JOEL SCHERBAN - Head Coach
Joel Scherban is entering his first season as Head Coach of the Thunderwolves. Scherban is a graduate of Lakehead University; graduating with an HB in Commerce degree and a Masters of Science in Business Management.
Scherban played five seasons for the Thunderwolves, from 2001-02 to 20005-06, and led the team to the playoffs each season and won at least one playoff round each season. He also helped lead the Wolves to a Queen's Cup championship and CIS silver medal in 05-06.
He was the winner of the Joseph A. Sullivan Trophy as the top player in CIS hockey in 2004-05, won the RBC OUA Male Top 8 Student Athlete Award in 05-06, was a CIS First Team All Canadian, twice CIS and OUA Most Sportsmanlike player, OUA nominee for the Randy Gregg Award, a five-time OUA First Team All Star, and OUA MVP.
He holds the Lakehead All Time overall scoring record and holds the team mark for career overall and OUA regular season assists.
DARRIN NICHOLAS - Assistant Coach
Nicholas has extensive coaching experience outside the Thunderwolves including the Thunder Bay Kings Minor Hockey program, the Thunder Bay Flyers Junior A team, as well as being a regional scout for the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL.
Nicholas is married to wife Keri and has two sons, Evan and Nolan who are both stick boys with the Wolves. Nicholas graduated from Lakehead with a Bachelor of Administration degree in 1990 and is currently Branch Manager for Canada Borderlink Insurance Brokers in Thunder Bay. He enjoys golf, music, and movies in his free time.
Coaching Experience:
90-91 - Assistant Coach Thunder Bay Kings Midget AAA
91-94 - Assistant Coach Thunder Bay Kings Pee Wee AAA
94-96 & 97-98 - Assistant Coach Thunder Bay Flyers Jr. A (USHL)
95-97 - Area Scout Sudbury Wolves Major Jr. (OHL)
98-99 - Co-Coach Thunder Bay Kings Midget AAA
99-01 - Head Coach - Thunder Bay Kings Midget AAA
DAN BISSONETTE - Assistant Coach
Bissonnette is another die-hard Lakehead man; getting his degree in Physical Education at Lakehead and playing hockey for the then Lakehead Nor’Westers for three seasons.
Bissonnette played professional hockey in Britain and in Belgium and also played one year for the Thunder Bay Thunderhawks Colonial Cup Championship team and coached with two Thunder Bay Senators Colonial Cup Championship teams. He was also assistant coach for Thunder Bay Kings Air Canada silver medal winning squad. He is married to wife Deb and the couple has one daughter Alyx.
BOB BODAK - Assistant Coach
Bodak is a Thunder Bay native and Lakehead graduate who played hockey for the then Lakehead NorWesters. He is on the only Lakehead player to have ever played in the NHL; with Calgary and Hartford. He had an extensive pro career in the AHL and the IHL from 1983-1991.
He has been an assistant coach with the Erie Panthers of the ECHL and Thunder Bay of the Colonial Hockey League. Bodak works for Investors Group Financianl as a Financial Planning Consultant. He is married to wife Cindy and the couple have one son; Bryce. Bodak’s hobbies are golf, water skiing, and spending time at camp with his family.
COLIN ZULIANELLO - Goaltending Coach
The Thunder Bay native played for the Thunder Bay Flyers Junior A team and Colorado College of the NCAA. After graduating, he was signed as a free agent by the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes and then played four seasons of professional hockey in both the American and East Coat Hockey Leagues.
Zulianello is currently working on his Masters Degree in Education while coaching with the Thunderwolves. His father Larry played for the Lakehead Nor'Westers and is third all-time in Nor'Westers scoring. Colin enjoys getting out on the links for a little golf in the summer, and plays guitar in his free time.
STEVE BAILOT - Fitness and Conditioning Coach
Baillot is back as the team’s strength and conditioning coach. Baillot was one of the ‘pioneers’; a member of the Thunderwolves inaugural season squad in 2001-02. He graduated from Lakehead with a degree in Science. Steve works as a trainer at The Athletic Club in Thunder Bay. He enjoys working out and golfing in his free time. RON ROST - Team Trainer
Ron "Rooster" Rost returns behind the bench as the Thunderwolves' team trainer and equipment manager.
Ron works as Manager for Triad Exterior Contracting in Thunder Bay. Ron is married to wife Rita and the couple have two sons, Aaron and Greg. Ron likes to golf, run, cycle, and rollerblade in his free time.
Previous Experience:
Trainer Thunderwolves 2001-2003
Trainer Thunder Bay AAA Midget Kings 1999-2001
Trainer Thunder Bay Junior Flyers 1991-1999
BRENDON KERR - Assistant Trainer
Brendon returns as assistant trainer. He also has been a clubhouse manager and front office assistant for the Thunder Bay Border Cats Northwoods League baseball team.
He also served as assistant trainer for the KC Bulldogs for three seasons. Brendon is a graduate of Confederation College in Thunder Bay and he enjoys hiking in his spare time.
