Experience beyond his years


By
July 2, 2016

Jordan Smith doesn’t turn 31 for a few months yet but he already has three full years of experience as a head coach.

Despite his youth, he has an old-school side to him that blends in well with the new-age game.

He’s definitely his own man and he has had three seasons of Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and Dudley-Hewitt Cup Central Canada championship success as bench boss of the Soo Thunderbirds.

Wise and grizzled beyond his years, Smith would probably be playing in the National Hockey League as a hard-rock defenseman instead of coaching in the NOJHL were it not for an on-ice accident that cost him an eye during his rookie season as a pro, back in 2005-2006.

Instead of feeling sorry for himself, Smith went from rugged, highly-skilled defenseman to a credible, championship coach who has made a name for himself during his three seasons to date with the Jr. A Thunderbirds.

Now, with the Thunderbirds under new ownership, courtesy The Tech 1921 Ltd., Smith is expanding his role with the team.

As a full-time employee of The Tech 1921 Ltd., Smith will oversee all hockey operations pertaining to the Thunderbirds as coach and general manager.

It’s a dual role that Smith said he is ready to take on, with the help of assistant coaches Toots Kovacs and Ryan Maunu and assistant GM Mark Hebert.

“As we restructure our team and given the success that we have had thanks to the many people who were involved, I am looking forward to being a part of what lies ahead under the ownership and guidance of The Tech,” Smith told HockeyNewsNorth.com.

“It’s definitely a challenge as we move forward,” Smith continued. “Not only are we losing our nine overagers from last year but we have others with eligibility who are moving on to play at a higher level, whether it’s school or the (Ontario Hockey League.)

“Our goals won’t change, though,” Smith added. “We will continue to focus on advancing and developing players while being as competitive as we can. We’ll keep the foot on the gas no matter what.”

While Smith’s name has been mentioned relative to vacant assistant coaching positions in the OHL, he said his focus is solely on the Thunderbirds.

“I will cross that bridge if I come to it,” Smith said, in addressing the possibility of moving up to the OHL. “Right now, it’s a moot point because no team in the OHL has made me an offer.”

As the Thunderbirds have won three championships and moved multiple players to the OHL and Division 1, American college ranks under Smith’s coaching command, two of his assistants have also moved up.

Kyle Brick is about to enter his first season as head coach of the Blind River Beavers of the NOJHL and Jeremy Rebek has taken a position as bench boss with the major midget Soo Indians of the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association.

“I like to say that we are not only good at developing players but coaches as well,” Smith said evenly. “I am happy for all who are getting the chance to move up. That’s what this is all about.”

Looking ahead to the 2016-2017 NOJHL season, Smith sees a more-balanced West Division, where the Thunderbirds will try to fend off the cross-river Soo Eagles as well as Blind River, the Elliot Lake Wildcats, Espanola Express and Rayside-Balfour Canadians.

“I know the Eagles will have an older, experienced team and they will be gunning for us,” Smith said with a smile. “That’s okay because we set the bar high and other teams want to match the success that we have had.

“It just makes for better competition and creates more excitement within the league,” Smith reasoned. “I don’t have to tell you about the great rivalry that we have built up with the Eagles.”

As he looks ahead and reflects at the same time, Smith said he feels fortunate to have full-time hockey employment thanks to The Tech and to have an association with Denny Lambert.

Like Smith, Lambert also played his entire OHL career in the Soo with the Greyhounds. Add in the experience that the 46-year old Lambert also has a former Greyhound coach and he is someone who Smith looks up to.

“Having Denny as the director of hockey operations for The Tech is a win-win situation,” said Smith. “He’s busy trying to get the hockey academy started for The Tech but he’s someone who I will share an office with and be around when we need him.

“It’s great that we have the people involved that we do. It’s already a good atmosphere,” Smith concluded.

PHOTO: Jordan Smith is general manager as well as head coach of the NOJHL’s Soo Thunderbirds. (Photo by Ali Pearson.)


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