Lakehead Athletics, Thunderwolves Hockey, and head coach Joel Scherban are pleased to welcome back assistant coaches Darrin Nicholas, Bob Bodak, Dan Bissonnette, Colin Zulianello, and Steve Bailot for the 2009-10 season.
Nicholas, a Lakehead graduate, returns for his eighth season with the team, bringing extensive experience to the assistant coach position. A former coach with the Thunder Bay Kings minor hockey team, and the Thunder Bay Flyers Junior A squad, Nicholas also served as a regional scout for the OHLs Sudbury Wolves.
A former Lakehead NorWester, Bob Bodak is the only graduate of the University to have played in the NHL, having suited up for the Calgary Flames and the Hartford Whalers. The Thunder Bay native rejoins the Thunderwolves for his third season on the coaching staff.
Dan Bissonnette, also a former NorWester returns to the Wolves for a second consecutive year, and fifth overall. The Keewatin, Ontario native has lent his coaching services to the Thunder Bay Midget Kings, the Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks, and the Thunder Bay Senators.
Returning for his second season as goaltending coach is Thunder Bay native, Colin Zulianello. Signed as a free agent by the Phoenix Coyotes, Zulianello played four seasons of professional hockey in the AHL and the ECHL after finishing his NCAA tenure at Colorado College.
Bailot, the strength and conditioning coach enters his third season with the Wolves. The Lakehead graduate was one of the original Thunderwolves, playing for the team during their inaugural season in 2001-02.
Entering his first season as head coach of the Thunderwolves, Scherban is excited to have these familiar coaches working with his squad. This is an extremely experienced coaching staff that has coached at the professional, university, junior, and minor hockey levels. At the university level, the coaching staff has coached in eight National Championship combined. I look forward to working with such an experienced and passionate staff as we work towards a National Championship.