By Eric Powers – Special to the Sydenham Current
Wallaceburg Thunderhawks captain Jacob Vancoillie played his last game as a Thunderhawk on March 16, 2022, after leading the team to their first playoff berth in 12 years.
“Growing up, the goal was always to be down the tunnel dressing to play for the Lakers,” he said.
The local 21-year-old has played for the Lakers/Thunderhawks since 2016, and was named captain during the 2019-2020 season. Before that, he had been playing hockey in Wallaceburg since he was four.
“If you look back over the years of playing hockey, you don’t remember the scores of games or tournaments you’ve won or lost, but you remember all the fun you had with the people you’ve met. It’s like a brotherhood.”
On the 2021-22 season
When asked about the team’s mentality towards the end of the year, Vancoillie said “There was no ‘not making playoffs’.”
He commended the team’s perseverance through the season when it was temporarily paused from December 2021 to February 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It felt like a whole different season after that. During the second half every game felt like playoff hockey,” he said.
“Credit to the boys from out of town who traveled night in and night out even during tough times. We had some tough nights and our guys always came out to help us win games. We had a lot of guys that worked really hard this year.”
Vancoillie noted the Thunderhawks’ final regular season game – a thrilling 7-6 overtime victory over the Dresden Kings, where he scored the game winner to complete a 3 goal, 2 assist outing – as a defining moment for their year.
“It felt like our whole season came down to that game,” he said.
Influences and mentors
Vancoillie took up skating at the age of two and began playing hockey shortly after.
“My mom taught me from a young age and from there I wanted to start playing hockey.”
He credits his father, Rick Vancoillie, who “ran his practices and broke down games for several years growing up” as “the best coach I’ve ever had.”
“We’d go home and talk hockey, or watch hockey all the time,” Vancoillie added. “Throughout the years he’s taught me a lot.”
In 2017, Rick Vancoillie won coach of the year at the annual Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Vancoillie also mentioned Thunderhawks’ Equipment Manager Norm O’Dell as a positive influence during his time with the team.
“Norm inspires me,” Vancoillie said.
“Norm is the hardest working man I’ve ever met and I don’t think he gets nearly enough credit for how much he does for the Thunderhawks/Lakers. He’s been there night in and night out for the last 25 years roughly, and I think he really pulls the town together.”
On Wallaceburg, hockey and the Thunderhawks
In 2016, Vancoillie played for the Wallaceburg Lakers Minor Midget team that brought home an OMHA championship the same year. During the run, Vancoillie played through two games with a fractured wrist.
“Making it that far in OMHA’s is a once in a lifetime thing,” he said.
“When the run started out I don’t think any of us expected to go that far. I remember our
manager, Scott Gorry, saying ‘you guys have a chance to win OMHAs. You guys have a good team.’ It really took off after that.”
“It was great to see the fans come out and pack the barn and create that atmosphere.”
This summer, Vancoillie is playing for the Wallaceburg Sting Men’s soccer team with hopes of staying involved with the Thunderhawks at some point in the future.
“I don’t think some people realize how much hockey talent we have here in Wallaceburg,” he said.
“This town has proven to support good hockey teams. Hopefully with making the playoffs this past year, more local players will stay in the burg for their junior years.”
