The Ohio AAA Blue Jackets, proud members of the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League, are pleased to announce that Perry Ganchar has been named Director of Program Development for the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets.  He will remain Head Coach of the U16 Midget Minor Ohio AAA Blue Jackets in addition to his new role.  Ganchar brings his extensive playing and coaching experience to help educate the coaches, players and parents in the program. 

His primary responsibilities will be to help the overall program improve by helping oversee the development paths of our players & coaches and better educating our parents.

Perry Ganchar commenting on his new role, “I look forward to my expanded role with the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets.  I am excited to work with Ed and Dale to continue to develop, educate and encourage our coaching staff, players and parents as we navigate through the AAA hockey experience”

 “As we look at areas to improve as a program, it made perfect sense to elevate Perry into this role.  Perry brings a unique perspective to our program since he played at the highest level, has coached at some of the highest levels and also has a son who played AAA and is now playing in college.  He is a great resource for our program and I am excited because will help make our program better”, added Ed Gingher, Program Coordinator.

Ganchar was a successful Junior and Pro Head Coach before turning his attention to AAA hockey.  He spent two seasons as Head Coach of the Spokane Chiefs (WHL) and led the Chiefs to the Division Finals and Semi Finals in those two seasons.  Prior to coaching in Spokane, he was the Head Coach of the Cleveland Lumberjacks (IHL) from 1997-2000 and was an assistant coach for the Lumberjacks from 1995-1997.

His playing resume is quite extensive as well amassing over 800 professional games in the IHL, AHL and 49 games in the NHL for St. Louis, Montreal and Pittsburgh.

Ganchar has two children and lives in Dublin.