Thunder name Tapper head coach

Brad Tapper was named Head Coach & Director of Hockey Operations for the Adirondack Thunder on Aug. 8, 2017. Tapper becomes the second Head Coach in franchise history following Cail MacLean, who accepted an assistant coaching position with the Stockton Heat of the American Hockey League.

Tapper, 39, brings eight years of coaching experience at the AHL and ECHL levels to Glens Falls, having previously spent time as an assistant coach with the Rochester Americans, Chicago Wolves, Orlando Solar Bears and Florida Everblades, as well as Head Coach of the North York Rangers of the CCHL. The Scarborough, Ontario native qualified for postseason play in five of his seven seasons in the professional ranks and was a part of the Kelly Cup championship Florida Everblades in 2012 as the team’s top assistant.

Prior to beginning his coaching career, Tapper was a veteran of 435 games as a player, including 71 with the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers from 2000-03. Tapper was one of eight Thrashers players with double digit goals in the 2002-03 season, as he recorded a career high 14 points (10g-4a). Tapper also appeared in 132 AHL games with the Chicago Wolves, Binghamton Senators and Philadelphia Phantoms, winning the Calder Cup with the Wolves in 2002. He also appeared in 187 games in Germany in the DEL and 45 games in the IHL with the Orlando Solar Bears.

Tapper also brings experience in the Capital District to the Thunder, having spent three seasons playing at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. Tapper collected 116 points (65g-51a) in 106 career games with the Engineers, including a team leading 51 points (31g-20a) as a junior during the 1999-00 season. Tapper’s 31 goals that season are the most by an RPI player since the 1985-86 season. Brad is married to his wife, Alison, and they have three children - Hudson, Blake and Addison.