NOJHL can celebrate its own
It has been an off season like no other for the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League relative to alumni being hired to coach in the National Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and Ontario University Athletics.
For example:
— It has been an ongoing ascent to the top — as in the NHL — for 40 year old Sault Ste. Marie native Jordan Smith, who coached the Soo Thunderbirds from 2013 to 2017 and was a two time coach of the year and two time league champion. Smith is now an assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL. After his successful stint in the NOJHL with the Thunderbirds, Smith spent five seasons as an associate coach in the OHL, working for both the Soo Greyhounds and Sudbury Wolves.
— A lengthy apprenticeship spanning a few decades has resulted in an OHL assistant coach position for Peter Goulet. Most recently with the Powassan Voodoos of the NOJHL as a two time coach of the year — in the span of just four seasons — the 56-year old Goulet has joined the OHL staff of the Brantford Bulldogs as an assistant coach and scout.
— 42-year old Patrick Jarrett, who was the first overall pick at the 2000 OHL priority selections draft after a sterling NOJHL rookie season with the Soo Thunderbirds as a 15-year old forward, has returned to his hometown as an assistant coach with the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds.
— Jake Paterson, who backstopped the Soo Eagles to the 2011 NOJHL championship as a 16-year old rookie goalie, has turned to coaching. The 32-year old Paterson has been hired by the reigning OHL and Memorial Cup champion Kitchener Rangers in a dual role of goalie coach and video coach. It is a return to the OHL for Paterson, who was a third round pick by the Detroit Red Wings at the 2012 NHL draft. Paterson played parts of five OHL seasons with the Saginaw Spirit before finishing up with Kitchener during the ’14-15 season.
— A homegrown head coach, Brandon Perry has departed the Timmins Rock of the NOJHL to coach in his adopted home town of Kingston. The 37-year old Perry is the new bench boss of the Queen University Golden Gaels of the OUA. Perry, who coached Timmins for five successful seasons, including an NOJHL championship and a coach of the year award, heads to Queen’s, where he played four seasons as a hard working forward who graduated from the prestigious school with a degree in Economics.
