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Pirates Hall of Famer Todd Nelson to Join Edmonton Oilers Coaching Staff

December 15, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Portland Pirates News Release


Portland, ME - Former Portland Pirates defenseman and Pirates Hall of Fame member Todd Nelson was promoted to the coaching staff of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers today, the Oilers announced at a press conference this afternoon. According to Edmonton General Manager Craig MacTavish, Nelson will serve as an assistant coach on a short-term basis and transition to become the Interim Head Coach for the remainder of the season.

Nelson has served as the Head Coach of Edmonton's American Hockey League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Barons, since 2010. He has posted a regular season record of 176-111-12-34 in 333 games. Nelson has guided the Barons to the Calder Cup Playoffs in each of his four full seasons there. Oklahoma City reached back-to-back Western Conference Finals under Nelson in 2012 and 2013. The Barons finished atop the AHL's Western Conference in 2011-12 with a record of 45-22-4-5 for 99 points. This season, Nelson has Oklahoma City in first place in the AHL's West Division with a 15-6-2-2 mark.

Prior to joining the Barons as Head Coach, Nelson served as an Assistant Coach with the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers from 2008-10. He was an assistant coach with Atlanta's AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, from 2006-08 and was a part of the staff that guided the Wolves to the 2008 Calder Cup. Nelson began his AHL coaching career as an assistant with the Grand Rapids Griffins in the 2002-03 season.

Nelson began his head coaching career with the Muskegon Fury of the United Hockey League in 2003. He served as head coach there for three seasons with a record of 149-58-25. He led the Fury to the UHL Championship in both 2004 and 2005.

Inducted into the Portland Pirates Hall of Fame in 2006, Nelson played 155 regular season games for Portland between 1993 and 1995, scoring 21-69-90. He has the fourth most points of any defenseman in Pirates franchise history. He also skated in 18 playoff games for Portland in 1994 and 1995, amassing 10 assists. He was an original Portland Pirate and a member of the 1994 Calder Cup championship team, along with his younger brother Jeff.

Nelson will join the Oilers coaching staff when they play the Pirates NHL affiliate, the Arizona Coyotes, tomorrow night at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona. When he officially becomes Edmonton's head coach, he will become the first former Pirates player to be a head coach in the NHL.

The Pirates kick off a three-game, pre-holiday home stand this Wednesday night at the Cross Insurance Arena as Portland hosts Game 5 of the VIP Cup Series, presented by VIP Tires & Service, against the Manchester Monarchs. It's our first Hockey in Heels Night, presented by Portland Pie Company. Game time is 7:00 p.m. Call 207-PIRATES (747-2837) or go online to portlandpirates.com today to buy your Portland Pirates Holiday Pack and save up to 40% on game day prices!

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