Mike Nepsa and Dan Johansson have joined the Canisius College hockey staff as volunteer assistant coach and equipment manager, respectively, announced by head coach Dave Smith on Monday. 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,” Smith said. “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, who will work directly with the team’s goalies at Canisius, has served as a coach with the position throughout the Pittsburgh area. Among the positions he has held, Nepsa has worked as a goaltending consultant in the top two junior leagues 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.
A native of Apollo, Pennsylvania, Nepsa has also served as assistant and goaltending coach with the West Virginia club team, helping the Mountaineers to a regular-season and playoff championship in 2014, while serving as a lead instructor at the Shane Clifford Goalie School.
A goaltender for the Slippery Rock University Division I club team, Nepsa also had stints with the Wheeling Nailers, Orlando Solar Bears and Toledo Walleye of the ECHL.
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.
A native of Webster, New York, Johansson completed his bachelor’s degree in business management from Canisius in three years and is currently pursuing his master’s in business administration.
In his new role, Smith will lead instruction for fitness and agility, while also assisting with player development.
