Hockey Operations

Gary Graham brings a proven background in coaching, player personnel, recruiting and organizational leadership to the Stockton Thunder.

Most recently, Graham served as Head Coach and General Manager of the Pee Dee IceCats, helping guide the organization to an appearance in the 2026 FPHL Commissioner’s Cup Finals.

A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Graham began his coaching career with the Fort Wayne Komets organization before earning his first professional head-coaching opportunity with the Pensacola Ice Flyers. During the 2012–13 season, he guided Pensacola to the first Southern Professional Hockey League championship in franchise history.

Graham later returned to Fort Wayne, where he served as Head Coach and Director of Player Personnel for six seasons. He finished his tenure with a 251-130-51 regular-season record, 553 standings points and a .640 winning percentage across 432 games. His career has also included coaching experience in the United States Hockey League and internationally in England, China and Russia.

As Team General Manager, Graham oversees recruiting, scouting, roster construction, trades, transactions and player-personnel decisions. He also supports Zach Pochiro and the Thunder’s coaching staff in a mentorship and advisory role, providing an experienced resource as the organization builds its inaugural roster and on-ice identity.

In his business operations role, Graham remains focused on helping establish a stable and sustainable foundation for professional hockey in Stockton.

Zach Pochiro brings extensive professional playing, development and scouting experience to his role as Head Coach of the Stockton Thunder.

Born in St. Louis and raised in Las Vegas, Pochiro played junior hockey with the Wichita Falls Wildcats and Prince George Cougars before being selected by the St. Louis Blues in the fourth round, 112th overall, of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. He went on to build a lengthy professional career that included time in the American Hockey League with the Chicago Wolves and Bakersfield Condors, along with significant experience in the ECHL.

Known during his playing career for his combination of offensive ability, physicality and competitiveness, Pochiro recorded 34 goals and 24 assists for 58 points in 63 games with the Allen Americans during the 2018–19 season.

Following his playing career, Pochiro transitioned into player development, coaching and scouting, including work with the Vegas Junior Golden Knights program and the Prince George Cougars.

As Head Coach, Pochiro oversees the Thunder’s practices, systems, game preparation and player development. He is focused on establishing a culture built around accountability, preparation, toughness and competing for one another throughout Stockton’s inaugural season.

This will be his third season in the FPHL. He spent his first two seasons with the Watertown Wolves, where he gained valuable hands-on experience in nearly every aspect of the organization. His responsibilities ranged from ticket sales, sponsorships, game-day operations and even assisting on the bench during games. 

"Stockton has a rich hockey history and I've already seen the passion and excitement the community has for welcoming a new team. I'm excited to bring my experience to the organization, contribute in anyway I can, and support our players throughout the season so they have everything they need to perform at their highest level."