Mavericks Add Todd To Staff
Jul 17, 2013 | Hockey
OMAHA, Neb. – University of Nebraska Omaha head hockey coach Dean Blais announced today that Alex Todd has been named assistant coach. Todd replaces Steve Johnson who left the team after one season.
"Alex has had great success as a head coach at the Division III level, and he will be a good fit on our staff," said Blais. "He is a former collegiate defenseman, and he will be working very closely with our defensemen to help them improve in all aspects of the game."
Todd comes to UNO from Castleton State in Vermont where he has been the head coach since 2005. He compiled a record of 114-78-21 and last year finished with a mark of 15-10-2 overall and a 9-8-1 record in ECAC East, good for fifth place.
"I played against UNO during its first year of Division I hockey, and I've followed the team's progress ever since," said Todd. "I'm glad to have the opportunity to be a part of the program."
Todd's work at Castleton State was remarkable. He took over a fledgling program that in its first two years of existence had posted a record of 0-44-0. After coaching the team to a record of 4-19-3 in his first season, the Spartans had just one other losing season in his eight-year tenure. Todd's best year came in 2010-11 when his team went 22-4-1, a season that earned him ECAC East Coach of the Year honors. His teams also have led the nation in Division III in both power play and penalty killing.
Todd graduated from Union College in 2001, serving as an alternate captain as a senior. In 115 career games, he had 16 goals and 13 assists for 29 points as well as 285 penalty minutes.
He went on to play three seasons of professional hockey with Fresno of the West Coast Hockey League and Wichita and Lubbock of the Central Hockey League. As a rookie with Fresno in 2001-02, he made the WCHL's All-Rookie Team and helped the team earn a league championship. Fresno also made the finals the following year. After leaving professional hockey, he spent one year as the assistant coach at Utica College in New York before taking the job at Castleton State.
In addition to his college coaching experience, Todd has coached for USA Hockey in several regional player development camps. The native of Rice Lake, Wis. and his wife, Ali, have a daughter, Abigail.
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Player Moves
UNO defenseman Tony Turgeon has signed a contract with the NHL's Florida Panthers and will forego his senior season in Omaha. The native of Grand Forks, N.D. will likely begin the season with Florida's affiliate in the American Hockey League, the San Antonio Rampage.
"It was an opportunity that Tony thought he had to take, and we certainly wish him the best," said Blais. "We'll move forward with a very good group of seven defensemen who will be one of the strengths of our team."
In other news, Blais announced that goaltender Kirk Thompson will join the team as a freshman this fall. Thompson played three seasons for the Prince George Spruce Kings of the BCHL. Last year, he played in a team-high 50 games, going 24-22-1 with a 2.84 goals-against average, a .915 save percentage and two shutouts. He also appeared in five playoff games, posting a record of 2-3-0 with a 3.78 GAA and a .905 save percentage. The native of Surrey, British Columbia leaves Prince George as the team's all-time winningest goaltender and its all-time minutes played leader.
Also, goaltender Dayn Belfour has left the team, giving the Mavericks three goaltenders for the upcoming season. Belfour appeared in 10 career games with UNO, going 3-2-2 with a 2.39 goals-against average, a .906 save percentage and one shutout.
"Alex has had great success as a head coach at the Division III level, and he will be a good fit on our staff," said Blais. "He is a former collegiate defenseman, and he will be working very closely with our defensemen to help them improve in all aspects of the game."
Todd comes to UNO from Castleton State in Vermont where he has been the head coach since 2005. He compiled a record of 114-78-21 and last year finished with a mark of 15-10-2 overall and a 9-8-1 record in ECAC East, good for fifth place.
"I played against UNO during its first year of Division I hockey, and I've followed the team's progress ever since," said Todd. "I'm glad to have the opportunity to be a part of the program."
Todd's work at Castleton State was remarkable. He took over a fledgling program that in its first two years of existence had posted a record of 0-44-0. After coaching the team to a record of 4-19-3 in his first season, the Spartans had just one other losing season in his eight-year tenure. Todd's best year came in 2010-11 when his team went 22-4-1, a season that earned him ECAC East Coach of the Year honors. His teams also have led the nation in Division III in both power play and penalty killing.
Todd graduated from Union College in 2001, serving as an alternate captain as a senior. In 115 career games, he had 16 goals and 13 assists for 29 points as well as 285 penalty minutes.
He went on to play three seasons of professional hockey with Fresno of the West Coast Hockey League and Wichita and Lubbock of the Central Hockey League. As a rookie with Fresno in 2001-02, he made the WCHL's All-Rookie Team and helped the team earn a league championship. Fresno also made the finals the following year. After leaving professional hockey, he spent one year as the assistant coach at Utica College in New York before taking the job at Castleton State.
In addition to his college coaching experience, Todd has coached for USA Hockey in several regional player development camps. The native of Rice Lake, Wis. and his wife, Ali, have a daughter, Abigail.
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Player Moves
UNO defenseman Tony Turgeon has signed a contract with the NHL's Florida Panthers and will forego his senior season in Omaha. The native of Grand Forks, N.D. will likely begin the season with Florida's affiliate in the American Hockey League, the San Antonio Rampage.
"It was an opportunity that Tony thought he had to take, and we certainly wish him the best," said Blais. "We'll move forward with a very good group of seven defensemen who will be one of the strengths of our team."
In other news, Blais announced that goaltender Kirk Thompson will join the team as a freshman this fall. Thompson played three seasons for the Prince George Spruce Kings of the BCHL. Last year, he played in a team-high 50 games, going 24-22-1 with a 2.84 goals-against average, a .915 save percentage and two shutouts. He also appeared in five playoff games, posting a record of 2-3-0 with a 3.78 GAA and a .905 save percentage. The native of Surrey, British Columbia leaves Prince George as the team's all-time winningest goaltender and its all-time minutes played leader.
Also, goaltender Dayn Belfour has left the team, giving the Mavericks three goaltenders for the upcoming season. Belfour appeared in 10 career games with UNO, going 3-2-2 with a 2.39 goals-against average, a .906 save percentage and one shutout.
Players Mentioned
Tuesday, September 01
Wednesday, August 26
Friday, August 21
Tuesday, April 21
