The Sudbury Wolves have announced that Drake Berehowsky will be joining the team as the new associate coach for the 2015- 16 OHL season.
Berehowsky, a former NHL defenceman assumes the associate coach position from David Matsos who recently signed a multi-year contract with the Sudbury Wolves as the club's new Head Coach.
Berehowsky has coached at various levels of hockey for the past eight seasons, most recently, as the head coach of the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League.
Prior to that, he served as head coach of the Orlando Solar Bears of the East Coast League.
Berehowsky was an assistant coach with the Peoria Rivermen of the American Hockey League for three seasons (2009- 2012). He also served as an assistant coach for three seasons in the OHL with the Barrie Colts and the Battalion.
"We are very pleased to have Drake Berehowsky join our coaching staff,” said Wolves' President and General Manager Blaine Smith.
"Drake is an outstanding teacher and he will do a great job mentoring our young defencemen in particular. He will also provide experienced bench support for Coach Matsos. I believe we now have one of the best coaching staff in the OHL with a good mix of OHL experience and pro coaching experience."
Berehowsky was drafted 10th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1990 and played 12 seasons in the NHL with Toronto, Pittsburgh, Vancouver, Phoenix, Nashville and the Edmonton Oilers.
"I am extremely excited to join David Matsos and the rest of the Sudbury Wolves coaching staff and bring my family up to Sudbury where OHL hockey is the big game in town,” said Berehowsky.
"Having played in North Bay, I know the passion that Northern Ontario fans have for their OHL teams, and I know how badly the fans of Sudbury want to see their Wolves win a championship. I see excellent potential with the group of players that the Sudbury Wolves have gathered together, and I like the plan that team management has in place. I am truly excited to play a part of the future success of the Sudbury Wolves franchise."
Wolves' Head Coach David Matsos was equally pleased to have signed a long-term contract with the Sudbury Wolves and very excited to have Berehowsky join his coaching staff.
"My family absolutely loves living in Sudbury and I am very honoured that ownership and management have awarded me with the challenge of being the Wolves' new head coach," said Matsos.
"There are only 20 head coaching positions available in the OHL and I am very grateful to be given the chance and the challenge to show what I can do to help lead this team in the right direction. I believe we have the makings of a winning hockey club moving forward and I look forward to working with Drake and Bryan (Verreault)".
Verreault is returning for his second full season as assistant coach and working with David Matsos behind the Wolves' bench.
Verreault worked for the Wolves from 2004 until 2009 as an assistant to coach & GM Mike Foligno.
The Sudbury Wolves advanced to the OHL finals in 2007 under the direction of Foligno, Verreault and former assistant coach Bob Jones.
Wolves' Goaltending Coach Miguel Beaudry will also be back with the Club.
"It was very important for us to hire an Associate Coach that could teach our young defensemen and help us find ways to cut down on our goals against. As a former NHL defenceman, Drake has some excellent ideas on ways of improving our power play and generating offense from the back-end," said Matsos.
"Drake is an innovator and he uses video and hockey analytics effectively. I know that Drake will play a major role in getting our team back on track and we are very fortunate to add the knowledge and expertise that Drake provides to our team."
Bryan Verreault returns for his second full season as Assistant Coach and working with David Matsos behind the Wolves' bench. Verreault worked for the Wolves from 2004 until 2009 as an Assistant to Heach Coach & GM Mike Foligno.
The Sudbury Wolves advanced to the OHL finals in 2007 under the direction of Foligno, Verreault and former assistant coach Bob Jones.
Wolves' Goaltending Coach Miguel Beaudry will also be back with the Club.
