Sault Ste. Marie, ON – Soo Greyhounds President and Governor Tim Lukenda announced today that an agreement has been reached with General Manager Kyle Raftis to extend his contract for a new four year term. The agreement extends through to, and including, the 2025-26 Ontario Hockey League season.
“We are very pleased to have Kyle continue in his role as GM of our organization” stated Lukenda.
“Kyle has done a tremendous job setting the tone and expectation of what it means to be a Soo Greyhound. We look forward to the upcoming season and beyond to see how far we can take our program under Kyle’s leadership,” he added.
Raftis, who will be entering his ninth season with the Greyhounds, was originally hired on August 26, 2014 and today marks his third contract extension with the organization.
“It’s a tremendous honour to be able to continue in this role with this incredible franchise and city. Over the past eight seasons, so many great individuals have come through this program both on and off the ice in my time here. We’ve collectively worked towards developing this program which has resulted in some memorable accomplishments,” started GM Kyle Raftis.
Over the past eight seasons, the Greyhounds have accumulated an overall record of 302-131-29-10 under Kyle’s guidance (0.681 winning percentage) along with having won the Angelo Bumbacco trophy symbolic of West Division Champions on three occasions (2017-18, 2016-17, 2014-15), Hamilton Spectator Trophy symbolic of the team finishing first overall in the OHL regular season twice (2018, 2015) while advancing to the OHL Championship series in 2018.
Twice the Greyhounds have re-wrote franchise records for both wins and points (2014-15 and 2017-18).
Twenty-one players have been selected out of the Program at the NHL Entry Draft during this span while the Greyhounds continue to be a leader in producing talent for the CHL/NHL Top Prospects game.
“I’d like to thank Tim Lukenda and the Soo Greyhounds Board of Directors for entrusting me with the continued privilege of leading the Soo Greyhounds. Their unwavering support and belief in the shared vision for the organization is paramount,” added Raftis.
He concluded, “I thoroughly enjoy working with such a great group of people; the players, hockey operations, coaching staff, scouting staff and front office. I’m proud of where we have grown as an organization and I look forward to pushing this program to the next level for this deserving city.”
