Jambro has time on his side
St. Catharines Falcons assistant coach Greg Jambrosich. Photo by: BILL POTRECZ
There always seem to be enough hours in the day for Greg Jambrosich.
The 29-year-old Stoney Creek native somehow manages to work full time as a sale representative for Molson’s, spend hours a week at the rink as an assistant coach with the St. Catharines Falcons, and also find time for his fiancé Nicole.
If that wasn’t enough, the former Falcons centre, who also played in the Ontario Hockey League for the Sudbury Wolves, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and Niagara IceDogs, somehow found time to complete his Master of Business Administration from Brock University.
“Greg is a very detailed, very organized guy,” Falcons head coach Tyler Bielby said. “I joke around he might have the best time management of anyone I’ve ever been around. He’s always prepared, he has a great deal of passion and he’s here for the right reasons.
“Last year he completed his MBA, coached, took on a full-time job and never missed a practice. I don’t know how someone finds the time — I thought I was stretching thin — but you would have never known it from him. He just shows up with right attitude ready to work.”
Jambrosich gives credit to his mom and dad for his organizational skills.
“It think it goes back to parent upbringing, my dad being a department head and high school teacher,” he said. “I can probably thank mom and dad for the genes of their organizational skills and knowing there are priorities you have to meet and if you commit to something, you better fulfill it because you don’t want to leave them high and dry.”
Jambrosich joined the Falcons as an assistant coach after finishing his playing career at Brock University.
“When I started to play, it was one of those things I always had an interest in, to think after hockey how I can stay in the game,” he said. “When I was in the OHL, I started to learn the way the game works. It’s a very fine line of those who make it and those who do not and I wanted to find another avenue to stay in the game and prolong my passion for it.”
Jambrosich approached Falcons general manager Frank Girhiny about joining the organization but Girhiny told him it might be a good idea to first get his feet wet at the minor hockey level.
“Before you commit here, go see,” Jambrosich remembered Girhny telling him. “A lot of people might think they want to coach, but go learn and go manage a bench.”
Jambrosich did just that at the minor bantam level with Steve Webb and was quickly hooked.
“It was one of those things, the old adage it’s the next best thing to playing,” he said. “You feel the adrenaline rush of the game and all that stuff. It was something I really like to do and luckily get to do it here and have the success we had last year.”
Jambrosich feels fortunate to have played for some top-notch coaches along the way — Marty Williamson, Murray Nystrom, Mike Foligno, Trent Cull, Mike Stapleton and was also managed by Brock grad and current Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas in Sault Ste. Marie.
“I just try to pick a little bit from everyone what they do, what works for them, maybe what I think they didn’t do well and evolve that way,” he said.
Jambrosich also praises Girhiny who coached him at the bantam and minor midget levels.
“I would not be where I am were it not for is guidance as my coach,” Jambrosich said.
Bielby feels blessed to have Jambrosich by his side on the bench.
“It’s everything. With my career during the day and then coming into practice at night, to have someone like Greg, you can’t put a value on that,” Bielby said. “He’s so important to me and I’m so thankful to have him. He’s a big part of why we had the success we had last year and this year. He’s really dedicated to his craft.”
Jambrosich, who was the Wolves’ OHL Scholastic Player of the year in 2009-2010 and 2010-2011, is keeping his options open for the future.
“Life got real very fast,” he said. “Just kind of riding the life wave we’re on now. We have some exciting wedding plans in the future. Short-term goals are trying to repeat as champions here and then see where it goes. I’m open to anything that comes my way.”
The Falcons are home to Thorold Friday and in Fort Erie Saturday.
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