The Strathroy Rockets are very pleased to announce that we have hired Jason Williams to be our Head Coach for the upcoming 2020-21 GOJHL season. Jason currently lives in London with his wife Julie and 2 children and is the owner of PHD Hockey Essentials. Jason played in our league as an AP while playing for the Mount Brydges Bulldogs before going on to play in the Ontario Hockey League with the Peterborough Petes after being a 2nd round pick in the 1996 OHL Draft. On September 18, 2000, he was signed by the Detroit Red Wings as an undrafted free agent. Over a span of the next 16 seasons, Jason would go on to play in over 150 games in Europe, 375 AHL games and 455 games in the NHL with Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, Columbus, Dallas and Pittsburgh. He won a Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in the 2001-2002 season.
Over the last couple of seasons, Jason has coached in the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs program and last year had one of the best Minor Midget teams in the Province and won an Alliance Championship. In the OHL Priority Selection draft in April, an incredible 9 players were drafted from that team. He has also been an assistant coach in our league previously with Komoka.
“Jason will provide a lot of valuable experience to our players as we continue our focus on player development within our organization. Anytime that you can add someone with Jason’s resume, work ethic and attention to detail whose values and beliefs are in line with what we are trying to do here in Strathroy …. you try to make it happen” stated Director of Hockey Operations / General Manager Kent Coleman.
Jason added, “I’m really excited about joining the Rockets organization and continuing on with this next chapter in my hockey career.”
He will replace Jason Furlong who has been our Head Coach for the past 2 seasons. Jason has just started a young family and because of time commitments and work, he will be stepping back but will be remaining within our organization as an Assistant GM.
Added Kent Coleman, “Jason Furlong has been a major reason why our program has been moving in the right direction over these last few years and I felt that it was important that he stay involved in whatever capacity he was comfortable with moving forward, He will help myself and Jake Jeffrey (Assistant GM) as the year progresses.”
Our assistant coaches from last year, Mitch McNeill, Matt Hackett and Brady Vandenberk will be returning this season and Jason will be adding to his staff over the next few weeks.
Welcome to the Rockets Jason and family!
