POWASSAN, Ont. — The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Powassan Voodoos announced Thursday, they have re-signed head coach for the 2022023 season.
The veteran and award-winng coach Marc Lafleur looks being back behind the Voodoos’ bench for another campaign.
“I am very pleased to be returning to the Voodoos for another season,” said Lafleur.
He also added: “I think we are all on the right path and I am very happy to be surrounded by good people within the Voodoos organization, that includes on the bench, within hockey management and of course team ownership.”
Lafleur led a young Voodoos squad to a 30-11-6-1 overall record in 2021-22, which was good for third spot in the NOJHL’s East Division.
Powassan went on to fall in six games in the conference semifinals against the Hearst Lumberjacks.
“We are excited to have coach Marc back with the program,” stated Chris Dawson, the club’s general manager.
Dawson went on to say: “Although we did not reach our goal of winning a championship in 2021-22, I believe many of our players made tremendous strides forward under Marc’s leadership behind the bench and he continues to prove he is one of junior hockey’s top coaches.”
The two-time NOJHL Coach of the Year has a long list of success in his time working within the NOJHL.
He served as the general manager and head coach of the Hearst Lumberjacks, where he captured an NOJHL championship in 2019 and guided the team to the Dudley-Hewitt Cup Final. That season Lafleur was also named NOJHL Coach of the Year and First Team All-Star General Manager.
Lafleur also worked in a similar capacity of the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners for five seasons, winning an NOJHL title in 2014 and was named NOJHL coach of the year with the Miners in 2013.
During his time in the NOJHL, Lafleur has served as an assistant coach for Team Canada East at the World Junior ‘A’ Challenge on 4 consecutive occasions (2013, 14’, 15’ and 16’), winning a silver medal in 2016.
The Voodoos start to build for the 2022-23 season this weekend as they are hosting a prospects camp at North Bay’s Memorial Gardens on May 7 and 8.
Photo credit: Chris Dawson
