Thunderbirds name new head coach (Updated)
Tuesday, June 26, 2012 by: Brad Coccimiglio
The Soo Thunderbirds new coaching staff is officially in place.
The Thunderbirds announced Tuesday that Warren Lavoy is the new head coach of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League team. Lavoy has been an assistant coach with the Thunderbirds for the past two seasons under former coach Preston Mizzi.
“Warren has been a big part of our success over the past couple of seasons,” Thunderbirds GM Kevin Cain said in a release. “With his experience behind the bench, along with his leadership skills and solid rapport with players and staff, we look forward to continuing this success.”
The team also announced that former Soo (Mi.) Eagles assistant coach Dennis Bolton will join the Thunderbirds in the same capacity while former Soo Greyhounds goaltender Billy Thompson has joined the team as goaltending coach. Thompson takes over for Domenic Sorrenti, who previously held the position but stepped down at the end of the season.
The team said in a release that there are plans to add another assistant coach in the “near future”.
In another move, the Thunderbirds have dealt defenceman Josh Hicks to the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Kingston Kimco Voyageurs in a three-team deal, according to the Kingston Whig-Standard. The Voyageurs acquired cash from the Dauphin Kings of the Manitoba league in exchange for Jared Smith. The Voyageurs then used the cash and defenceman Matt Eddy, also a Sault Ste. Marie native, to acquire Hicks from the Thunderbirds.
