THUNDER NAME NHL AFFILIATION AND HEAD COACH

The Adirondack Thunder made two major announcements today. The Thunder have entered into a one-year affiliation agreement with the New Jersey Devils and Binghamton Devils to become the team's new NHL and AHL affiliate. The Thunder also named Brad Tapper as the team's Head Coach, the second in franchise history.

NEW JERSEY DEVILS AFFILIATION

The Adirondack Thunder have announced a one-year affiliation agreement with the New Jersey Devils and Binghamton Devils to become the Thunder’s NHL and AHL affiliates for the 2017-18 season.

The Devils will be the Thunder’s second NHL affiliate, following the Calgary Flames, which owned and operated the team from 2015-2017. The Thunder had an “informal working agreement” with the New Jersey Devils and Albany Devils over the past two seasons, which saw several players play for both the Thunder and the Devils over that span.

HEAD COACH BRAD TAPPER

The Adirondack Thunder announced today that Brad Tapper has been named the team’s Head Coach & Director of Hockey Operations. Tapper becomes the second Head Coach in franchise history following Cail MacLean, who accepted a position with the Stockton Heat of the AHL last week.

Tapper, 39, brings eight years of coaching experience at the AHL, ECHL and junior 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, ONT native qualified for post-season 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.