Lambert to lead T-Birds


By
May 20, 2020

This is a multiple coaching hire of well known local hockey people.

Denny Lambert

Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League will have a new look coaching staff for the 2020-2021 season, Hockey News North has confirmed. And leading the way as the new bench boss of the T-Birds is a man who played the game at its highest level.

Denny Lambert will be the Thunderbirds head coach with Jeremy Stevenson, Micky Sartoretto and Aidan Wright on staff as assistants.

The change in direction comes after John Parco recently stepped down as head coach of the Thunderbirds after three successive winning seasons at the helm of the NOJHL team.

Lambert heads to the Thunderbirds and the NOJHL with a deep hockey history.

The 50-year old Lambert played three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League as a fearless left winger who went on to play in more than 500 National Hockey League games, including playoffs.

Amazingly, Lambert was never drafted into the OHL or the NHL.

And Lambert’s coaching experience includes eight seasons in the OHL with the Greyhounds — three as head coach. He also coached the Batchewana Attack of the erstwhile Canadian International Hockey League to a championship in its only season of existence.

As for the 45-year old Stevenson, he is also a former left winger with the Greyhounds — he actually began his OHL playing career with the Cornwall Royals — who went to play in more than 225 NHL games, including playoffs.

The 29-year old Sartoretto is yet another former OHL winger, having played three seasons with the Kitchener Rangers and Saginaw Spirit. He then closed out his junior career as captain of his hometown Soo Thunderbirds, leading them to the NOJHL championship.

Aidan Wright, as a member of the Lake Superior State Lakers.

And the 27-year old Wright is a former high-end defenseman who played four seasons of Division 1, National Collegiate Athletic Association hockey with the Lake Superior State Lakers.

Of note, Stevenson, Sartoretto and Wright all have combined, extensive coaching experience within the Sault Major Hockey Association.

Thunderbirds general manager Trevor Zachary noted that, “we are incredibly lucky to have such a dedicated and experienced group of coaches locally, willing to spend their time to work with our players. The organization has done a tremendous job developing players and staff over the years and with the additions of Denny, Jeremy, Micky, and Aidan, we will continue to do so.”

Zachary added that Lambert, Stevenson, Sartoretto and Wright “are all character individuals as well as having various forms of high level hockey experience.

“I believe we have put together an all star coaching staff,” Zachary relayed to Hockey News North.

Meanwhile, the Thunderbirds confirmed that Terry Barbeau will return to the team as its goalie coach.


What you think about “Lambert to lead T-Birds”

  1. Well all that is needed now is the virus to get over so the league can start. Tbirds have a good experience coach .

  2. As usual the Thunderbirds continue to be a well ran organization. JP will be missed as the head coach as he was phenomenal. BUT, this coaching line-up is now the best in the NOJHL and quite possibly the CJHL.

  3. Great staff has been put together .Just hope the owner stays out of the day to day operations and let these coaches do their job of making them better players but better people. Plus don’t think Denny will not put up with any none sense .

  4. Tank, what are you talking about? That organization doesn’t have an owner that is involved in the day to day stuff. The GM runs that team. Just ask Mr. Zachary. You obviously aren’t very close to the organization or you would now that.

  5. No kidding..they could use some help with filling the seats. Not sure how you do that in this market? it’s been pretty crappy for attendance for years and years and years for the birds.

  6. Hey Matt PR guess you didn’t realize Smyl from Highland Ford owns the team for the past couple of years. Stop by this year you will see what i’m talking about.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *