The Trail Smoke Eaters have announced the hiring of Eric Thurston as the team’s new Associate Head Coach and Associate General Manager.
Eric will join Tim Fragle (General Manager & Head Coach), Bryan Kromm (Assistant Coach & Director of Player Development) and Emily Michalchuk (Athletic Therapist) to complete the hockey operations staff for the coming 2024-25 season.
Coach Thurston brings over thirty years of professional coaching experience to the Smoke Eaters program, including time at the international level.
Eric spent the last six seasons in the AJHL with the Grande Prairie Storm & Drayton Valley Thunder.
Prior to that, he was with the University of Alberta Golden Bears program for seventeen seasons as the team’s Assistant Coach and six seasons as the Head Coach and was part of six National Championship teams.
“Eric brings a wealth of experience to the Smoke Eaters organization. He will help the hockey operations team in all areas, with a focus on scouting & recruiting across the globe to bring the best possible athletes and people to Trail. I know Eric well and have full confidence he will make an immediate impact to our program. Our staff is very excited to welcome Eric and we all look forward to working with him!” said Tim Fragle, General Manager & Head Coach.
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