Our team

PCI HOCKEY | Our team

our team

Thane Campbell

President

Thane Campbell, is the President, founder, and principal of Pro Counsel International Inc. (1995). He has been a certified Agent with the National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA) since certification was first formalized in 1996.

He has advised and represented Jonathan Cheechoo (2006 Maurice Richard Trophy winner), Michael Ryder (2005 Rookie of the year as voted by the players and runner up for the Calder Trophy, 2011 Stanley Cup Winner) and Justin Williams (2006, 2012, 2014 Stanley Cup winner and Conn Smythe winner in 2014 as the MVP of the playoffs) for over 25 years. Thane also advises and represents these players post their NHL careers. He has since expanded this impressive list to include other top NHL prospects.

As a lawyer his experience includes appearing successfully at both the Superior Court of Ontario and the Ontario Court of Appeal. He continues to litigate cases and provide counsel on a variety of legal matters to both clients and lawyers.

Thane has played Junior, Senior and University hockey and has coached numerous players who have gone on to professional careers. He works with prospects to ensure they have every opportunity to play in the NHL.

As an experienced agent Thane recognizes each player's needs will differ and it is his job to accommodate these varied needs. He understands the Collective Bargaining Agreement and ensures the rights of the player are protected, and contracts are negotiated in compliance with this agreement. The needs of an NHL player also involve managing or working with accountants, lawyers, financial planners, trainers, investment personnel, dealing with endorsements, assisting with charity events, appearances and signings, and insurance needs.

His primary education includes a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), Masters in Business Administration (M.B.A) as well as an undergraduate Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) (Accounting Major).

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS

DAVID MCNAMARA

With a lifetime spent in hockey, David saw his dreams come true when he won the Stanley Cup as a Scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009.

But a ring isn’t the only thing David brings to the PCI team – he also has deep hockey knowledge and vast experience with the game.

After playing hockey for the Henry Carr Crusaders growing up, David earned his degrees at the University of Toronto and Brock University and became a teacher. He spent 30 years teaching high school Health and Physical Education and also coaching hockey and baseball.

During this time, David accumulated 20 years of experience working in the NHL as a scout. He has scouted for the Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, New York Islanders, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Pittsburgh Penguins. He then shifted his attention to junior hockey, where he helped guide the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack as its Director of Scouting for five years.

In addition to his own hockey accolades, David’s family name runs deep within the game. His dad, Gerry, played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, later becoming Chief Scout and discovering Borje Salming and Inge Hammarstrom. Gerry went on to become General Manager of the Leafs and was responsible for drafting Wendel Clark, Russ Courtnall, and Gary Leeman. In 1989, Gerry won the Stanley Cup as a Pro Scout with the Calgary Flames.

David’s brother Bob received an NCAA scholarship to the University of Notre Dame and then played in the Buffalo Sabres’ organization. When his playing career was over, he went on to work as an executive in both the IHL and AHL, ultimately winning a Stanley Cup ring as the GM of the Detroit Red Wings farm team, the Grand Rapids Griffins. Additionally, David’s brother John has scouted for the Atlanta Thrashers, Columbus Blue Jackets, and is currently scouting for the Carolina Hurricanes.

While not too many families can boast they have three Stanley Cup rings on the management side of hockey, it’s David’s teaching and mentoring personality that we believe will most help parents and their young players achieve all their hockey goals.

Adam Holzmann

Area: Eastern Ontario

Adam is a valued team member involved with Player Development in Eastern Ontario. He brings over 15 years of coaching and development experience. He is a high-energy, positive individual who will both identify and develop elite talent that has pro potential.

Adam is also a certified Hockey Canada coach, and owner of Puck-it, a hockey development company for young aspiring players. PCI believes Adam is highly qualified to support our clients in the region as they pursue their professional hockey dreams.

Adam resides in Cobourg with his wife and two sons. Welcome to PCI hockey, Adam!

Stephane Gagnon

Area: GTA and Southern Ontario

For over 25 years, Stef has been involved in player representation. Prior to joining PCI, he mentored and guided players such as Raffi Torres, Brent Burns, and David Bolland. Stef joined PCI 15 years ago where he worked with the McGinn brothers (Jamie, Tye, and Brock). He helps players navigate their junior hockey careers prior to going pro. He works closely with Thane to ensure PCI Hockey provides a world-class service.

