Jon Vaillancourt

Proud husband and father. Woodsmen Hockey GM. Former ECHL strength and skills coach.

[The Players’ Tribune @PlayersTribune]

The Miracle on Ice was 44 years ago today. In 2017, Ryan Suter wrote about his dad’s legacy: “The best lesson I think people can take from my dad is his humility. He was a part of the single greatest moment in American sports history. But he never talked about it. He never wanted any glory. He was happy to go sweep the floors at the end of the night.⁠
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He never wanted to be a local legend. But he became one anyway. He did it his way.⁠
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I know that he was proud of what I accomplished in hockey, but honestly I think he was the most proud whenever he saw me around my wife and kids. He just loved being a grandpa, and he couldn’t sit still. That was perfect for the kids. We’d all go out to dinner and whenever my kids would be getting restless, he’d say, ‘Hey kids, what do you say we go outside?’⁠
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And they’d go on their little adventure together.⁠
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I don’t know why, maybe it was because he had been to the top of the mountain, but to him, hockey was just … it was just fun. It wasn’t about glory.⁠
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I remember before I left with Team USA for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, he said, ‘Ahh, you guys gotta win this so they can finally stop talking about us.’⁠
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And he was really serious.⁠
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I’ve still never watched the Miracle game against Russia. We have the DVDs somewhere, but I don’t know if I’ll ever watch it. It’s not what my dad would’ve wanted. I honestly don’t think he ever watched it, either.⁠

I can just see him saying, ‘Watch it? I played in it. Let’s go to the rink.’

There’s a song that comes on the radio a lot, and whenever it does, I get a little bit emotional. It’s a Tim McGraw song, and the last line sums up my father in five words.

‘Always stay humble and kind.‘

I can’t think of better advice for anybody.

My dad is my hero. But I’m not proud of him because he was the guy who won the gold medal in 1980. I’m proud of him because he was the guy sweeping the floors in the locker room, and the guy who taught hundreds of kids how to play the great game of hockey, and the guy who was a hell of a dad to me and my brothers.

You were one of a kind.”https://t.co/HAx6IAHqeE

[Jon Vaillancourt @JVaills]

@dmaciuk @OkWarriors_NAHL No surprise, kid is a natural goal scorer.

[Jon Vaillancourt @JVaills]

Keeping grinding Kamienski!

[John David Maciuk/Principal @dmaciuk]

NCDC This Week: Utica Jr. Comets Take Place In Top Five After Three-Game Road Sweep | NCDC Kamienski 5 gm pt streak ! #habit https://t.co/bDucSyOr8c

[Jon Vaillancourt @JVaills]

Congratulations!

[Jason Guerriero @JasonGuerriero]

Absolutely honored to represent my country and work with an amazing staff! 🇺🇸

[Jon Vaillancourt @JVaills]

Great hire!

[Army Hockey @ArmyWP_Hockey]

Rounding out the staff 🫡

We're excited to announce the addition of Taylor Ward as assistant coach!

Ward comes to West Point from MAP South Hockey after spending multiple seasons on the bench in the USHL. Welcome Taylor!

📰 https://t.co/etrl7ffNOh

#GoArmy

[The Sports Lead @sportslead1055]

@JVaills, Head Coach of Wisconsin Woodmen Hockey, joins the show live in studio right now!

Listen live here:
https://t.co/1Zyq22saSz

[NAHL @NAHLHockey]

#NAHL announces new NAHLTV details, packages, and pricing for the 2023-24 season.
✅ All exhibition/pre-season games are free to view
✅ Plans available for purchase beginning Sept. 1
✅ Exclusive streaming home for all NAHL, @NAPHL, and @NA3HL games.
https://t.co/8S4aMleo9p

[Northland College MHKY @LumberJackHKY]

Welcome to LumberJack Hockey, David! #NorthlandCollege

[NAHL @NAHLHockey]

Breaking News: #NAHL announces partnership with @_Neutral_Zone for scouting and evaluation of @NAPHL T1ER and @NA3HL players during 2023-24 season. https://t.co/TmmO0tUNO7

[Jon Vaillancourt @JVaills]

Really nice article by @CORubberHockey on Hayden Kolczynski who will be joining the Woodsmen in the @NA3HL for the upcoming season. A prospect for @NAHLHockey coaches to keep a eye on this season!

[Jon Vaillancourt @JVaills]

Thank you to all the players, scouts and parents who made it out to our main camp this past weekend at the @CapstoneHockey tournament. Training camp August 27th! #tomahwi #na3hl #nahl @wiwoodsmen

[Jon Vaillancourt @JVaills]

@skerlick44 Mentality needs to change. No place in the game for it. Good on you for speaking up.

[Jon Vaillancourt @JVaills]

Congratulations to Aaron! Outstanding young man who has a bright future. @AaronPionk

[Jon Vaillancourt @JVaills]

@HockeyHawkeye @NguyenLinc 🎉

[Jon Vaillancourt @JVaills]

‼️ Wisconsin Woodsmen Tryouts and Exposure Camps
Single team invite only for these invitational camps in Janesville and Blaine. These camps are well attended by NHL, NAHL, NCDC, and USHL scouts.
contact Coach Vaillancourt at [email protected]

[Jon Vaillancourt @JVaills]

First tender in program history is signed by Ryan Hacker who spent the past season with the @OmahaMasteryAAA #na3hl #nahl

[Jon Vaillancourt @JVaills]

Great weekend for Louie, 4G and 2 assists in three games. Another great player from the @ChicagoMission program in the @HPHL_Hockey colleges should keep a eye on him.

[USPHL @USPHL]

#NCDC: @WBSKnightsUSPHL earned a big 8-2 win over the Mercer Chiefs, largely on the back of a 🧢🧢🧢 by Louie Kamienski.

[Jon Vaillancourt @JVaills]

Congratulations Alex!

[WBS Knights @WBSKnightsUSPHL]

#WBSKnights ➡️ Milwaukee School of Engineering

The WBS Knights of the @USPHL NCDC are excited to announce that 6'0 defenseman, Alex Thundercloud, has committed to NCAA DIII Milwaukee School of Engineering for the fall of 2023-24. Alex has 5 points in 12 games played this season.

[Jon Vaillancourt @JVaills]

Congratulations Colin! @suny_cortland is getting a great leader and outstanding player. Excited to watch you take the next step. #rollknights

[WBS Knights @WBSKnightsUSPHL]

#WBSKnights ➡️ SUNYAC Cortland

The WBS Knights, proud members of the @USPHL National Collegiate Development Conference, are excited to announce that Colin Anna has committed to SUNYAC Cortland College for fall of 2023-24. Congratulations, Colin!

[Jon Vaillancourt @JVaills]

@HRWhalersHockey Look at that flow! Just like Dad