He led the Thunderbirds to back to back Copeland Cup McNamara Trophies in 2015 & 2016, one Dudley Hewitt Cup title in 2015, is a two-time NOJHL coach of the year, and now he’s moving up.
After four seasons behind the bench with the Soo Thunderbirds from 2013-2017, it was announced today that Soo Thunderbirds head coach and general manager Jordan Smith has been named associate coach of the Ontario Hockey League’s Sudbury Wolves.
Smith, who is no stranger to the Ontario Hockey League, played four seasons from 2001-2005 with his hometown team, the Soo Greyhounds, where he scored 13 goals and 68 points through 211 career games played, along with collecting 398 penalty minutes.
Looking ahead to next season in Sudbury, Smith will also be reunited with two former Soo Thunderbirds, Darian & Drake Pilon, who he coached during the 2015-2016 season.
The Soo Thunderbirds are also excited to announce that a new coaching candidate for the Hockey Club has been hired. John Parco will now lead the club into the 2017-2018 season. Parco, who recently moved back to Sault Ste. Marie with his family, has a tremendous amount of hockey knowledge and hockey experience while playing and coaching in North America, and more recently in Italy with Asiago HC as well as with their National program.
While playing in the OHL for three seasons with the Belleville Bulls, Parco amassed 257 points and another 450 points playing professionally for 20 years in the IHL, AHL, ECHL, and European Elite Leagues. Parco won two championships as head coach with Asiago HC in 2010 and 2012 respectively.
The Soo Thunderbirds are excited to welcome John to the club and look forward to his contributions towards a successful program that Jordan and others have built over the years
For more information please email sales@soothunderbirds.com
(Photo credit to James Egan’s Sports Photography)