Prior to being involved in player representation, Stef played hockey for the Henry Carr Crusaders. He graduated from York University with a degree in Political Science and Education. For over 20 years he coached AAA hockey and was involved in an elite spring/summer program. It is from this elite program that he identified many players who went on to play in the OHL and NHL.

Last year Stef retired from teaching after 32 years with the TCDSB. He taught grades 7 and 8, French immersion, and children with academic and behavioral issues. Throughout his teaching career, he coached track and field, cross-country, and soccer.

Stef currently resides in Etobicoke, Ontario with his wife and two daughters.

Serge Gagnon

Area: GTA and Southern Ontario

Serge has been involved in hockey for over 40 years including coaching at the AAA level in the GTHL. He has spent many summers running development camps for players primarily working with a number of OHL coaches and managers. Serge has a keen eye for talent having scouted current PCI clients including the McGinn brothers and Tyler Graovac.

Serge joined Pro Counsel some 15 years ago. He has been working with players at all levels of hockey from AAA to the NHL.

Serge is a retired teacher. He is married and has 2 daughters.

Lauris Ziemins

Area: Europe

Although his professional hockey career came to an end, Lauris wanted to continue living the hockey life.

After playing in a variety of European leagues, including in his home country of Latvia, Lauris earned his bachelor’s degree in Sports Science and Teaching.

His studies combined with his hockey experience allowed Lauris to establish his own hockey school at the age of 23 in Latvia, Riga, where he still currently resides.

Lauris has been successfully running the hockey school and developing young players as a hockey coach for 10 years now.

His youngest brother, Kaspars, played for the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League last season and his middle brother, Juris, is currently playing professional hockey in Latvia.

Drew Macintyre

Area: Atlantic Canada

Drew has had an 18-year professional goaltending career that has expanded all over the world with stops in the NHL, AHL, KHL, ECHL, and top leagues in Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Asia.

He is ranked in the top 10 in all-time wins in AHL history and has won gold medals for Team Canada at the U18 level and also at the Spengler Cup.

A first-round pick by Sherbrooke in the QMJHL and a 4th round pick of the Detroit Red Wings Drew is also the owner/operator of “State of Mind Goaltending by Drew MacIntyre” and is currently the head of goaltending for hockey Prince Edward Island.

Drew has a passion for developing and mentoring young athletes both on and off the ice.

Bill Lochead

Area: Germany, Switzerland, and Austria

Bill was a Detroit Red Wings 1st round draft choice and later went on to play 6 years in the NHL, also with Colorado Rockies and the New York Rangers. Lochead played major junior hockey with the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League, where he was voted to the 1st All-Star Team. Additionally, he still holds the Ontario Jr. B single-season record of 72 goals in 42 games, which he accomplished as a 16-year-old.

Before leaving for Europe, Bill spent a full season in the AHL with the Rangers farm team, New Haven, and had been named to the 1st All-Star team. In Germany, he initially played for Kölner Haie, followed by Kaufbeuren, Bad Nauheim, and Mannheim of the German Bundesliga (forerunner of the DEL) before playing a season in the Swiss A league and the Austrian 1st Division with Vienna. In Bill´s 2nd season in Germany, he was named to the 1st All-Star team and the MVP of the German Bundesliga.

After his playing days, Bill coached 10 years in the DEL and Swiss leagues with several teams such as Olten Swiss A, Ratinger Löwen DEL, Kassel Huskies DEL, and the Frankfurt Lions of the DEL.

Bill graduated from Western University in London Ontario and has been a European player agent since 2000, representing players in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Italy, France, and England. He has been working with PCI Hockey since the 2004 NHL lockout season when he successfully secured roster spots for approx. 10 NHL players in Sweden, Finland and Germany.

John Dunphy

Area: Alberta

John played AAA for the Toronto Redwings winning multiple Carnation cups after minor bantam he joined the Streetsville Derbys of the OJHL. At the age of 16 years old, he was selected in the second round of the OHL draft by the Kitchener Rangers. Johnny joined the team for his rookie season at the age of 17 and went on to play 3 years with Kitchener before finishing his OHL career with the Barrie Colts. He then finished a Commerce degree from the University of Guelph while playing U Sports with the Gryphons.

