Earlier this week, the Sudbury Wolves announced the hiring two former NHL players for the upcoming season
Earlier this week, the Sudbury Wolves brought in Drake Berehowsky and Andrew Desjardins to work alongside Head Coach Scott Barney.
"Drake and Andrew are huge additions to not only our coaching staff, but more importantly the development of our young players," said Barney. "Both these gentlemen have been in our players shoes before, and have both been where they all want to go."
Both Berehowsky and Desjardins had long professional careers after they played in the OHL. They now find themselves in a position to mold the young players of the future.
"I am extremely excited to be working back in Sudbury," said Berehowsky. "I am looking forward to working with Scott and helping him and the team bring a championship to the city."
Last season, Berehowsky joined the Wolves as a Defense Coaching Consultant during the playoffs. However, this is not the first time he has worked with the team. He was an Associate Coach during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. During that second season he took on the role of Head Coach for the Orlando Solar Bears in the ECHL, where he remained for six seasons.
Between 1988 and 1992 Toronto-born Berehowsky played in the OHL and was drafted 10th overall during the 1990 NHL Entry Draft by his hometown team. He went on to play 549 games in the NHL while recording 37 goas and 112 assists.
In 2005, Berehowsky won a championship while playing for the Berlin Polar Bears in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.
Desjardins, a Sudbury native, will embark on the beginning of his coaching career with the Wolves next season.
"Being from Sudbury, I am truly honoured and excited to come home and join the Sudbury Wolves," said Desjardins. "I'm looking forward to working with Scott and the rest of the coaching staff to bring this team to the next level."
Similar to Berehowsky, Desjardins played four years in the OHL. Between 2003 and 2007 he played for the Soo Greyhound. After spending three years with the Worcester Sharks in the AHL, he made his NHL debut with the San Jose Sharks in 2010.
Between 2010 and 2017 he amassed 64 points over the course of 408 NHL games. He also won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2014-15 season.
After the conclusion of his NHL career, Desjardins went to play in the DEL for the Manheim Eagles. He won a championship with the team during the 2018-19 season.
Desjardins retired at the conclusion of last season after playing for two years in Austria.
It will be an entirely new coaching staff in Sudbury this upcoming season. Former Head Coach Ken Mackenzie stepped down after Sudbury was eliminated in the second round of last year's playoffs.
Sudbury has a team that could challenge for one of the top spots in the league. The new staff will need to mesh quickly to get the best out of their players.