SOO THUNDERBIRDS JR. A HOCKEY CLUB
Media Update
Release date: Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Henderson steps down as Thunderbirds GM
BY MATT STEFANO
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. — After losing a pair of assistant coaches in Kyle Brick (Blind River Beavers) and Jeremy Rebek (Soo Indians) to take head coaching roles with other teams, the Soo Thunderbirds Junior A hockey club has announced on Tuesday that general manager Jamie Henderson will not be returning to the club for the 2016-2017 season.
“Today I am officially stepping down as general manager of the Soo Thunderbirds hockey club,” said Henderson. “With the team being sold to a new group recently, I have decided it would be a good time to step aside.”
This change has been made under the T-Birds new ownership group, The Tech.
“I have given much of my time to this organization for much of the past five years and I have been very fortunate to form some great friendships with those involved and especially the players who have given so much to this team and city,” Henderson said. “I will be forever grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of two RBC Cup teams and am especially proud to be part of the first ever team in 2012.”
Henderson, who was hired as the T-Birds assistant general manager in 2014-2015, helped build the club to clinching their third Copeland Cup McNamara Trophy title, before winning its second Dudley Hewitt Cup in franchise history.
In 2015-2016, the Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario native was then named head general manager of the T-Birds, where he assembled another dynasty team, capturing their second consecutive Copeland Cup McNamara Trophy along with clinching a berth into the Dudley Hewitt Cup final for a second straight season.
“We have spent so much time together and I want to thank Albert Giommi, Jo-Anne Brooks, Mark Hebert and Kevin Cain for allowing me to be a part of this organization,” continued Henderson. “I am proud to leave with this organization in good hands and as one of the most respected Jr. A teams in the entire CJHL!”
Through the T-Birds seventeen year history (1999-2016), the club has captured a total of four Copeland Cup McNamara Trophies and two Dudley Hewitt Cup titles.
Three of those Copeland Cups (2012, 2015 & 2016) and two Dudley Hewitt Cups (2012 & 2015) was with Jamie “Hendo” Henderson on board with the club.
“I look forward to the next opportunity in hockey with fond memories of championship seasons and great young men moving on to reach their hockey dreams,” concluded Henderson.
