Jamie Tardif back in the OHL
Welland native joins Greyhounds coaching staff
Jamie Tardif is going to be teaching some of his old tricks to a new pack of ’Hounds.
Specifically, the 2018-19 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.
The 33-year-old Welland native joined the Ontario Hockey League team Thursday as a fulltime assistant to new head coach John Dean and colleague to associate coach Jordan Smith.
Tardif, whose first opportunity to experience hockey from the other end of end of whistle was as a player-assistant coach last season in the ECHL with the Quad City, Iowa, Mallards, is looking forward to returning to the OHL.
“I am extremely honoured and fortunate to have the opportunity to join a great organization,” said Tardif, who spent his entire fiveyear major career with the Peterborough Petes.
“My family and I are looking forward to becoming part of a great community.”
Tardif thanked Greyhounds president Tim Lukenda and general manager Kyle Raftis for the opportunity to remain in hockey following the end to his playing career.
“I look forward to working with John and Jordan and creating a great working relationship.”
Raftis called adding Tardif to an all-new coaching staff as a big win for the organization.
“Jamie’s experience through his junior and pro career, along with his passion and approach to the game will be a great resource for both our players and staff,” the ’Hounds general manager said. “His ability to work on the fine details will only further our commitment to player development.”
Tardif played season in junior B with the then Welland Cougars before going on to a five-year OHL career, all with the Petes.
In his over-age season in Peterborough he was team captain and lead the Petes to the league championship.
Tardif, originally picked by the Calgary Flames in the fourth round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft with the 112th overall selection, played only two games in the NHL, with the Boston Bruins in 2012-13, but he nonetheless went on to enjoy a 12-year pro career.
In addition to playing in the ECHL with Quad City and, at the start of his career, with the Toledo Storm, he played eight seasons in the American Hockey League — Grand Rapids, Mich., Griffins, five; Providence, R.I., Reds, two; Rochester, N.Y., Americans, one — as well as three with the Mannheim Eagles of the German Elite League.
In 2003 Tardif won a gold medal playing for Canada at the International Ice Hockey Federation under-18 world championships.
Drew Bannister led Sault Ste. Marie to two West Division titles and an overall record of 136-5013-5 in three seasons as head coach. He left the Greyhounds in the off-season to become head coach of the American Hockey League’s San Antonio Rampage, the top farm club in the St. Louis Blues organization.
Dean spent last season in the Ontario Junior Hockey League as head coach of the Toronto Patriots. Prior to that, he spent three years as an assistant on North Bay Battalion bench boss Stan Butler’s coaching staff.