Meet the Hounds' new associate coach

NEWS RELEASE
SOO GREYHOUNDS HOCKEY CLUB
*************************
Soo Greyhounds General Manager Kyle Raftis announced this morning that the club has named Jordan Smith as their new associate coach.

The 32-year-old Sault Ste. Marie product joins the Greyhound after holding the same position one season ago (2017-18) with the Sudbury Wolves.

"I would like to thank Rob Papineau and the Sudbury Wolves for their co-operation through this process. We’ve had a unique staffing opportunity this year and it was imperative that we found individuals who can bring different viewpoints and experiences, but still share a common style of coaching and teaching that will help support our players in their development,” started Raftis.

"We wanted to make sure each member of our coaching group was the right fit. Jordan quickly became top of mind when looking at the position of running our defense. A strong defensive core is crucial to our success considering the style of hockey our team plays so adding someone who is deeply committed to teaching and developing his players was a top priority. We are very excited to welcome Jordan to our hockey program,” he concluded.

Prior to his work in the Ontario Hockey League, Smith began his coaching career with the Thunder Bay North Stars of the SIJHL (2012-13) before spending four seasons (2013-14 to 2016-17) with the Soo Thunderbirds of the NOJHL.

With the Thunderbirds, Smith led the club to four consecutive West Division titles while accumulating an overall win-loss record of 176-29-10-3 and leading them to the 2015 Dudley Hewitt Cup (Central Canadian Championship).

“I am both honoured and excited to join the Soo Greyhounds coaching staff. I would like to thank Dario Zullich, Rob Papineau and Cory Stillman for the opportunity they gave me last year to join the Ontario Hockey League. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Sudbury and for that my family and I will always be thankful,” began Smith.

“At this time I would also like to thank Tim Lukenda for the opportunity and look forward to working with Kyle Raftis and John Dean in contributing to the ongoing success off the Soo Greyhounds,” he concluded.

As a player, Smith played his entire major junior career on the blueline of the Greyhounds from 2001-02 to 2004-05.

After being selected in the 2nd round (39th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Jordan would play two seasons in the American Hockey League before his professional career was cut short due to injury.

He would finish playing as a member of the OUA Lakehead University Thunder Wolves.

Smith joins newly-named Head Coach John Dean as newest members to the Greyhounds staff.

*************************