13U AAA Coach Nathan Paetsch joins the AHL Rochester Americans coaching staff

Buffalo Sabres official Website; 7/10/2023

The Buffalo Sabres and Rochester Americans have announced several staff updates to the organization’s hockey department.

Rochester has hired Nathan Paetsch and Vinny Prospal as assistant coaches.

For the past two seasons, Paetsch has served as a development coach for the Sabres and has worked closely with the organization’s top defensive prospects.

Paetsch has 870 professional games under his belt, including 167 in the NHL with Buffalo and Columbus, and 292 with Rochester.

Prospal joins the organization after spending three seasons as head coach of HC Ceske Budejovice of the Czech Extraliga.

He led the team to back-to-back league championships at the second-tier level (Czech Republic Hockey League, Chance Liga) in 2018-19 and 2019-20, going 63-18-5 during the regular season, and was named the league’s Coach of the Year following the 2020-21 campaign.

In his NHL playing career with the Flyers, Senators, Panthers, Ducks, Lightning, Rangers and Blue Jackets, he totaled 765 points (255+510) over 1,108 games.

“I’m excited to add Nathan and Vinny to our coaching staff,” Amerks head coach Seth Appert said. “The experience they bring will be invaluable for our players in their development.

“The character and competitiveness they displayed in their playing careers will serve us well as they become role models for our prospects. I’m looking forward to having them add to the culture we are creating in Rochester.”

The coaching staffs in Buffalo and Rochester have received contract extensions as well.

In addition, Justin White, who served as a video coordinator last season, will now serve as the team’s video coach.

Ed Gannon has been promoted to director of physical performance and head strength coach. Gannon was named the team’s strength and conditioning coach ahead of the 2015-16 season.

Bob Mowry is now the team’s associate athletic trainer under head athletic trainer Rich Stinziano. Mowry joined the organization in 2011-12 as the Sabres’ assistant athletic trainer and has also spent time with the Amerks as their head athletic trainer.