Jeff Nelson Announces Retirement
June 9, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Evansville IceMen News Release
EVANSVILLE, IN.--- With the excitement continuing to build for their arrival into their new home of the Downtown Evansville Arena, the Evansville IceMen of the Central Hockey League have announced on this date the retirement of one of minor pro hockey's all-time career greats in center JEFF NELSON.
NELSON, 38, is culminating a royal and regal 18-year pro career in which he left his indelible mark on all of the pro hockey annals. The 6-0, 190lb center played his 18th and final pro campaign in Evansville with the IceMen spearheading a franchise which was making the daunting quantum leap to the AA CHL. As Evansville's first-ever team captain, his leadership, experience and overall positive presence in the organization eased and smoothed an otherwise difficult transition.
In the 2010-11 season, the native of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan finished fifth in IceMen team scoring, collecting 42-points in 62-games on 15-goals, 27-assists with 6-PPG, 10-PPA, 1-SHG, 1-GWG and 3-FG along with 34-PIM. He also contributed two 2-goal games for the season. "J-Nel's" veteran influence and impact on the IceMen fledgling club was further certified when he was named the winner of the IceMen first-ever "Players' Player Award" in special pre-game ceremonies of the club's regular season home finale on March 26th at Swonder Ice Arena.
The IceMen General Manager / Head Coach Rich Kromm expressed much appreciation in lauding the total career of his captain. "We wish to thank Jeff for his tremendous contributions to the IceMen organization and to all of pro hockey. In our first season, he provided us great leadership and stable, steadying hand in all situations both on and off the ice. He is a first-class citizen and a real asset to our game and business. On behalf of the IceMen organization, we wish Jeff and his family nothing but the best in all of his future endeavors."
As for the self-effacing, unassuming Nelson, he was both humbled and gratified over his vast pro hockey experience. "It has been a wonderful ride and I am especially glad to have had the opportunity to be a part of the first CHL team in Evansville as well as retire as an Evansville IceMen. We have enjoyed everything about our hockey life and only hope that our next 18-years are as great as the last 18-years have been."
Signed as a free agent by the IceMen in August 2010, the proficient playmaking pivot actually came out of a one-year retirement to join the IceMen. The former second round draft pick of the Washington Capitals in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft played 1,185 career games amassing 1,115 points on 366-goals, 749-assists. Included in his all-time pro career numbers are 52-games in the NHL with Washington and the Nashville Predators.
During his illustrious 18-year career, Nelson assembled two 100-point seasons including his last one with the Muskegon Fury in 2005-06 when he captured both the UHL scoring crown with a career-high 116-points on 33-goals and league-best 83-assists as well as the UHL Most Valuable Player Award. One year earlier, in 2004-05, he sparked Muskegon to its second consecutive Colonial Cup Championship and Tarry Cup crown, finishing third in league scoring with 78(21-73-94) while adding 17-points in 17-playoff games; 17(4-13-17).
Nelson actually played the majority of his career in the AHL and IHL, starring for the Grand Rapids Griffins for 3-seasons and the Portland Pirates for 5-years. In 1993-94, the left-hand shooting forward maestroed 107-points with the Pirates 80(34-73-107) while adding 17(10-5-15) in 17-playoff games to spur Portland to the AHL Calder Cup crown.
In his most recent season before coming to Evansville, he was a supreme stalwart in the CHL with the Mississippi RiverKings, again averaging over a point a game with 58-points in 55-games on 19-goals, 39-assists. In that same season, he averaged over a point a game in the playoffs with 12(2-11-13).
Nelson was an instrumental and integral member of two championship teams; the 1993-94 AHL Calder Cup Champions, Portland Pirates and the 2004-05 UHL Muskegon Fury.
Prior to his star-studded pro career, Nelson achieved an extraordinary major junior `A' career with his WHL hometown team, Prince Albert Raiders. His four-year totals there were; 279-games; 152-goals; 265-assists; 417-points with two 100-point seasons and a per game points average of a brilliant 1.50.
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Central Hockey League Stories from June 9, 2011
- Jeff Nelson Announces Retirement - Evansville IceMen
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