Juha Kantovaara is in his sixth year as Head Coach of the Algoma Thunderbirds men’s curling team. Kantovaara has over 47 years of curling experience.
In 2009, he represented Northern Ontario at the Senior Curling Championships in Summerside, P.E.I. He also represented the Soo Curlers Association for five years at the Northern Ontario Seniors Curling Championships. Kantovaara has also represented both the Soo Curlers and the McIntyre Curling Clubs at both the zone and association levels in men’s competitions.
In 2000, Kantovaara coached Team Flaxey to a silver medal at the Ontario Winter Games, held in Sault Ste. Marie. He has also coached at the Capreol Curling Association and ran the youth curling program in Capreol.
Kantovaara played in the OUA for the McMaster Marauders while attending McMaster University for his Bachelor of Engineering.
He holds his Level 1 and Level 2 curling coaching certificates.
Outside of curling, Kantovaara is the VP Infrastructure Delivery Services with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Cooperation (OLG).
