1992, he coached the U-15s. From 1994 to 1999 and again from 2002 to 2005, he ran the U-14s, and from 1999 to 2002 he guided the U-12 team.

St. Dom’s will officially open its search for a replacement immediately, and there is much speculation that the first place Hixon will look is in-house. When Pleau made the jump to the varsity job, Boucher hired St. Dom’s alumnus and state Class B champion coach Steve Ouellette (Cape Elizabeth, 2003) to run the JV program.

“I think he would be the favorite coming in, as I was when I applied,” Pleau said. “He knows the ins and outs of the program. He’s certainly qualified, and he deserves at least a first look.”

Despite the resignation, Pleau said he’ll likely still attend almost every game.

“I’m still proud of the program, and I’ll continue to support it as much as I can,” Pleau said. “But now, I can go when I want to, not because I have to. I don’t want to be burned out when my grandkids start wanting to play hockey.”

Breakout info

1975-76 St. Peter’s Girls Broomball

1976-88 St. Peter’s Bantams

1987-88 L/A Youth Hockey Bantam All-Stars

1988-90 L/A Bantam Travel Team (Tier II)

1990-92 L/A PeeWee Travel Team (Tier I)

1990-91 Maine State Select 15 Team in Vermont

1991-92 Maine State Select 15 Team in Biddeford

1994-99 Maine State Select 14 Team

1999-02 Maine State Select 12 Team

2002-05 Maine State Select 14 Team

1992-05 St. Dom’s Junior Varsity A & B Teams

1992-05 St. Dom’s Varsity Assistant Coach

2005-08 St. Dom’s Varsity Head Coach