Mike Nepsa and Dan Johansson have joined the Canisius staff for the 2016-17 season.
Nepsa will serve as volunteer assistant coach working with the goaltenders and Johansson is the team’s equipment manager.
In addition, former volunteer assistant coach David Smith will serve as director of player development/assistant strength and fitness coach with the Griffs.
“We are excited to have Mike join the program as goalie coach,” Canisius coach Dave Smith said in a statement. “Having a full-time coach who can work directly with the goalies on a day-to-day basis is really important, especially with four goaltenders on the roster this season. Mike has experience working with elite goalies and we’re excited to add him to our staff.
“Dan has been with our program for three years already as an undergraduate assistant and we are excited that he can continue with our team. It’s also important that David can continue to work with us in an area that he is very experienced in, focusing on fitness and player development. He will be with us in practice and on the bench on game days and will be a key piece for our staff and helping the team move forward.”
Nepsa has worked as a goaltending consultant in the United States with the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL and the Johnstown Tomahawks of the NAHL, helping a number of goalies land at Division I schools. Johansson has worked with the Canisius program in each of the last three seasons as an undergraduate assistant. He also spent the 2015-16 season as the equipment manager with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres of the OJHL.
In his new role, Smith will lead instruction for fitness and agility, while also assisting with player development.
