Men's Hockey Assistant Coach - Erik Strand

Erik Strand

Erik Strand enters his first year as an assistant men’s hockey coach for the Blugolds.

A native of Bloomington, MN, Strand received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 2002 from UW-Eau Claire in Management Information Systems. Strand played for the Blugolds from 1998-2002 and was a Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) honorable mention selection for the 2001-02 season. Strand played in 104 games as a Blugold and is one of only 42 other players to record a hat trick in program history. His hat trick came against St. Scholastica on January 22, 2000.

Strand’s experience with hockey dates back 25 years, first playing for the Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars youth hockey program from 1982-1993. During his high school years at Bloomington Jefferson High School, Strand played from 1993 to 1995, with his team winning the Minnesota State Consolation Championship game in 1995. After high school Strand went on to play hockey for the Vail Avalanche (FHL) in 1995-96. He then played for two seasons with the Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL). He and the Buccaneers won the USHL National Championship in 1998, Strand’s last season with them before becoming a Blugold.

Strand has also coached at a number of different levels during his career. From 1996-97 he was a summer hockey school coach at the Minnesota High School Skating camp and also was a volunteer coach at the summer evaluation camp for the Buccaneers in 1998. Strand then volunteered as head coach for the high school summer league in 1999.

Outside of coaching, Strand is an Area Sales Manager with Citizens Bank.

Strand resides in Eau Claire with his wife Andrea.

Updated 11/2/07