Chris Ratzloff – Head Coach/General Manager
chris@rochestergrizz.com
Chris Ratzloff begins his fourth season as Head Coach of the Rochester Grizzlies. Ratzloff became the second Head Coach in the Grizzlies team history on July 23, 2019. Since then, Ratzloff has led the Grizzlies to three straight Central Division Titles, two straight Fraser Cup Finals, and a Fraser Cup Championship during the 2021-22 Season. Ratzloff has also been honored as the NA3HL Coach of the Year during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 Seasons. A Rochester, MN native, and a John Marshall alum, Ratzloff also played two seasons in the USHL. From there, Ratzloff played four years of DIII hockey at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Following his playing career, Ratzloff went on to coach for seven seasons as an assistant at John Marshall HS before heading across town to Rochester Lourdes where he spent two seasons as an assistant coach for Rochester Lourdes Girl’s Hockey team.
Tyler Veen – Assistant Coach
Tyler Veen enters his second season as an Assistant Coach for the Grizzlies, as he had been previously serving as a scout for the team, as well as for the Austin Bruins of the North American Hockey League and the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League. Veen attended and graduated from the University of North Dakota majoring in Business Management and obtaining a Minor in Coaching. The Harwood, ND, native played the sport of hockey from a young age through high school. From there, Veen transitioned from a player to a coach as the last 4 seasons he coached in the East Grand Forks Youth Program and helped high school during fall camps.
Tait Carlson – Goaltending Coach
Tait enters his 3rd season of Goalie Coaching for the Grizzlies. In Tait’s first season with the Grizzlies, Tait coached Shane Soderwall who went on to win the 2021 NA3HL Goaltender of the year and move up to the NAHL with the Anchorage Wolverines. In 2022, Tait spent the year working with goalies for the Austin Bruins and the Rochester Grizzlies, and Tait also coached Zach Wiese who won the NA3HL 2022 Goaltender of the Year and committed to the NCAA Division I University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Tait’s playing career is quite the journey; He was born in Blaine, Minnesota but was raised not too far away in Centennial. Immediately after his high school career, Tait decided to head overseas to play for a Division II team in Norway(Gjovik). After a year in Norway, Tait came home and started college; playing hockey in the ACHA at Saint Mary’s University. After two stints in the NA3HL with the Rochester Ice Hawks, and Bozeman, Montana Ice Dogs, he went to play in Santa Rosa, CA where he helped lead his team to a championship title for ACHA Division 2. His many playing experiences have led him to a deeper understanding of the goalie position allowing him to smoothly transition into the coaching role.
