Brad Tapper

Brad Tapper ( born April 28, 1978 in Scarborough, Ontario ) is a Canadian ice hockey coach who works since 2011 as assistant coach of the Florida Everblades in the ECHL. As a player, he spent three seasons in the National Hockey League with the Atlanta Thrashers and five in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. In Germany, he was active for the Nuremberg Ice Tigers, Hannover Scorpions and Iserlohn Roosters.

Career

Tapper played for the Wexford Raiders in the Metro Junior Hockey League. In 1997, he played for the team of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in league play the National Collegiate Athletic Association. In his first season, even his brother Bryan Tapper was part of the team, who was in his fourth and final year at the university. During his studies, Brad Tapper performed well and was in season 1999/ 00 top scorer and top scorer of his team. However, he was never selected in the NHL Entry Draft.

On 11 April 2000, the Atlanta Thrashers took from the National Hockey League the Canadians as a free agent contract. In his first season he played primarily for the farm team Orlando Solar Bears of the International Hockey League with which he won his first professional title, the Turner Cup. In addition, Tapper also came but 16 inserts in the NHL. In the 2001 /02 season he played in the American Hockey League for the Chicago Wolves and won the Calder Cup. For the Thrashers, he played 20 games. In the next season Tapper graduated, with 35 missions, more games in the NHL as the Minor League. Was overshadowed this personal success by the death of his teammate and close friend Dan Snyder, with whom he had previously played together in the NHL, AHL and IHL. Despite the events he initially remained in the organization of the Atlanta Thrashers for the 2003/ 04 season and was active in charities, as well as Snyder did until his death. On January 6, 2004 Tapper was transferred in exchange for Daniel Corso to the Ottawa Senators, playing for the Binghamton Senators in the AHL.

For the season 2004 /05 he signed for the Nuremberg Ice Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. He was top scorer and came to the quarter- finals of the playoffs. Subsequently, the winger moved for a season to the Hannover Scorpions in which he scored only nine goals and 30 points. On 26 June 2006 Tapper has been committed by the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL, but he played due to a serious concussion only five times for their farm team, the Philadelphia Phantoms of the AHL before he returned to the Scorpions. Because Hanover coach Hans Zach, despite the current contract, no longer planned with him to Tapper had to find a new club for the 2007 /08 season. He lay before several offers and he opted for a change to the Iserlohn Roosters. This was first considered critical of the Iserlohn fans, since although they knew to Tappers sporting qualities, but he was noticed as a provocateur during his time as Scorpion during their tour of Iserlohn. He himself said in his commitment: "I look forward to the new challenge in Iserlohn. I know the hall, the atmosphere and the fans and I look forward to be cheered on by these followers and not booed. " And the season was the most successful in the Iserlohn DEL history, including Tapper made ​​a significant contribution. Then the Canadians extended his contract by two years until 2010. On 19 December 2008, the attackers announced that he will not play for health reasons for the indefinite future. On 24 June 2009 the Roosters published the message that Tapper has to end his career for good, as it him his health situation is not possible to continue doing as a professional hockey player to be active. He made ​​the decision for the good of his family. With personal words, the striker turned then to the fans of the Roosters and thanked him. He described his time in the Sauerland region as the best time of his career, he was there ultimately become the Unsympaht the favorite of the fans. Whether Tapper remained the club in a different function, was initially open.

In the 2009/10 season the Canadians then took his first job as coach of the North York Rangers in the Central Canadiens Hockey League. He himself played in this junior league, as this was still called Metro Junior Hockey League. He led his team to the play- offs, but there different from in the first round. After the league again became the Ontario Junior Hockey League, the Toronto Jr. Canadiens Tapper is followed, where he worked as an assistant coach. Thus Tapper returned to his former team, for whom he played in the 1996/97 season under the name of Wexford Raiders. For the season 2011/12 he took over the function of the assistant coach with the Florida Everblades and won under head coach Greg Poss first time the Kelly Cup.

Awards and achievements

• 2000 ECAC All- Conference First Team
• 2000 NCAA East Second All-American Team
• 2001 Turner Cup win with the Orlando Solar Bears
• 2002 Calder Cup win with the Chicago Wolves
• 2012 Kelly Cup win with the Florida Everblades ( as assistant coach )

Career Stats

( Key to Career statistics: Sp or GP = Games Played, T or G = goals scored, V or A = achieved assists; Pts or Pts = scored points scorer, SM or PIM = received penalty minutes, / - = Plus / Minus balance sheet; PP = scored majority gates; SH = scored shorthanded goals, GW = achieved victory gates; Play-downs/Relegation 1 )

Coach stations