ROCHESTER, MN – The Rochester Grizzlies, proud members of the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL), are pleased to announce the hiring of Rochester native Brandon Ratzloff as the team’s newest Assistant Coach.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to be able to represent this organization and city,” mentioned Brandon. “Growing up and playing in Rochester makes this opportunity that much more special. I’m excited to bring my passion for the game to the coaching aspect and in helping players get to where they want to go, but more importantly, help them reach their full potential as players and as people.”
Brandon has a connection to the Grizzlies franchise as his father, Chris Ratzloff, is the former Head Coach and General Manager. Brandon joins the Grizzlies Coaching staff after finishing his Collegiate Hockey career at Augsburg University in Minneapolis, MN. Prior to joining the Auggies, Ratzloff had a successful junior career in the NA3HL as a member of the La Crosse Freeze/Coulee Region Chill franchise appearing in 92 career games with 42 Goals and 84 Assists for a total of 126 points.
“We are excited to have Brandon a part of our staff,” stated Head Coach Tyler Veen. Brandon brings a vast knowledge of our league, having played with the Coulee Region Chill and the NCAA D3 level after 4 years at Augsburg. He will be a great asset for our players to relate to from his prior experiences. We are looking forward to Brandon making his own name in coaching!”
The Grizzlies 2023-24 Season kicks off on September 15th as they host the defending Fraser Cup Champions, the Granite City Lumberjacks for the Home Opener. The Grizzlies will then head up to Sauk Rapids, MN the following night to finish up the weekend series against Granite City.