UMass Lowell Athletics

Taylor Nelson joined the River Hawk hockey staff as the assistant coach in July 2021 after serving four seasons as the assistant coach for the Canisius Golden Griffins hockey program.
 
A former Ferris State All-American goaltender, Nelson brings nearly eight years of coaching experience to the Mill City, including six years at the Division I level and two seasons in the United States Hockey League (USHL). During his time in Buffalo, Nelson worked closely with the Golden Griffin goaltenders and helped develop such talents as Mike Richter nominee Matt Ladd and All-AHA Western Pod First Team selection Jacob Barczewski.
 
Prior to joining Canisius in 2017, Nelson spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the USHL’s Tri-City Storm under former head coach and current University of Michigan associate Head Coach Bill Muckalt. While on the bench for the Storm, Nelson helped Tri-City capture the 2016 Clark Cup and played a critical role in developing Storm goalie Jake Kielly, who signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Vancouver Canucks in 2019.
 
Nelson began his coaching career during the 2014-15 campaign as a volunteer assistant coach at his alma mater Ferris State, where he helped with the team's video preparation, goaltending and scouting reports.
 
A goaltender during his four-year collegiate career with the Bulldogs, Nelson backstopped the school to its first-ever NCAA Frozen Four appearance in 2011-12, garnering AHCA/CCM Hockey All-American First Team honors in 2012. Nelson capped his career with 31 games during his senior campaign, recording a 21-7-3 mark and a 2.10 GAA.
 
Following his collegiate career, Nelson played 73 professional games over two seasons, spending time with the ECHL’s San Francisco Bulls and the CHL’s Wichita Thunder.
 
A native of Regina, Saskatchewan, Nelson earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing from Ferris State in 2021. He and his wife, Claire, have two sons, Suter and Nash, and a daughter, Nori.