2026-27 Chatham-Kent AAA Cyclones U10 Head Coach Jamie Schaafsma joins us for his first season at the helm, after several seasons as assistant coach with the Cyclones.Jamie Schaafsma brings a wealth of elite hockey experience, leadership, and passion to the U10 Cyclones as Head Coach. Jamie enjoyed a distinguished 15-year professional playing career across North America and Europe. He competed in premier leagues including the AHL, ECHL, CHL, IHL, and top European divisions, while also representing the Netherlands National Team at the IIHF World Championships.
Jamie’s career was defined by championship success and leadership at every level. His accomplishments include advancing to seven consecutive league finals with four different organizations and capturing four championships during that span. He won both the Kelly Cup and Presidents Cup and was named Playoff MVP during a Presidents Cup championship run. Jamie also served as a player/coach in the ECHL and was appointed team captain for four seasons across two organizations. In his 15th and final professional season, he earned Team MVP honours along with the prestigious True Komet Award, capping off a career built on work ethic, consistency, leadership, and a relentless desire to win.
Over the past five years, Jamie has dedicated his time as an Assistant Coach with the 2012 Cyclones. During this period, the team experienced remarkable growth — progressing from a last-place finish in his first season behind the bench to becoming the 2025 undefeated Alliance Champions and earning a Bronze Medal at the OHF Championships. This transformation reflects a commitment to attention to detail, proper technique, skill development, and a consistent team-first culture that Jamie and Head Coach Kyle Hope instilled within the group.
In addition to his work with the Cyclones, Jamie coached the 2011 age group within the Kent Minor Hockey Association at a key developmental stage. He has also led AAA and AAA Elite Vision spring hockey teams that have captured numerous tournament titles over the past six years, competing against top-tier provincial talent and further strengthening his expertise in high-performance player development.
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Coaching Staff
Jamie will be supported by a strong and experienced staff:
• Ryan Gagner – Assistant Coach, bringing extensive OHL and junior hockey experience, including time with the Peterborough Petes.
• Levi Tétreault – Assistant Coach, a Chatham native currently playing with the Tilbury Bluebirds, with prior OHL experience and former Cyclones captain during his minor hockey career.
• Todd Rodger – Power Skating Coach, Skate Ontario Trained, specializing in skating development and technical refinement.
• Nolan Gardiner – Assistant Coach, with professional playing experience in Europe, OHL experience, and time at the University of Windsor.
The goalie coach and team manager will be announced at a later date.
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Coaching Philosophy
Jamie is committed to developing well-rounded athletes by building skill, character, confidence, and a championship mindset within a competitive and supportive environment. He believes that skill and confidence are developed through structured, purposeful repetition and detailed instruction.
His focus will be on skill refinement, hockey IQ development, and instilling habits that contribute to both individual growth and team success. Jamie’s goal is to foster a genuine passion for the game, cultivate a culture of competitiveness and accountability, and mentor players to become disciplined teammates who value work ethic, camaraderie, sportsmanship, and respect.