Graham Thomas - Ice Hockey Coach - Syracuse University Athletics

Graham Thomas

Title:
Assistant Coach

Graham Thomas joined the Orange coaching staff in 2008-09 when Syracuse launched its ice hockey program. His responsibilities included recruiting in the western part of the United States and Canada, providing on-ice instruction during practice and contests, strength and training conditioning, studying video, and scouting opponents. He was promoted to associate head coach prior to the 2011-12 season.

Prior to coming to Syracuse, Thomas coached at the National Sport Academy, Calgary, Alberta, where he served as a coach and classroom instructor specializing in player-skill development. Through the Academy, Thomas has mentored male and female players who have competed at the NHL level, Junior A tier I and II, NCAA and National Team levels. Thomas has ’High Performance 1’ and ’Coaching Theory Level 1, 2 and 3’ qualifications and is certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association to develop players through off-ice training.

Thomas made the smooth transition into Division I following a very successful stretch as the head coach and operations manager for the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). In 2007-08, he directed the team was 26-8-2 record, finishing in a tie for first place in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference. From 2005-07, he served as the video coach for the Calgary Hitmen in the Western Hockey League.

Thomas has coached a variety of teams at the midget, bantam and pee wee levels. Thomas worked as the head coach for the Hericanes elite team for all three levels of play, winning the SASHA tournament championship with his Bantam AAA team in 2007. Thomas also mentored the Springbank Minor Hockey Association and Junior Flames Pee Wee AAA teams as head coach and assisted with the National Sport Academy Swiss Tour and Central Thrashers in 2005. He has coached a variety of midget, bantam and pee wee levels since 2000, including the Calgary Junior Flames Sapporo Cup, Southern Alberta Rockies Bantam ‘AA’, North West Athletic Association Midget ‘A’ Stamps and the Midget ‘AAA’ Royals.

In addition to his coaching success, Thomas boasts professional playing experience. In 1998-99, Thomas skated for Mannheim Jung Adler in Germany. He also competed with the Drayton Valley Thunder in the American Junior Hockey League and was a part of the South West Athletic Association Royals in Calgary during his midget and bantam years.

A certified member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association, Thomas provided strength programs to student-athletes through the Academy. He also worked as a video analysis coach with the Academy.

A native of Calgary, Alberta, Thomas earned his Bachelor of Applied Business Entrepreneurship degree from Mount Royal College in the Bissett School of Business in 2006 and his business administration diploma from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in 2001. Thomas resides in Fayetteville, N.Y. with his wife, Nicole.