Former Thunderwolves captain named Canucks assistant coach

Former Lakehead Thunderwolves captain Jordan Smith has made the National Hockey League, albeit not the way he originally imagined.

Smith, who has served as an assistant coach with the American Hockey League’s Abbotsford Canucks, on Wednesday was named an assistant coach with the team’s parent club, the Vancouver Canucks.

The 40-year-old Smith was a second-round draft pick of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in 2004 was on his way to the NHL when a freak injury, caused by a deflected puck, cost the Sault Ste. Marie native his left eye, while playing with the AHL’s Portland Pirates.

Though Smith could no longer play professionally and pursue his NHL dream, he joined the Lakehead Thunderwolves blue-line in 2006-07, where he spent five seasons, winning the Hank Akervall Award in 2011 for his excellence in athletics and community involvement. He played in two national championships while at LU, the team hosting the event in 2009 and 2010. 

He’d go on to coach the Thunder Bay North Stars and wound up as an associate coach with the Soo Greyhounds. He also coached in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.

Smith spent the past two seasons with Abbotsford, learning the ropes.

Source: TBNewswatch.com