Growing up in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, PJ played minor hockey before moving to Cobourg to begin his junior A hockey career with the Cobourg Cougars. PJ was voted the team’s Fan Favourite in two of his Junior A seasons, entertaining the fans while also playing tough on the ice. From there, PJ moved to Antigonish, Nova Scotia, for his post-secondary education at St. Francis Xavier University. He played hockey for the St. FX X-MEN while completing his Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree. It was during these years that PJ met his wife, Rebecca, who was also playing varsity hockey. While completing his B.Sc., PJ began playing hockey for the Bay of Island Bruins, of the Newfoundland Senior Hockey League (NSHL), which would prove to be the end of his hockey playing career before moving into the coaching world.

PJ’s first coaching position was with the St. FX X-Women, Atlantic University Sport (AUS). During his three seasons as the team’s assistant coach, the team was AUS Finalists in 2003 and 2004 and AUS Champions in 2005. From there, he took a break from coaching in order to focus on his nursing career.

2016 brought an exciting new opportunity for PJ as he joined the Toronto Furies, of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) as the team’s assistant coach. During his three years, PJ led the recruitment of top prospects including direct communication with the NCAA coaches and parents; he assisted with the drafting and selection of players; ran and implemented penalty killing strategies; and leveraged contacts to secure in-kind and monetary sponsorships. After the ceased operations of the CWHL, PJ was selected by the players to join the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) and became the assistant coach for the GTA West Training Centre. In his time with the PWHPA, he developed plans and delivered practices for top female players including Olympic athletes. PJ was one of two coaches selected to travel to Japan with the PWHPA All-Star team for the International Competition against Team Japan ahead of the World Championships.

PJ, Rebecca, and their min pin, Rookie, are looking forward to beginning a new chapter together with the Campbellford Rebels hockey organization. “It is an honour to have been considered and now hired for the Head Coach position with the Rebels. I have played for and coached alongside some pretty great hockey minds and even from my playing days, I have always tried to take something away with me from each of those experiences. I believe that those pieces have helped me become not only the coach I am today but the person I am. I would describe myself as a players’ coach which, I think, will greatly help to create a winning culture within the Rebels organization: That is my short-term goal. [My] long term goal is to bring Campbellford back to the fold as a top hockey program, as it once was; A destination in the PJHL ranks, where players will want to play.”

Tyler Revoy, GM of the Campbellford Rebels is excited because, “PJ’s hiring isn’t just for the now in Campbellford. He is committed to helping the Rebels return to their winning ways, to develop players and coaches, and taking the steps necessary to get to the next level. We are excited to be working with PJ for years to come. [It’s] not every day that you get a coach with professional experience that is willing to step into a Junior team. PJ wants to be a head coach and his resume speaks for itself when it comes to experience. Rebels fans and players should be excited, we’ve got a good one running the bench.”

The Campbellford Rebels’ President of Hockey Operations and Director of Sponsorship, Larry Patton explained how “recruitment for the Head Coach position has been a long and grueling process these last few months; The Vice-President of Hockey Relations, Matt Wilkes, and I are honoured by the dedication, initiative, and determination that our GM, Tyler Revoy, and Assistant GM, Adam Holzmann, have shown throughout. Their commitment level along with that of our Assistant Coaches, Marcus Pollock and Bob McAskill, is bar none. The 2020-21 hockey season is looking better than ever now that we have PJ Michael joining our ranks. PJ’s experience coaching Olympic athletes is far greater than I could have ever dreamed of for our home team! On behalf of the entire management, coaching, and game day staff, we welcome PJ and look forward to working with him. I have the highest confidence in the combined recruitment efforts shown by these gentlemen – as you, our fans, are beginning to see with the player announcements that are rolling out. We’re light years ahead of any pre-season in recent Rebels’ history!”

“What can Rebels fans expect for this upcoming season?” PJ rhetorically asks, “the Rebels will be a tough and discipled team. [At] each game, fans will see our players consistently play with effort and a compete level that is second to none.”

Welcome PJ to the Campbellford Rebels PJHL! We’re excited to see all that we’ll achieve together!