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With a development camp planned for early-August, the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Soo Thunderbirds continue to prepare for the new season.
This week saw the team finalize the remainder of its staff following an ownership chance earlier this summer.
At the end of April, the club announced that former NHL defenceman Trevor Daley and longtime pro, and Sault native, Cole Jarrett had purchased the team along with Jarrett’s wife Lee-Anne from local businessman Darren Smyl.
At the time, the team announced that, in addition to serving as the Thunderbirds president of operations, Jarrett would take over as head coach.
Jamie Henderson was also introduced as the Thunderbirds new general manager at the time.
On Thursday, the team announced that Henderson, Jeremy Rebek, Joey Miller, and Anthony Miller will serve as assistant coaches while Cole Cloutier has been named assistant general manager.
The team has also brought on Terry Barbeau as is goaltender coach.
Previously, Rebek served as an assistant coach with the team for two seasons between 2014 and 2016.
Jarrett called the addition of Rebek to the coaching staff important.
“Going into my first season, I’m very fortunate to have someone like Jeremy Rebek on staff,” Jarrett said in a prepared statement. “Jeremy’s playing experience and coaching experience will be very valuable to our staff.”
Henderson, who was an assistant coach with the Thunderbirds from 2010 to 2012 and also spent time as assistant general manager during the 2014-15 season and general manager in 2015-16.
“The work continues to build this team and we’ll see where we can take this program,” Henderson said. “We have some really committed people behind this organization and it’s an exciting time as we inch toward cam next month.”
Joey Miller, a former player with the Thunderbirds between 2011 and 2016, was an assistant general manager with the team during the 2017-18 season and was an assistant coach with the team under John Parco for two seasons between 2018 and 2020.
Miller said he’s “excited to be back with the Thunderbirds.”
“I’m also excited to work with Cole, Jeremy, Anthony, and Jamie and I can’t wait to get the season started,” he added.
Anthony Miller, who played with the Thunderbirds from 2012 to 2015, is joining the team in his first role as a coach with the club.
“It’s a tremendous honour to be part of the Soo Thunderbirds coaching staff and being able to give back to an organization that had given me so much when I was playing for them,” he said.