The Abbotsford Canucks have announced the hiring of Jordan Smith as an assistant coach for the 2024-25 season.
The 38-year-old has spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons.
Springfield failed to make the playoffs in 2023-24 and finished in sixth place in the AHL's Atlantic Division with a record of 30-37-3-2. The Thunderbirds finished in fourth place in the Atlantic in the 2022-23 campaign and posted a record of 38-26-3-5. Springfield was swept 2-0 in the first round of the playoffs that season.
Abbotsford Canucks General Manager, Ryan Johnson, announced today the hiring of Jordan Smith as Assistant Coach. pic.twitter.com/EoCg4lA9QZ
— Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) July 2, 2024
Prior to his time in Springfield, Smith was an associate coach with the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League from 2018 to 2022. He also was an associate coach with the Sudbury Wolves in the 2017-18 season.
Smith was chosen by the Anahiem Ducks in the second round (39th overall) as a defenceman in the 2004 NHL Draft. He went on to play 60 games in the AHL with the Portland Pirates and Cincinatti Mighty Ducks and collected 15 points. He was forced to retire from professional hockey due to an eye injury. A slap shot hit him in the left eye when he was just 20 years old. His injury prompted the AHL to introduce mandatory visors.
He continued to play hockey for Lakehead University following the injury and served as the team captain in 2009-10.
Smith played his junior hockey with the Greyhounds and was the team's assistant captain in 2004-05.
He is the current lone assistant coach under new head coach Manny Malhotra. Last season's assistant coaches Jeff Ulmer and Gary Agnew, as well as head coach Jeremy Colliton all will not be returning.