Lakehead Thunderwolves Hockey and Lakehead Athletic Director Tom Warden would like to thank assistant coaches Dan Bissonnette, Bryan Duce, and Paul Mackett for their years of service to Thunderwolves hockey.
Warden said that all three have been valuable components of the successful resurgence of Thunderwolves Hockey. I would like to express my deepest appreciation to Dan, Bryan, and Paul for their fantastic work and support of the Thunderwolves. I especially would like to thank Dan who is a long-time friend of mine for his dedication to our team. These are three Lakehead alumni players who really stepped up for our programme and gave everything they had and I hope we can count on their continued support in the future.
Thunderwolves Hockey President Rory Cava said Bissonnette, Duce, and Mackett have been key parts of Lakehead Hockeys success. Dan, a former Lakehead player and student, has a great passion for Lakehead hockey and has shown a great commitment for the development of our programme. I would really like to thank him for all his hard work. I would also like to thank Bryan and Paul, also both former Lakehead players, for everything they did to make Thunderwolves hockey into what it is today.
Bissonnette, a native of Keewatin, Ontario, served as assistant coach with the Thunderwolves for three seasons. He also played varsity hockey for the then Lakehead NorWesters for three years from 1985-1987 before transferring to the University of Manitoba where he played two seasons.
He played professional hockey in England and Belgium and then played one season for the Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks Colonial League championship team in 1991-1992. Bissonnette also coached with the Thunder Bay Midget Kings, the Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks, and the Thunder Bay Senators of the Colonial League.
Bissonnette said he was proud to be a coach where he both studied and played varsity hockey and also wanted to thank his family for their support. It takes a tremendous amount of support from the closest people around you to be able to participate and coach at this level. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my family Deb and Alyx for their love, understanding, and support. My employer, Coca-Cola Bottling, for the space and time needed to pursue a passion. I would like to wish the Thunderwolves hockey programme, players, coaches, and training staff much success in the upcoming year and the future.
Duce, a Thunder Bay native, was an assistant coach with the Wolves for two years. He also played two seasons with the Thunderwolves and amassed 37 goals and 55 assists for 92 points; 8th on the Thunderwolves All Time Scoring List. Duce also saw professional play in the AHL.
Mackett, also a Thunder Bay native, served as the teams goaltending coach for five seasons. Mackett also saw varsity service with the Lakehead NorWesters and also coached with the Thunder Bay Flyers and the Thunder Bay Midget Kings.