Rochester, MN — The Grizzlies Head Coach and General Manager Tyler Veen has accepted a job as an Assistant Coach with Augsburg University’s Men’s NCAA D3 Hockey Team.
Tyler started with the Grizzlies in 2021-22 as an assistant coach to then head coach, Chris Ratzloff. In Tyler’s first season, the Grizzlies made their way to the Fraser Cup National Championship game. They went on to defeat the Granite City Lumberjacks 5-0, claiming the Grizzlies first ever national title.
After spending one more season as assistant coach, Tyler was then Promoted to Head Coach and General Manager of the Grizzlies for the 2023-24 season. In Tyler’s 2 seasons as Head Coach, the Grizzlies went 68-27-5-4 during regular season play and made it to the Fraser Cup Division Final series twice. In his 4 years with the Grizzlies, he helped in developing the following Players Collegiate Commitments:
3 NCAA Division – 1 Commitment:
2021-22: Zach Wiese, 2024-25: Nikola Goich, Shane Soderwall(Transfer to D1)
22 NCAA Division – 3 Commitments
2021-22’: Jake Laurila, Collin Pederson, Noah Roitman, Matthew Shaw, Justin Wright
2022-23’: Blake Arneson, Kyle Bauer, Logan Kroyman, Connor Mahony, Shane Soderwall, Per Waage
2023-24’: Adam Johnson, Ryan Berglund, Maksim Lakic, Layten Liffrig, Ty Petzke, Owen Van Tassel
2024-25’: Matthew Haun, Andrew LaHaie, Ben Parent, Luke Sawicky, Tyler Steuck
6 ACHA Division – 1 Commitments
2022-23: Austin Meers, Luke Morrisette, 2023-24: Leo Milan 2024-25: Isaac Flatley, Noah Joyce, Tommy Woods
1 ACHA Division – 2 Commitments
2022-23’: Ben Tschida
2 European Collegiate Commitments
2024-25’: Gavin Black, Brooks Fegers
Tyler said this about the his time with the Organization, and the new opportunity in front of him: “I can’t thank the Austin Bruins and Rochester Grizzlies organization enough for allowing me to start as a scout in 2018 to now finishing as a Head Coach. Special thanks to prior ownership Mike Cooper and Craig Patrick for taking a chance on me. Steve Howard and Chris Ratzloff for developing me and believing I was ready for this job every step of the way. To Brian Raduenz, all Grizzlies Staff, Fans, and players, I am truly blessed and fortunate to have been apart of this organization. I will always be a Grizz! I’m excited for this new chapter at Augsburg University as it is going to be a great opportunity for myself and my number one supporter and fiance, Abbey. Without her, none of this is possible”
Tyler started with the Grizzlies as a Scout, earned an opportunity as an Assistant Coach, and was then promoted to Head Coach and General Manager for the Grizzlies over the last 5 years. Tyler has truly epitomized what “growth” means in a league meant for development and using the ‘Ladder of Development’. We typically only think about the players advancing to their next step, but today we will think about the coach. Thank You, Tyler, for giving your all to the Grizzlies Organization, buying in, and developing step by step with us. We know that you are going to go very far and we are glad to have been a part of your journey. We will miss you! Go be great and show them what it means to be a Grizz!