Journal staff
Dustin Jeffrey will make his OHL coaching debut in his hometown Friday as the Sarnia Sting Hockey Club just announced the newest member of their bench staff.
“Dustin will be a welcomed addition to our coaching staff,” said Sting general manager Dylan Seca. “He’s a professional through and through.
“As a local product he carried out an impressive professional playing career,” Seca added. “We believe his attention to detail and the love for the game will be great for our group.”
The news comes after assistant coach Brent Sullivan announced this week he was stepping down to attend to personal family matters.
Jeffrey, who grew up in Courtright, first laced up his skates in Mooretown, and the Lambton Jr. Sting AAA alumnus was drafted to the OHL by the Mississauga IceDogs in 2004.
The former forward played in over 200 OHL games with the IceDogs and Soo Greyhounds.
Jeffrey signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2007 and made his NHL debut on December 26, 2008. He played with both Pittsburgh and their AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre multiple times during the 2010-11 NHL season. Over the span of his NHL career, Jeffrey played 131 games and tallied 33 points, before embarking on a successful career in Europe.
In 2020, Jeffrey led Canada to victory in the Spengler Cup championship in Davos, Switzerland. He also won gold at the Spengler Cup in 2016.
“Having grown up in Sarnia, I know how much the Sting means to the community and I’m excited to join the organization,” Jeffrey said. “I look forward to helping the team out for the rest of this season.”
Jeffrey will make his bench debut tonight when the Sting take on the Owen Sound Attack in their Hockey Fights Cancer game.
Puck drops at 7:05pm at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena.