CAMBRIDGE, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) announced today the hiring of Murray Nystrom in an interim role as Manager, Membership Services and Program Support.
Nystrom will be an important resource to the four leagues within the association, namely the Allan Cup Hockey League (ACH), the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL), the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL) and the Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL).
Nystrom has close to four decades worth of experience in the hockey industry. Ironically, his career started in the OHA in 1983 when he left his native Thunder Bay, Ontario to join the Chatham Maroons junior hockey team. That year set him on a path to play in the Ontario Hockey League with the London Knights, graduate from the University of New Brunswick, where he was captain of the varsity hockey team; and then earn a Master’s degree from the University of Western Ontario.
With his playing days in the rear view mirror, Nystrom turned to coaching. A significant portion of his career was spent as a manager and coach in the Canadian university ranks. He recently spent the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons in Lethbridge, Alberta, leading the Pronghorns in Canada West competition. The Pronghorns hosted the 2019 University National Championship. Prior to Lethbridge, eighteen seasons were spent at Brock University. Nystrom left Brock with 205 conference coaching wins, the most in programme history. While at Brock, Nystrom was involved in numerous committees on campus, sat as President of the OUA Hockey Coaches Association for three seasons, created and grew comprehensive community-based hockey school programming.
“We are extremely fortunate to have someone with Murray’s pedigree and skill set to help us support the development and delivery of initiatives to enhance our coaches and support staff,” said OHA Executive Director David Leger. “He has strong roots with the OHA and we look forward to his impact on our plans to enhance the overall member experience.”
“I am thrilled to join the team at the OHA office,” Nystrom said. “OHA member organizations do exceptional work in their respective communities and I look forward to providing assistance to coaches and support staff as we move forward with our current and future development initiatives.”
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About the OHA –
The OHA was founded on November 27, 1890, and is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior hockey in the Province of Ontario under the auspices of the OHF. The OHA is a Member Partner of the OHF, which is one of thirteen Provincial and Regional Branches of Hockey Canada.
