By Matt Stefano
It’s true.
Truchy is coming back!
The Soo Thunderbirds have announced on Thursday that they have re-signed 2003-birth-year forward Jackson Truchan for the 2023-2024 season.
“I’m really happy to be re-signing with the Thunderbirds again,” said Truchan, who was named the Thunderbirds Rookie of the Year last season. “I love everything about the Sault and the culture they build every year is amazing. The staff on the Thunderbirds is also unbelievable and there was just no way I couldn’t come back to the Sault.”
Truchan, who will be entering his second and final season with the Thunderbirds, led all Thunderbird rookies in scoring last season with 26 goals and 57 points in 47 regular season games.
Last season, the Farmington Hills, Michigan native also set the new franchise record for most goals scored American-born rookie in a single season.
“Last season was definitely a good season for the team and myself,” Truchan said. “I had a tough stretch at the start, but once I found my groove and started getting some chemistry with my linemates it all started clicking.”
After leading all Thunderbird rookies in scoring during the regular season, Truchan then led the entire league in scoring during the 2023 postseason with 9 goals and 21 points in 13 postseason games played.
He also led the Thunderbirds all they way to the NOJHL final last season, where they ended up losing to the Timmins Rock in six games.
“In all I had an amazing season last year in my rookie season,” said Truchan, whose team finished in third place in the NOJHL’s West Division last season and lost to the No. 1 team in the league (Timmins Rock) in the NOJHL final. “We had a great run last season making it all the way to the NOJHL final, and now it’s time to make it back there again this season.”
With the addition of Truchan, the Thunderbirds now have a total of four 2003-birth-year players on this year’s roster, along with defenceman Kolby Fellinger and forwards Daniel Beaupre and Kelsey Ouellet.
Truchan, who turned 20-years-old back on February 28, is now currently the oldest player on this year’s Soo Thunderbirds roster.
“To have a skilled player like Jackson decide to come back to our team for one more season is not only huge for our program, but it’s also huge for our league,” said Soo Thunderbirds assistant coach and general manager Jamie Henderson, whose team will officially kick off its 2023 training camp on Tuesday, August 29 at the Northern Community Centre. “Jackson took his game to new heights during the playoffs and he also showed his toughness while playing through an injury during the NOJHL final.”
(Photo of Jackson Truchan credit to Bob Davies)