The Sudbury Wolves will have a different look behind the bench this season with the announcement that former NHL defenceman and former North Bay Centennials defenceman Drake Berehowsky will be the Wolves' new Associate Coach for the 2015-16 OHL season, the club announced on Thursday.
Berehowsky, 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, Berehowsky was 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," notes 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, Pheonix, Nashville and the Edmonton Oilers. Berehowsky concluded his playing career in Europe in 2006.
"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 is 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," notes Matsos.
The Wolves will have potentially more North Bay flavour this season along with the popular the former Centennial defenceman.
Danny Desrochers is expected to return for his overage season, North Bay's Michael Silveri will battle for a roster spot this season and 2015 5th round choice Ben Garagan will try to do the same.
