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Experienced bench boss Murray Nystrom tapped to lead Pronghorns men’s hockey team

Aug 29, 2018 | 3:13 PM

LETHBRIDGE – Following a national search, the Lethbridge Pronghorns have announced that longtime former U SPORTS coach Murray Nystrom has been named the head coach of the men’s hockey program.

Nystrom becomes the tenth head coach in the program’s history. Nystrom spent 18 years as the head coach of the Brock Badgers in the OUA in Ontario, leading the Badgers to the program’s first University Cup appearance in 2008. 

Over his 18 years, the 2008 CIS Coach of the Year compiled a record of 191-227-18-39, while making 14 appearances in the OUA playoffs. 

Executive Director of Sports and Rec Ken McInnes says they’re very pleased to have someone of Nystrom’s calibre join their program for this new chapter in Pronghorn Men’s Hockey.

“It was a short, but intense search, and we had excellent candidates from all over express an interest in coaching the team. Coach Nystrom will be challenged right out of the gate with the late start and the pressure of hosting the U Cup this year, but I know he can draw on his extensive experience to guide the team to success,” McInnes said. 

In addition to his CIS Coach of the Year award in 2008, Nystrom was also named the OUA Coach of the Year twice during his time at Brock University, in 2004 and 2008.

Prior to Nystrom taking over the Badgers, the program had only qualified for the playoffs seven times in the previous 26 seasons.

“I’m very excited to join the Pronghorns family and I am eager to build upon the recent successes of the hockey team,” Nystrom said. “I’m looking forward to building relationships across campus, within the Lethbridge community and with our alumni.”

A release from the Pronghorns states Nystrom was crucial in building alumni relations, creating youth hockey camps and initiating several athletic scholarship funds during his time at Brock University.

Prior to joining the Badgers, he was an assistant coach in the Ontario Hockey League with the London Knights and Sudbury Wolves, serving as interim head coach with the Knights during the 1995-96 season.

Coach Nystrom is stepping into a unique situation this season with the University of Lethbridge and City of Lethbridge hosting the 2018-19 David Johnston University Cup this coming March.

“We have an exciting season ahead of us, but the immediate objective will be to learn the strengths of each player, so we can best prepare for an always tough Canada West season,” Nystrom added.