Pack news: Wolves’ new associate coach has deep Sault roots

SUDBURY — The Sudbury Wolves coaching staff features some new faces, but one of those faces, Jordan Smith, is very familiar with Northern Ontario.

The team’s new associate coach played his OHL career with Sault Ste. Marie. Then after his professional career was cut short due to injury, he finished his playing days in Thunder Bay, lacing up for four years for Lakehead University.

He then turned to coaching and found some early success with the Thunder Bay North Stars and Soo Thunderbirds of the NOJHL.

He has played against the Sudbury Wolves, so looking down to see the logo on his chest was a bit odd at first, Smith said.

“Yeah a little bit, but I think I’m feeling very much at home here in Northern Ontario and very thankful to be a part of the Wolves organization, obviously a great history and only looking forward to building onto that,” he said.

And it will be pretty exciting for him to head back to play the Greyhounds six times a season.

“Not looking ahead or past anything like that, but just looking forward to getting back there and seeing some friends and family,” said Smith.

Smith was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2004 NHL draft by the Anaheim Ducks and played two AHL seasons.

He has a chance to help the young Wolves take a similar path, especially those on the back-end.

“I think I bring a lot of energy, working with Cory and being on the same page with our entire staff. Bringing an element of youth and excitement to our club,” Smith said. “Being a former pro defenceman, I think I can pass on a lot of traits that I’ve learned along the way, and help develop these young players like (Zack) Malik and (Liam) Ross, and obviously helping out the older guys as well.”

That will mean starting from the beginning with a lot of the Wolves.

“I think it’s a little bit of back to basics for some of these guys and understanding that it’s a day-to-day thing, where each day is a new day and you’ve got to put the work in whether it’s in the gym or on the ice, staff included,” said Smith.

He’s had a chance to be around the group for more than a month now and he thinks, with a good head on their shoulders, this team can be very successful.

“I think we’ve got a good group of kids and that’s very important to come and be a good person every day and understand that nobody’s bigger than the next guy or the greatest good of the hockey team,” Smith said. “If we stay with strong morals and strong principles and add a good work ethic I think the sky’s the limit for this group.”

Smith and Sudbury natives Alain Valiquette and Darryl Moxam round out the Sudbury Wolves coaching staff.