With just three and a half months remaining before the puck drops on the 2026-2027 Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League season, the focus for the Soo Thunderbirds has already shifted firmly toward preparation, recruitment, and building a team capable of taking the next step.

As the 2026 Centennial Cup national championships continue in Summerside, the Thunderbirds organization is already hard at work preparing for another NOJHL campaign. Saultsports recently sat down with owner, general manager, and head coach Cole Jarrett to discuss the club’s offseason approach, returning players, recruiting philosophy, and expectations heading into the upcoming season.

The Thunderbirds have remained one of the NOJHL’s most recognized organizations since former NHL player Trevor Daley joined Cole and Leanne Jarrett in purchasing the franchise during the spring of 2021. Since then, the organization has experienced both championship success and playoff disappointment while continuing to maintain high standards on and off the ice.

Under the current ownership group, the Thunderbirds captured the 2021-2022 Copeland McNamara Cup championship with a league finals victory over the Hearst Lumberjacks. Since that title run, the club has remained competitive but has fallen short of returning to the league summit.

In 2022-2023, the Thunderbirds reached the NOJHL championship series before losing to the Timmins Rock. The following season saw the club eliminated in the division semifinal by the Sudbury Cubs, while the Cubs again ended the Thunderbirds’ playoff run during the 2024-2025 semifinal series. Most recently, the Thunderbirds were knocked out in the quarter-finals during the 2025-2026 playoffs by Timmins.

Despite the recent playoff setbacks, Jarrett believes the organization has a strong foundation moving forward, especially with the possibility of returning experience throughout the lineup. The Thunderbirds could see as many as 10 forwards, eight defensemen, and two goaltenders return for the 2026-2027 season.

The club will also need to replace several graduating players, including James Legler, Wyatt Groth, Rhys Bonvie, Brayden Gosselin, and Ryan Hicks.

Jarrett emphasized the importance of continuity within the organization and believes having returning players familiar with the Thunderbirds culture can play a major role in the team’s success.

“We are expecting a good core of players to return for next season,” said Jarrett. “The more players you return the more people you have that are familiar with the expectations and what it means to be a Thunderbird.”

While the exact makeup of the roster remains uncertain, Jarrett is optimistic about what the returning group could accomplish heading into the fall.

“Depending on who returns I think we should have a good opportunity to pick up where we left off,” he added.

One of the hallmarks of the Thunderbirds organization over the years has been internal competition and accountability, something Jarrett says will once again be a key factor during training camp.

“I have never come into a season with a set plan of who will play where and with who,” explained Jarrett. “Each player will have equal opportunity to earn as much playing time as they can handle and it will be the same across the board for everyone.”

The Thunderbirds have also taken a different approach to recruitment this offseason compared to many Junior “A” organizations across Ontario. While several clubs rely heavily on spring camps as part of their player evaluation process, the Thunderbirds opted not to hold one this year.

Jarrett was direct when discussing the reasoning behind that decision.

“I don’t know one team that rely on their spring camp for anything other than to make money,” said Jarrett. “It’s not a decision, it’s a choice.”

Instead, the Thunderbirds continue to focus on identifying talent through modern scouting methods and technology-based evaluation.

“With technology these days it’s easier than ever to find and evaluate players,” Jarrett explained.

As the organization prepares for another season in the NOJHL, Jarrett says success will ultimately be measured by more than wins and losses. While competing for championships remains important, developing players both on and off the ice continues to be a major organizational priority.

“How well we perform as a group will be determined by everyone’s commitment to each other,” said Jarrett. “If we can come together as a group and remove and learn to play as one then that will be a successful season.”

Jarrett also stressed the importance of developing character and team-first attitudes in players as they move on from the program.

“We want to advance good quality humans,” he said. “Where they go is irrelevant as long as they go as a team player with a good attitude and willing to learn from them we can be satisfied with the success of the group.”

With a potentially experienced roster returning, a strong organizational culture already in place, and a renewed focus on team commitment, the Soo Thunderbirds will look to re-establish themselves as one of the NOJHL’s top contenders when the 2026-2027 season begins later this fall.