Greyhounds make Hockey Operations additions for 2026-27 season
SAULT STE. MARIE, ON- Soo Greyhounds General Manager Kyle Raftis has announced a pair of additions to the team’s Hockey Operations for the 2026-27 Ontario Hockey League season.
Today, he officially welcomed Blake Bell as the Program’s new Video Coach and Jake Juron as their New York-based Scout.
Bell, a native of Ajax, ON joins the Greyhounds after spending the past two seasons (2025-26 and 2025-26) in a Video & Analytics Role with the OHL’s Peterborough Petes.
“Blake has been a great addition to our coaching staff and has really hit the ground running. As we continue to build our staff and evolve the demands of our program, having someone with his work ethic and perspective has been a huge resource for both our hockey operations group and our players on a day-to-day basis. He has brought a lot to the program already, and we’re excited about the impact he’ll continue to have as we move forward,” said Raftis.
He is a graduate of Brock University, where he studied Sports Management & Applied Health Sciences.
In his new role, he will work closely with the coaching staff on a daily basis, supporting Head Coach Drew Bannister and Assistant Coaches Steve O’Rourke and Patrick Jarrett in the preparation, evaluation and development of the team.
“I am extremely grateful and excited for the opportunity to join the Soo Greyhounds this season. It is a privilege to be part of an organization of the Greyhound’s calibre and I look forward to working with our committed staff and players,” said Bell.
Juron, a native of Lathan NY comes to the Program with a diverse portfolio of hockey operations involvement including current roles as Assistant General Manager for NY Dynamo NCDC team and Skill Development Coach for 101% Always Hockey.
“Jake is a relentless worker, and even from our first conversations, you could tell how much passion he has for scouting and player development. Making the jump from the USHL was a natural next step for him, and we’re excited to have him join our group. We’re always looking for people who are out there finding players and building relationships, and Jake will be a great resource for us in New York. His coverage will be important for both our draft and player procurement throughout the prep school and junior leagues,” explained Raftis.
Further to his current roles Jake has over six years coaching experience youth hockey in Albany, NY and scouting with the USHL’s Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.
“I’m very excited to join the Soo Greyhounds. Kyle, Patrick and the rest of the team have been incredibly welcoming and helpful since coming on board. I look forward to helping the organization continue identifying high level talent in route to winning a championship,” stated Juron.
He played junior hockey for the NY Junior Islanders and South Shore Kings before attending college and combining athletics and academics at SUNY Potsdam.
