POWASSAN, Ont. – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Powassan Voodoos have named veteran bench boss, Peter Goulet, as its new head coach, the club announced Canada Day.
Goulet, has been a full-time hockey coach for 18 years and has won championships with the Nepean Raiders in 2012 in the CCHL, and the Kingston Voyageurs in 2009 in the OJHL.
Most recently he was with the Trenton Golden Hawks of the Ontario Junior ‘A’ Hockey League as head coach and general manager where he recorded a regular-season record of 76-26-6 from 2019 to 2022.
“I am so very grateful to the Trenton Golden Hawks Sandy Smith and Rod Finney for the opportunity they gave me over the last three years,” said Goulet.
“They are both nothing but first-class gentlemen. They care so much for the players, staff, fans and the city of Trenton. I could never thank them enough and I am forever grateful for everything they did for me and my family over the last three years.”
Goulet’s thick resume also includes stints as an assistant coach with the ECHL’s Brampton Beast, assistant coach with Team Canada East (2019), along with major junior scouting duties with the Mississauga Steelheads and Halifax Mooseheads.
“As I move forward, I look forward to this new chapter in my life with the Powassan Voodoos,” stated Goulet.
Goulet will be joined behind the bench by Josh Hardiman. They both join long-time Voodoos assistant coach Josh Dale on the bench.
“I am so grateful to Jim Bruce, owner of Powassan for believing in me and giving me this new opportunity,” continued Goulet.
“I look forward to working with Jim and the communities of Powassan, Callander and North Bay. Also, a big thank you to Chris Dawson for the support and friendship for close to 15 years. I am looking forward to working with Chris and together building a championship team. I am very excited that great friend and great coach Josh Hardiman will be coming to Powassan Voodoos to coach with us and help us build this team. I look forward to working with all the NOJHL teams and commissioner Robert Mazzuca and executive director Ted Magee.
“I also wish nothing but success to coach Lafleur as he leaves the Voodoos for the Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the QMJHL.”
Chris Dawson, Voodoos GM, believes Goulet joins the club not only with an impressive coaching resume but also a great reputation as a top end junior hockey recruiter.
“Peter is very passionate about hockey and it filters through the way he operates behind the bench and off the ice. He cares about his players and he has helped many move on to higher levels which is a key mandate of our organization,” said Dawson.
Goulet has six players who have played in the National Hockey League including current Florida Panthers star defender MacKenzie Weegar, Ben Hutton, Ryan Johnson, Buddy Robinson, Scott Harrington and goaltender Dan Altshuler.
“I have placed players at these NCAA D-1 schools Cornell, North Eastern, Clarkson, Union, Providence, Uconn, Maine, Robert Morris, Colorado College, Colgate, Lake Superior State, West Point, and RPI and many other players in D-3 and CIS schools along with many players on Major JR Teams OHL and QMJHL,” said Goulet.
The new Voodoos bench boss will be in North Bay on July 9 for their next prospects camp at Pete Palangio Arena.
