Matt Thurston

Coach Matt Thurston has coached with SAYHA for the past four seasons. He joined Spokane Youth Hockey's coaching staff as an Assistant Coach for the 16U Tier 2 team, and the following season was named Head Coach of the 14U Tier 2 team, leading the team to Nationals during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. He has also served as SAYHA's Learn to Play, 8U and 10U Coordinator, and Rep Division Director.

Matt began his hockey career in SAYHA's Learn to Play program as a five-year-old, and went to the 2010 USA Hockey Nationals with the Jr. Chiefs as a AA Midget player. In his youth hockey career, Thurston played locally in Coeur d'Alene, Inland Empire, SAYHA, and also outside of the Northwest, playing 16U AAA in Las Vegas. After minor hockey, he went on to play three years for the Spokane Braves, serving as an Assistant Captain his second and third years.

Coach Thurston holds a USA Hockey Level 4 CEP.