Tardif cutting his teeth as assistant coach
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds mentor captained Peterborough Petes to 2006 OHL championship
Jamie Tardif captained three teams between the OHL and AHL and felt it was good training for an eventual coaching career.
Tardif, 34, who captained the Peterborough Petes to the 2006 OHL championship, is cutting his teeth as an assistant coach with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. His boss is Greyhounds’ GM Kyle Raftis who was his teammate on the ’06 Petes. In the final season of his 12-year pro career he served as a player/assistant coach with the ECHL’s Quad City Mallards.
“I knew I was getting older and the way I played my body was breaking down. I was getting injured quite a bit,” said Tardif. “I had a plan and knew what path I wanted to take once hockey was over. We put that plan in place last year doing the player/coach thing to get that experience.
“There are a lot of similarities between being a captain and an assistant coach,” said Tardif. “I took a lot of pride in being a part of the leadership group on every team I played on. You’re mentoring and helping out the young kids and leading by example on and off the ice ... The lessons I learned in my career I think I can definitely pass along to a lot of kids at this level and even the pro level.”
Returning to junior Tardif was struck by how much things have evolved. The advances in video, the change of daily routines, the quality of facilities, he says, mimics a pro-environment.
“I absolutely love it,” said Tardif. “Right from Kyle Raftis to (head coach) John Dean to (assistant coach) Jordan Smith they’ve been such a huge help. I can’t see enough good things about all three of these guys and the organization. I truly enjoy coming to work every day.”
He’s worked closely with Peterborough native Barrett Hayton a first-round draft pick of the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes and the Soo’s captain.
“He’s an unreal kid. He’s already a pro the way he takes care of himself. He’s a pleasure to coach because he’s always dialled in and ready to go. He’s got a really bright future.,” he said.
Tardif returned to Peterborough early this season. It was his first time in the Memorial Centre in 12 years and first time on the visitor’s side.
“I got on the ice in the morning skate and I had goosebumps. It was just exciting and it was great to be back,” said Tardif.
After five years with the Petes Tardif played eight seasons in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins, where he was captain, the Providence Bruins, where he was an alternate captain, and Rochester Americans where he also served as captain. He also played three seasons in the German Elite League with Mannheim Eagles winning the league championship in 2014-15.
He also played two NHL games with the Boston Bruins in 2012-13 on a road trip to Toronto and Montreal.
“I was always a big Bruins’ fan growing up so it was great,” said Tardif. “That’s what every kid is in the American league for. You’re working on your game trying to get better hoping that phone call will come where you get the chance to go up. I think they said I was the oldest rookie to get called up by the Bruins’ organization. I was almost 30. It was a lot of grinding away in the minors. To get that call was a thrill and it just happened the game was in Toronto. I was essentially going back home to play my first NHL game. It was an unbelievable experience.”
He was also slated to dress for two games in Boston but they were postponed by a major snow storm.
“They shut down the whole state of Massachusetts for five or six days. I missed the opportunity to get two home games under my belt. By the time that was lifted the guys who were injured were healthy enough to play and back down I went.”