Wagner Joins Coaching Staff

Jul 20, 2017

Minot, ND – The Minot Minotauros are proud to announce that Shane Wagner has joined the coaching staff filling the Assistant Coach vacancy. Tauros Head Coach and General Manager Marty Murray selected Wagner after conducting an extensive search. This will be Wagner’s second stint in the NAHL as he was an assistant coach with the Minnesota Magicians during the 2013-14 season.

Wagner, a defenseman from Stillwater, MN, is a hockey lifer. He played junior for the Butte Irish, in the America West Hockey League (AWHL), where he battled with the Bismarck Bobcats before the AWHL merged with the NAHL. From there Wagner went on to play four years of NCAA Division III hockey for Hamline University. During his time in college Wagner posted 15 goals and 22 assists in 83 games for the Pipers and was named to the All-Conference team. From there he moved on to play six season in the Southern Pro Hockey League (SPHL) with the Jacksonville Barracudas, Twin City Cyclones, and the Mississippi Surge. In total Wagner played 253 SPHL games from 2006 to 2011.

With his playing career at an end Wagner moved on to coaching. He started with the Minnesota Junior Hockey League’s (MNJHL) Hudson Crusaders for the 2012-13 season. While still serving as General Manager/Head Coach for the Crusaders Wagner joined the Minnesota Magicians’ staff as an assistant for the 2013-14 season. After one year coaching with two programs Wagner returned to only coaching the Crusaders for the 2014-15 season. Of his prior coaching experiences Wagner said “I learned how juniors works, and how quickly things can change, really I learned to be grateful for every opportunity.” Wagner the end of the 2014-15 season Wagner started Fusion Training with his brother Nate.

Wagner joined the Minotauros scouting staff last season. His first find to make it to Minot was Luke Manning, who suited up for the Tauros as an affiliate player last spring. Wagner is excited to take on a larger roll with the Tauros. He explained, “I’ve always respected this organization, the coaching staff cares about the players, the organization does things the right way.” Murray is also looking forward to having Wagner on board, “he’ll be a valuable addition to our staff, adding Shane along with Waz [Goaltending Coach Wyatt Waselenchuk] gives us a well rounded staff” said Murray. He continued, “Shane has been scouting with us for a year so he knows our program. He has experience in our league, played NCAA college hockey, and pro. I look forward to utilizing his experience and bouncing ideas off of him.”

Wagner said his path through the college and pro ranks helped mold him as a coach, “I had a lot of good coaches, I was lucky. In college I had Scott Bell who is now an assistant with the Gophers, and three good pro coaches after that. I think my coaching style is a mix of all of theirs, what I think worked from each of them.”

Wagner wished to thank “Marty [Murray] for the opportunity, and of course my wife Megan and son Willy for supporting me.” Wagner will start immediately with Murray and  Waselenchuk as the Minotauros Main Camp starts Friday morning in Andover, MN.