John Parco
Head Coach
Parco, who was hired as the club's new head coach for the 2017-2018 season, returned to his hometown of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario after spending all of his coaching and most of his playing years in Italy. After putting up 82 points through 31 games during the 1987-1988 season with the Soo North Stars, Parco went on to play three seasons with the Ontario Hockey League's Belleville Bulls from 1988-1991, where he put up 257 points through 195 career games played. The Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario native also served as Belleville Bulls captain during his final Ontario Hockey League season in 1990-1991 and was then drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 12th round (248th overall) at the 1991 National Hockey League Entry Draft. The 45 year old went on to play 20 years of professional hockey, splitting time with the IHL, ECHL, AHL, and the European Elite Leagues. He also led the Asiago HC win two championship titles in 2011 & 2013 as head coach.
Zoltan "Toots" Kovacs
Associate Coach
Kovacs, who is in his second season as T-Birds associate coach, is no stranger to this organization as he served as T-Birds head coach from 2004-2006, when he coached T-Birds assistant coach Ryan Maunu, who led the club in scoring back to back seasons. Toots also served as an assistant coach for the Soo Greyhounds from 2006-2008. The Sault native is also the father of former T-Birds defenceman Bronson Kovacs.
Marc Disano
Associate Coach
Disano, who is in his first season with the Thunderbirds, comes to us after a lengthy coaching career within Sault Major. Disano has coached a number of AAA teams in the past and won an NOHL AAA title in 2014/15. Marc has also attended the Team NOHA Development Weekend in 2015 as a coach for one of the teams. Marc has also coached under Keith Primeau’s Durham Hockey Institute for 3 years, where elite players from all over North America attended various showcases.
Terry Barbeau
Goalie Coach
Barbeau, who is in his second season with the T-Birds, spent eight seasons as goalie coach with the Soo Greyhounds from 2002-2010 and served as goalie coach for the Saginaw Spirit in 2012, 2013 & 2014. The Sault native also spent time as a volunteer goalie coach with the Lake Superior State Lakers hockey club in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2011, 2012, 2014 & 2016 - present.
Joey Miller
Assistant GM
Named assistant general manager in December ... Played four full seasons with the Thunderbirds from 2012-2016 ... Helped the Thunderbirds win Copeland Cup McNamara Trophies in 2015 & 2016 ... Helped the Thunderbirds win the Dudley Hewitt Cup in 2015 ... Recipient of the Ted Brooks Memorial Trophy in 2013 for player excellence in the community ... Recipient of the Thunderbirds Players' Player Award in 2016 ... Holds the Thunderbirds record for most career playoff games played with 56 ... Served as an assistant coach with the NOBHL's Soo Thunder last season
Trevor Zachary
Director, of Branding, Marketing and Game Nights
Glen Johnston
Scout
Erik Christenson
Athletic TrainerPysiotherapist