Jaroslav Modry

Jaroslav Modry was named assistant coach of the Springfield Thunderbirds on June 7, 2024. 

Modry, 53, joins the Thunderbirds for his second tour of duty as an assistant coach in the AHL. He served in the same capacity with the Ontario Reign from 2017-20. Since 2021, Modry has been coaching in the Czech professional league, where he served as the head coach for HC Motor České Budějovice during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. Last season, he served as the head coach for HC Kometa Brno. 

During his playing career, Modry skated in 725 NHL games as a defenseman for six different teams (NJD, LAK, OTT, ATL, DAL, PHI), recording 250 points (49g, 201a) and 510 penalty minutes. He also captured a Calder Cup championship with the Albany River Rats in 1995. Modry was originally a ninth-round pick by the New Jersey Devils (179th overall) in the 1990 NHL Draft.