Canisius has announced that former Ferris State All-American goaltender Taylor Nelson will join the staff as an assistant coach for the 2017-18 season.
Nelson spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL under former head coach and now-Michigan associate head coach Bill Muckalt.
“We are very excited to add Taylor to our staff,” Canisius head coach Trevor Large said in a statement. “He has won a number of championships at the junior and collegiate level and his positive energy is a great fit with our culture here at Canisius.
“Goaltending is a vital position with a specific skill set and our goalies will thrive under Taylor’s direction. In addition, his experience is the USHL will help us recruit and coach top players. I believe our staff has been built to provide our players with a first-class experience.”
Nelson helped Tri-City capture the Clark Cup in 2016.
“My family and I are very excited for the next chapter of our hockey story at Canisius College,” Nelson added. “We cannot wait to get to Buffalo. I look forward to guarding and growing the culture that has been created with Coach Large, Coach Moser and the entire athletic department at Canisius. I am eager to meet the student-athletes and begin our quest.”
Nelson began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant coach at Ferris State in 2014-15, helping with the team’s video preparation, goaltenders, and scouting reports.
A goaltender during his four-year collegiate career with the Bulldogs, Nelson backstopped the school to its only Frozen Four appearance in 2011-12, garnering AHCA/CCM Hockey All-American First Team honors in 2012.
Following his collegiate career, Nelson played 73 professional games over two seasons, spending time with the ECHL’s San Francisco Bulls in 2012-13 before going to the Wichita Thunder of the CHL the following season.
