Former National Hockey Leaguer Gary Nylund is back in the Surrey Eagles' nest.
On Thursday, the Eagles announced that Nylund – who played more than 600 games in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks and New York Islanders – would return to the team's bench as an assistant coach.
Nylund was on the team's coaching staff, and also a minority owner, from 2010-12. He was part of the group – along with current team president Chuck Westgard and Boston Bruins' assistant general manager Scott Bradley – who purchased the team from former owner Ronnie Paterson.
"Adding someone like Gary Nylund to our staff is incredibly exciting for our organization and we look forward to having his experience and presence," said Eagles' head coach and director of hockey operations Blaine Neufeld.
“We have made a massive amount of progress over the past two months and now to officially announce Gary to our coaching staff solidifies our vision moving forward into the 2015/16 season.”
Nylund, a Surrey resident and a longtime Delta firefighter, is excited to be back with the Eagles.
"I owe a lot to the game of hockey and feel I need to give back and that I have something to offer," he said.