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Cole Lussier, a Sault, Mich. native and former member of the Soo Thunder locally, has joined the staff of the Ontario Hockey League’s Flint Firebirds.
Lussier has been hired by the club as a video coach and administrative assistant after spending the past three years studying at Michigan State University and graduating with a degree in pre-law.
Firebirds president of hockey operations Terry Christensen said the Firebirds were “really excited to have Cole be part of our hockey operations and coaching staff.”
“He’ll be an important part for us in helping to develop and make our players better through both of his roles with the team,” Christensen added in a prepared statement.
Lussier said the opportunity to work with the Firebirds staff “is something I really look forward to.”
Lussier’s playing career saw him spend time on both sides of the St. Mary’s River.
The 24-year-old spent three seasons with the Soo Thunder program – at the U14, U15, and U16 levels – before joining the Soo Indians 18U team on the Michigan side of the border.
After two seasons with the Indians, which also saw him play in games with the Soo (Mich.) Eagles in the Northern American Hockey League as a callup, Lussier joined the Central Canada Hockey League’s Kanata Lasers for the 2015-16 season.
Lussier spent the following season with the NAHL’s Amarillo Bulls before playing one season of NCAA hockey at Trine University.
Lussier joins a pair of other Sault-area connections with the Firebirds.
Sault native Mike Oliverio is the Firebirds head scout.
Oliverio has been with the club as a scout since the team moved to Flint prior to the 2015-16 season and was promoted to head scout in early-July.
Oliverio’s scouting staff includes another Sault native in Fred Coccimiglio, who has been with the club since the summer of 2018.