In Springfield, Mass., Todd Nelson of the Hershey Bears has been named the winner of the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL’s outstanding coach for the 2023-24 season.
Voted on by fellow coaches and members of the media in each of the league’s 32 cities, Nelson led Hershey to the second-best regular-season record in AHL history with a mark of 53-14-0-5 (111 points, .771). His Bears allowed just 2.10 goals per game, had a league-low 26.0 shots per game, and excelled on the penalty kill at 87.7 percent efficiency. Additionally, Nelson sent 12 players to the NHL to compete with the Washington Capitals this season.
A veteran of 10 AHL seasons, Nelson boasts a career head-coaching record of 406-222-77, ranking eighth in all-time wins. He has eight 40-win seasons under his belt and has secured Calder Cup championships with Grand Rapids in 2017 and Hershey in 2023.
Formerly a head coach with the Edmonton Oilers, and an assistant coach with various NHL teams, Nelson, a 54-year-old native of Prince Albert, Sask., earns his first Coach of the Year honor at any level.
The Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award, first presented in 1968, pays tribute to the late Mr. Pieri, a significant figure in the AHL. Previous winners include notable names like Frank Mathers, Fred Shero, and Claude Julien.
The American Hockey League, established in 1936, continues to cultivate talent for all 32 NHL teams, with nearly 90 percent of NHL players having come from the AHL. The winner of the 2023-24 Eddie Shore Award for outstanding defenseman will be revealed on Tuesday.
