Niagara's Madsen tabbed to lead Minnesota Wilderness

Niagara University associate head coach Tim Madsen has been named the new head coach of the Minnesota Wilderness of the North American Hockey League (NAHL).

It's a homecoming of sorts for Madsen, an Elk River, Minn. native, who played high school hockey there as well. A 2008 graduate of Niagara, Madsen played three years of college hockey for the Purple Eagles before suffering a career ending injury. Prior to that he played in the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Tri-City Storm and Waterloo Black Hawks.

Madsen began his coaching career as a senior at Niagara, serving as the Director of Hockey Operations. He spent the 2008-09 season as an assistant coach with the St. Louis Bandits in the NAHL before returning to his alma mater where he's been the last seven seasons.