Soo Eagles to Johnstown
Assistant coach Nick Perri is moving on from the Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for a similar position with the Johnstown Tomahawks of the North American Hockey League, Hockey News North has confirmed.
Eagles general manager Bruno Bragagnolo told Hockey News North that he is “proud, happy and excited for Nick and his family. Nick did a great job for us and we wish him all the best as he continues to climb the hockey ladder.”
A native of Suffern, New York, Perri leaves the Michigan Soo and the NOJHL after one season for Johnstown and the NAHL, which is considered to be among the top two junior hockey leagues in the United States.
Johnstown head coach Mike Letizia commented on what Perri will bring to the NAHL Tomahawks after heading up the video/analytical department for the NOJHL Eagles.
“Nick has an incredible passion for the game and the development of players and he is extremely knowledgeable with recruiting, video instruction, and his attention to detail,” Letizia relayed. “When talking to different references about Nick, they all continued to give us the same information about his work ethic, coaching ability and eye for the game.”
Prior to moving to the NOJHL and the Eagles, Perri spent the 2016-2017 season as an assistant coach and assistant general manager with the Binghamton Jr. Senators of the North American 3 Hockey League. With his assistance, Binghamton captured he NA3HL Northeast Division regular season and playoff championships with an overall record of 49-1-1.
Perri departs the Eagles as they prepare for a new chapter in the Michigan Soo ahead of the 2018-2019 season under recently-hired head coach Doug Laprade.
The reputable Laprade, who won two Division 1, National Collegiate Athletic Association championships as both a player and an assistant coach with the Lake Superior State University Lakers, takes over as bench boss of the Eagles from Jim Capy, whose contract was not renewed after three seasons with the NOJHL team.
Laprade is in the process of forming his coaching staff with the Eagles preparatory to the 2018-2019 NOJHL campaign.
Would like to take the time to congratulate Nick on his new job. It was a pleasure working with him! For such a young guy his knowledge of the game is exceptional. He is driven and has a bright future in the game!
I am so happy for nick, great young man, hard worker, and very positive. Keep up the good work Nick,there is no doubt in my mind you will have your own team very soon