SOO THUNDERBIRDS JR. A HOCKEY CLUB
Media Update
Release date: Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Cain stepping down as Thunderbirds President
BY MATT STEFANO
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. — Just a couple hours after general manager Jamie Henderson stepped down, the Soo Thunderbirds Junior A hockey club has now announced that team president and director of hockey operations Kevin Cain will also be leaving the club.
Cain, who moved up to become Soo Thunderbirds president and director of hockey operations in 2015-2016, served as the club’s general manager from 2010-2015, building the franchise to winning Copeland Cup McNamara trophies in 2012, 2015 and 2016 along with a pair of Dudley Hewitt Cup titles in 2012 and 2015.
“I thank Mr. Giommi for his mentoring, generosity and friendship. Joanne Brooks for her long time support and Mark Hebert for his continued support,” said Cain.
In the 2012-2013 season, the forty eight year old replaced T-Birds bench boss Warren Lavoy, who was let go by the club in February of 2013 and helped guide the Soo to the NOJHL finals and the Dudley Hewitt Cup tournament for a second straight year.
Prior to the 2013-2014 season, Cain returned to his duties as Soo Thunderbirds general manager and hired head coach Jordan Smith and assistant coaches Ryan Maunu and Marty Fortino.
“I will miss the many great people people who contributed to the team and myself. Former coaches Jordan Smith, Warren Lavoy, Preston Mizzi and many assistants, as well as Jamie Henderson,” continued Cain. “We as a group had great success and I know Denny Lambert and the Tech group will continue the legacy of Thunderbirds Hockey. I wish the Tech group great success with the Thunderbirds and with their hockey academy.”
Cain was named the NOJHL director of the year in 2013-2014, after the Soo finished first in the Canadian Junior Hockey League rankings with a new Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League best forty eight wins and 99 points.