Henderson to operate Soo T-Birds
Newly-appointed general manager Jamie Henderson will take over as the franchise operator for the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League champion Soo Thunderbirds, HockeyNewsNorth.com has learned.
Henderson, who is also the general manager of Silver Creek Golf Course on Garden First Nation, just outside Sault Ste. Marie, has a previous association with the Thunderbirds as both assistant general manager and assistant coach.
Albert Giommi, who has been involved with the Thunderbirds as a major investor and part owner since the team entered the NOJHL in 1999, sent out the following e-mail — which was obtained by HockeyNewsNorth.com — to select individuals at 8:44 this morning.
Good Morning Everyone
I have some great news to report. Jamie Henderson will be taking over the operations of the Soo Thunderbirds Junior A hockey program.
I wish all great success.
Jamie will be reaching out to all to help him thru this. I hope that all will still be involved to continue with this great and successful program. It will be a very exciting year with the Soo Eagles returning to the NOJHL.
The team will be playing out of the Rankin Arena and that is a great barn for the Junior A team. There is an atmosphere that could be created playing there as well as great possibilities to make the event a social that people will want to attend.
I will be doing a news release later today to let the public know.
— Albert Giommi
Henderson was only recently promoted to GM of the Thunderbirds, taking over from Kevin Cain.
Under Cain’s direction, the Thunderbirds won two NOJHL and two Dudley-Hewitt Cup, Central Canada championships within the past four years.
After resigning his volunteer GM position with the Thunderbirds last month, Cain has since taken a senior advisor position with Allan Donnan of TPA Sports, owners of the Iroquois Falls Eskimos and French River Rapids of the NOJHL.
Like Cain, Henderson was also a part of the Thunderbirds multiple NOJHL and Dudley-Hewitt Cup title teams, first as assistant coach, then as assistant general manager.
Go get em Hendo!!!!!
Nice to see the rankin arena get another junior team the place came along way last year .