TORONTO — The Toronto Six have named Jessica Turi the team’s second new assistant coach for the 2022-23 Premier Hockey Federation season. Her appointment to Head Coach Geraldine Heaney’s coaching staff follows fellow assistant Kevin Greco, who was announced to his position on Tuesday.
“For me, it was an opportunity that presented itself and it was an exciting opportunity, and one that doesn’t come around everyday,” said Turi. “That exciting aspect of it definitely was something that drew me in, but also just the opportunity to continue to move up through the coaching ranks with regards to looking at my background, where I’ve been and where I’ve come from, and where I’d like to go, so it just made logical sense in terms of the next step from a coaching perspective.
“I think it’s a great opportunity to be able to work with women at the professional level,” she continued. "I’ve worked with female athletes at every age all the way up, and this was the next step, and so for me, it was an exciting opportunity, an exciting new challenge and a step in the right direction with regards to my coaching career.”
- Toronto 6ix Assistant Coach, Jessica Turi
“As a young female coach, Jess brings a lot of knowledge and experience as a player, coach, and scout,” said Geraldine Heaney, Head Coach of the Toronto Six. “Jess knows the importance of commitment and hard work as key attributes to a team's success, and I feel she has the ability to relate to the players on and off the ice. She is definitely a great addition to the T6 coaching staff.”
Turi has been predominantly involved in girls hockey for more than 12 years, including the last three seasons spent with the University of Toronto Varsity Blues. During her tenure with the U SPORTS hockey club, Turi assisted head coach Vicky Sunohara in leading the program to an Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championship, winning the McCaw Cup title for the first time since the 2002-03 campaign. They carried an overall record of 17-4-1-2, compiling a conference best 52 points across 24 regular season contests, and this past season finished atop the OUA standings with a 12-0-2-2 record.
*Check out our interview with Toronto 6ix Goalie, Elaine Chuli*
Her earlier coaching experience includes a seven-year tenure in the Provincial Women’s Hockey League, where she worked to develop young athletes from 2012-2019. She served stints with the Mississauga Chiefs and Etobicoke Dolphins, earning recognition as the league’s Coach of the Year in 2015. That devotion was further exemplified when Turi coached Team Ontario on six occasions, leading the provincial team as Head Coach to two Under-18 National Championships, while also winning a silver medal against the country’s top competition. Additionally, she helped guide Team Ontario to three medals as an Assistant Coach, including two silver, as well as one bronze at the national tournament. Turi’s pedigree behind the bench also includes time with the York University Lions as an assistant coach in 2010, and at the high school level, where she received her first head coach opportunity leading the girls hockey team at Mississauga’s St. Marcellinus Catholic Secondary School.
“I’ve been fortunate to have many really cool coaching opportunities in my life so far. I’m excited to see how my background in coaching and playing, and the knowledge I’ve acquired along the way, can impact the franchise positively. I’m really excited to do my part to help the team be successful, and just continue to develop as a leader and as a coach. I’m also excited for the opportunity to build relationships with these immensely talented players, and the coaching staff and management staff that I’m going to get to work with.”
Before she was introduced to coaching, Turi played five years of university hockey with York while pursuing her Bachelor of Arts degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science. Since then, she has proceeded to obtain a Bachelor of Education from the University of Windsor, while also adding to her hockey resume with a High Performance Level 2 certification. Thrilled to take on a new role within the Toronto Six coaching staff, Turi is looking forward to getting to work with elite athletes and being able to empower them as both players and
leaders.
“I’m excited to challenge myself as a coach, to continue to learn and to get better, and to be able to coach athletes that are elite,” she said. “I’ve coached many, but this is something that’s a little bit different for me, and it’s exciting, and it’s something that I hope will make me a better coach and a better leader.
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