Thunderbirds looking for new coach

When the 2020-21 Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League season opens, the Soo Thunderbirds will do so with a new head coach.

The team announced on Thursday evening via social media that John Parco would not be returning for a fourth season behind the bench.

The Thunderbirds posted a 110-46-6-6 record in Parco’s three seasons at the helm, which included a 44-11-0-2 record in 2018-19 and a 30-19-3-4 in 2019-20.

A statement released by the team on Facebook on Thursday evening called Parco “a tremendous coach and teacher for our players during his three year tenure.”

“We thank John for the commitment and dedication to the program and wish him and his family the best of luck with their future endeavours.”

Thunderbirds general manager Trev Zachary said Thursday the decision to part ways was “very mutual.”

“We had been talking back and forth quite a bit about the new season,” Zachary said. “JP wants to be busier with his business. He has a number of things planned for the business and with COVID-19, it’s been difficult. He can’t even get into his business. That really is his priority right now, and it needs to be. And his family being away to, that’s got to be tough on him.”

Due to a government-mandated lockdown because of COVID-19, Parco’s wife and daughter are in Italy.

“We were thrilled with everything that JP brought to the table,” Zachary said.

The Thunderbirds general manager said the process will begin to look for Parco’s replacement, but the COVID-19 pandemic will make this difficult in the early stages.

“The problem is the unknown,” Zachary said, adding that “there are certainly some super hockey people in this city and I’m going to do everything I can to continue building this program with good leaders.”