Voodoos welcome back Mackley to hockey ops

POWASSAN, Ont. — The Powassan Voodoos of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League are welcoming back former assistant general manager Mike Mackley back to the organization, the club announced Monday.

Mackley will re-join the Voodoos to take over the position of vice president of hockey pperations and will work with associate general manager Brent Tomlinson and GM and director of hockey operations, Chris Dawson.

“It’s great to be back with such a quality organization with quality people, who put an emphasis on not only winning but developing players,” said Mackley.

“I am excited by the opportunity to work with the staff and help build a team that consistently competes for league and national championships.”

Mackley, who worked in the role of scout and assistant general manager for just over three seasons with the Voodoos, left the team for an opportunity closer to home with Brantford of the OJHL.

Mackley is also a scout for the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds.

The Pickering, Ont., product will continue his scouting role with the Greyhounds while working for the Voodoos in his new position.

Mackley played a crucial role in recruiting some of the Voodoos finest prospects over the years including Harrison Israels and Nate McDonald who are both currently playing NCAA Division I hockey.

Dawson, the Voodoos GM, welcomes Mackley back to Voodoos green.

“To have two top recruiters in Tomlinson and Mackley together helping us find top-end talent should make for a very competitive training camp and put us in a fantastic position coming out of our leave of absence this season,” said Dawson.

Mackley, who was part of the 2017 championship team, feels he has some unfinished business to take care of in Powassan.

“We got very close to a national championship in 2016-2017, and getting there is the goal moving forward,” said Mackley about losing in the Dudley-Hewitt Cup semifinal to the Georgetown Raiders which featured current NHL star Jack Hughes.

“I want to thank Chris Dawson and Jim Bruce for welcoming me back and giving me another opportunity with the Voodoos.”

The Voodoos are hoping to announce some spring and summer prospect camps when permitted to do so but Dawson says the team has already started the recruiting process for 2021-22.