After finishing his degree, he moved out west to Alberta where he resides with his wife and 3 kids. For the last 15 years, Johnny has coached and developed players from Novice to Jr/Po.

John’s hockey development program in Alberta has helped to develop the following players.

Brendan Guhle: (NHL) drafted 2nd Rd Buffalo Sabres
Kaiden Guhle: : (NHL) drafted 1st Rd by Montreal Canadian
Nolan Yaremko: (WHL) Tri-city Americans
Rylan Yaremko: (WCHA) Michigan University
Tyson Helgesen: (AHL)Hartford Wolfpack (WHL) Spokane Chiefs
Reece Harsch: (WHL) Seattle Thunderbirds
Brenden Kwiatkowski: (WHL) Moose Jaw Warriors
Paycen Bjorklund: (WHL) Tri-City American
Brett Edwards: (NCAA) Denver University
Hayden Smith (WHL) Saskatoon Blades
Carter Massier (WHL) Victoria Royals

Brian Green

Family Advisor & Director of Women’s Hockey

Brian holds a Bachelor of Arts from Hamilton College, Clinton NY. He earned a Bachelor of Education from Windsor University and a Masters of Education in Leadership, Policy & Change from The University of Toronto. He is a teacher and hockey coach at Upper Canada College.

Brian grew up in a hockey environment. His grandfather and father were standout athletes, particularly as hockey players and coaches in the Niagara region. His father, David Green, was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the Original Six era of the NHL. Brian has followed the family’s tradition of hockey involvement and education. He played four seasons of junior hockey in the Niagara Region before moving on to Hamilton College in Clinton, New York. In his four years of playing hockey for the Hamilton College Continentals, an NCAA Division 3 program, he was a two-time MVP (1994 & 1996), was a two-time leading scorer, was a recipient of the Coach’s Award for Dedication & Perseverance (1994), as well as The Gelas Memorial Award (1996) presented annually to a senior male student-athlete who has displayed outstanding development in sportsmanship, leadership, character, and athletic ability. Brian finished his four years of hockey at Hamilton College as a member of their exclusive 100-Point Club.

Brian first coached hockey as an assistant with the Windsor University Lancers Men’s Team in 1998. He helped the team reach the national championship tournament that season while obtaining his B.Ed. He then coached the Upper Canada College Varsity Hockey team for ten years from 2004-2014, as an assistant first and then the head coach, leading them to 6 CISAA finals and the 2012 League Championship during his tenure. He recruited student-athletes from across Canada and the U.S., supporting the boys and their families through the prep school experience and their junior hockey and NCAA exploration and commitments. Brian worked with students on SAT & ACT preparation, planning college visits, and communicating with NCAA coaches. He was the UCC’s first Director of Hockey in 2012, overseeing the development and progression of the school’s eight hockey teams.

In the fall of 2014, while still teaching full-time, Brian transitioned to coaching girls’ ice hockey, as his daughter Pippa began playing the game at four years old. From 2014 to the present, he has been a coach of several AA-level girls’ hockey teams, as well as a board member and a skills instructor in the Leaside Wildcats Girls Hockey Organization. He continues to coach boys’ U14 hockey at Upper Canada College while working as a girls’ hockey skills instructor, coach, advisor, and founder of Dads & Daughters Athletics. He is excited to be a member of the PCI team, offering family advising, video analysis, on-ice skill instruction, and spring team coaching and managing.

ADMINISTRATION

Nadia Schepis

Assistant

Nadia has worked with Thane Campbell for approximately 25 years gaining valuable experience in all areas of player representation. She works with all Pro Counsel clients, from the prospect to the NHL star.

Nadia’s experience enables her to provide the support needed including, flight arrangements, hotel accommodations, medical appointments, and facilitating training camp needs for all Pro Counsel clients.

She works with insurers, financial planners, and accountants. She helps to manage endorsements for the clients and looks after insurance needs.

We will make life as a professional athlete as manageable as possible, allowing you to avoid unnecessary distractions, so you may concentrate on reaching your full potential.