Coach Bliz

Known to most as Coach Bliz, Ryan is wanting to continue working with our region’s young athletes to pursue their goals for improvement at their positions. Coach Bliz has been involved in the football community in various board positions with TBMFA over the last 12 years as VP, Coaches GM and u16/18 Coordinator as well as serving on the Board of Football Manitoba for 6 years, with the last three as President. The main belief at OTA isn’t about what school you attend, its simply about training players to #bebetter.
Coaching History:

Local Highschool Coach – 2011-present
- O-line/D-Line/Special Teams
- Current Defensive Coordinator
TBMFA - 2016-2025
- Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator
Team Manitoba
- U16 OL Coach – 2026, 2025
- U17 DL coach – 2024
- U16 DL coach – 2022
- U18 Girls – 2022 Assistant DL coach – Staff Mentor
- U16 LB Coach – 2019
- Guest Coach 2017-2018
Flag Football
- U16 Girls Team Manitoba – 2021, 2022
- Jr Giants u14 Girls- 2024

Coach Thibs

I am currently a linebacker and team captain with the University of Toronto Varsity Blues, where I have earned recognition as a U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian and was named the 2024 Special Teams Player of the Year. My football journey began in the TBMFA, continued through Hammarskjold High School, and led to representing Team Manitoba at the U16 national level, where I was selected as a Western All-Canadian and recognized as a Top 100 CFL Prospect.

Alongside my playing career, I have built extensive coaching experience supported by thorough NCCP certification. I served as the Defensive Coordinator for Team Northwestern Ontario Indigenous and spent several years as the Head Coach of the U18 Junior Giants Girls Flag program. I have been coaching at TBMFA and Manitoba Prep camps for over five years, and I also contribute to the sport as an official during the TBMFA Indoor Spring Flag season.

From Coach Bliz
Thibs has been a mainstay in our Camps since their inception with TBMFA. Watching him play since an early age in TBMA I knew he was destined to play next level football. He brings his knowledge of the game back to us here and loves being on the field with the players. His heart and hustle as a player easily transitions to his passion as a coach, be it tackle or flag.

Coach Jonah

Played 8 years of minor football in TBMFA winning Lineman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year multiple times. His high school playing days were at Hammarskjold High School and continued to rack up the personal awards as Defensive Player of the Year, Lineman of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year over an impressive four year span.

Jonah was a force with Team Manitoba u16 and u18 and was named the defensive player of the year for Team Manitoba u16 from there was selected to play for u16 team Canada where we went on to beat Team USA and Team Mexico

After his high school playing days were over he signed to the Chilliwack Valley Huskers of the BCFC in the CJFL. Named a captain and Two Time Award Winner of the Eddie Perrin Memorial Award and the Heart and Soul Award.

Coaching Career:
Head Coach and Offensive Play Caller for Indigenous Team NWO
Line coach for TBMFA u14 Bombers
Defensive line coach Hammarskjold High School

From Coach Bliz
Coach Jonah is part of the foundation of OTA. Tell the man when adn where and he will be there for the kids. He brings a unquie energy to the feild thats hard to match and that spills into his love of coaching. Jonah was a dominant player thru TBMFA and SSSAA and was a cornerstone of one of Team Manitoba's strongest u16 Teams that competed against many future NCAA D1 atheltes and further CFL players. The Big Man is intent on developing the next wave of d-line players to rep our area.

Coach Hughes

My name is Cameron Hughes. Football has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’ve played football since Grade 7, winning three championships in high school along with an OFSAA title for St. Ignatius. From there, I played in the CJFL for the Valley Huskers in B.C. for two years. I have been coaching for over four years, helping out with winter and spring camps in Thunder Bay, as well as coaching for two years with the u14 Bombers. Football is awesome and I’ve never taken the game for granted.

From Coach Bliz
Coach Hughes is the man that starts it all. You'll see him leading our warm ups in everything we do, which sets the tone for our camps and brings the relentless energy to the field. Coach Hughes is a huge peice in what we do defensively with the players at our camps. He brings a great back ground to that side of the ball and a great depth of knowldge in the special teams game.

Coach Petey

Petey can often be found sporting is Queen's swag as hes a proud former receiver at Queen’s University (05’-09’) and later the receivers coach (09’-10’). Upon his return home he was also the Offensive Coordinator for Team Northwestern Ontario (16’-18’) at the u18 level.

Coach Petey has been a large contributor in helping grow the TBMFA Jr. Giants flag program over the last several years.

From Coach Bliz
Coach Petey has always been there for us since we've started our camps thru TBMFA and now as OTA. You're always going to see him relentlessly working with our reciever groups. His attention to detail with these young players does nothing but aid in their development. With the explosion of flag, this is a huge asset to have a coach of his caliber with us. If you ever need film broken down, he's your guy! (Sorry Steve Ford).

Coach Hamre

Hello, my name is Tyler Hamre. I began playing football in elementary school through the TBMFA program and continued to grow within the sport, competing at higher levels such as U16 and U18 Knights, Team Ontario at the International Bowl, and Team Canada at the Pop Warner Super Bowl.

I began my coaching journey in 2018 coaching Senior Football at St.Ignatius High School. I have had the blessing to coach each year and branch out my knowledge to players across Thunder Bay. I continue to coach today with Defensive Backs and Defences as a whole at the U18 level. Football has given me more than just a competitive outlet, it has brought lifelong friendships, strengthened family bonds, and instilled values that I carry into coaching every day.

Coach Parry

Hey, my name is Luke Parry. I began playing football as a kid with TBMFA & the Knights before going to St Ignatius and helping to bring home the schools first ever city championship back in 2014. After that, I transitioned into Flag & Touch football where I was able to compete across Canada.

My coaching journey began in 2015 with the St Ignatius Falcons senior team where I coached the defensive backs & secondary. I transitioned to the defensive coordinator in 2018 for the senior team and have coached and been the DC every year since. I will also be assisting the defense on the U18 Indigenous Team this coming summer 2026.

Football is more than just a sport to me, It’s a piece of who I am. I strive to be a better coach every day, and to help get as many athletes to the next level as I can. I look forward to working with everyone and helping to put Thunder Bay football on the map.

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