Derek Nesbitt (born April 16, 1982) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and the current head coach of the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL.

Derek Nesbitt
Born (1982-04-16) April 16, 1982 (age 42)
Egmondville, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Left Wing
Shot Right
Played for Rockford IceHogs
San Antonio Rampage
Manitoba Moose
Peoria Rivermen
WBS Penguins
Oklahoma City Barons
Chicago Wolves
HC Bolzano
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2005–2022

Playing career

edit

Undrafted, Nesbitt previously played with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the 2012-13 season. He was traded to Wilkes-Barre from the Peoria Rivermen on April 10, 2013.[1]

On July 12, 2013, Nesbitt agreed to a one-year AHL contract with the Oklahoma City Barons as a free agent.[2] Nesbitt started the 2013-14 season with the Barons, scoring 10 goals and 19 points in 38 games before he was traded to the San Antonio Rampage on January 17, 2014. He second stint with the Rampage lasted just 5 games before he was again traded for future considerations to the Chicago Wolves on February 8, 2014.[3]

A free agent, Nesbitt opted to pursue a European career, signing a one-year contract with Italian EBEL champions, HC Bolzano on August 20, 2014.[4] After a season in Austria, Nesbitt returned to North America on a one-year contract for a fourth stint with the Gwinnett Gladiators, later renamed the Atlanta Gladiators on August 1, 2015.[5]

After six seasons with the Gladiators, having become a cornerstone player and captain for Atlanta, Nesbitt announced his retirement from a 16-year professional career on July 11, 2022.[6]

On November 8, 2022, the Gladiators named Nesbitt as Assistant Coach.[7]

On June 6, 2023, the Atlanta Gladiators announced Nesbitt as the sixth head coach in team history.[8]

Career statistics

edit
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2001–02 Ferris State University CCHA 36 9 11 20 16
2002–03 Ferris State University CCHA 42 20 33 53 26
2003–04 Ferris State University CCHA 38 11 17 28 36
2004–05 Ferris State University CCHA 38 19 21 40 44
2004–05 Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs CHL 7 0 5 5 0
2005–06 Gwinnett Gladiators ECHL 71 26 43 69 6 17 6 7 13 8
2006–07 Idaho Steelheads ECHL 66 30 51 81 32 22 6 12 18 8
2007–08 Gwinnett Gladiators ECHL 26 11 28 39 4
2007–08 Rockford IceHogs AHL 46 17 18 35 6 12 3 3 6 12
2008–09 San Antonio Rampage AHL 49 6 9 15 6
2008–09 Manitoba Moose AHL 5 0 4 4 0 1 0 0 0 0
2009–10 Rockford IceHogs AHL 23 4 1 5 6
2009–10 Toledo Walleye ECHL 37 11 22 33 15 4 3 1 4 0
2010–11 Gwinnett Gladiators ECHL 11 8 10 18 6
2010–11 Peoria Rivermen AHL 55 17 25 42 12 4 0 2 2 0
2011–12 Peoria Rivermen AHL 75 22 33 55 14
2012–13 Peoria Rivermen AHL 66 26 21 47 18
2012–13 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 1 0 0 0 0 14 0 6 6 4
2013–14 Oklahoma City Barons AHL 38 10 9 19 16
2013–14 San Antonio Rampage AHL 5 1 0 1 0
2013–14 Chicago Wolves AHL 9 1 1 2 0
2014–15 HC Bolzano EBEL 53 14 28 42 14 7 3 4 7 0
2015–16 Atlanta Gladiators ECHL 72 28 34 62 20
2016–17 Atlanta Gladiators ECHL 72 27 25 52 20
2017–18 Atlanta Gladiators ECHL 71 15 22 37 18 4 2 0 2 0
2018–19 Atlanta Gladiators ECHL 64 18 32 50 12
2019–20 Atlanta Gladiators ECHL 60 15 31 46 10
2021–22 Atlanta Gladiators ECHL 65 18 33 51 12 4 1 1 2 0
AHL totals 372 104 121 225 78 31 3 11 14 16

References

edit
  1. ^ "Penguins acquire Nesbitt from Peoria". WBS Penguins. 2013. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-04-10.
  2. ^ "Barons agree to terms with Nesbitt". Oklahoma City Barons. 2013-07-12. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2013-07-12.
  3. ^ "Wolves acquire Nesbitt". American Hockey League. 2014-02-08. Retrieved 2014-02-08.
  4. ^ "Experience and points to HCB in Nesbitt and Cullen" (in Italian). HCB South Tyrol. 2014-08-20. Archived from the original on 2014-08-21. Retrieved 2014-08-20.
  5. ^ "Nesbitt returns to Gladiators". Gwinnett Gladiators. 2015-08-01. Retrieved 2015-08-01.
  6. ^ "Atlanta's Nesbitt announces retirement". ECHL. July 11, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  7. ^ "Derek Nesbitt Officially Named Gladiators Assistant Coach". www.atlantagladiators.com. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
  8. ^ "Nesbitt Takes Over as Atlanta Head Coach". echl.com. June 6, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
edit