TODD NELSON
Assistant Coach

Todd Nelson, a veteran of nearly 20 seasons of professional hockey as a player and coach, is in his second season with the team after being named assistant coach in July 2008.

Nelson has spent the last two seasons serving as an assistant coach for the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League, winning the 2008 Calder Cup, his third league championship as a coach. With the Wolves, the Thrashers primary minor-league affiliate, he worked for Thrashers Head Coach John Anderson.

The Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, native broke into the coaching ranks during the 2001-02 season as a player/assistant coach with the Muskegon Fury of the United Hockey League. Nelson spent one season as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins before returning to Muskegon to make his head coaching debut in 2003-04. He led the team to back-to-back Colonial Cup Championships in his first two seasons.

Originally selected by the Penguins in the fourth round, 79th overall, of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, Nelson played 12 seasons of professional hockey, which included NHL stints with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals.
He appeared in 306 career AHL games with the Portland Pirates, Hershey Bears, Rochester Americans and Grand Rapids Griffins, totaling 168 points (37 goals, 131 assists) and 223 penalty minutes. He captured the 1994 Calder Cup with Portland and was inducted into that franchise’s hall of fame in 2007.

Nelson also tallied 172 points (28 goals, 144 assists) and 308 penalty minutes in 464 career International Hockey League games with the Muskegon, Cleveland and Grand Rapids. He was named an IHL All-Star in 1992 and
1993.

Prior to his professional career, Nelson played five seasons of junior hockey with the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League.

He and his wife, Josette, have two children, Colton and Kyleigh.