The Minnesota Moose of the United States Premier Hockey League have announced that they have hired Jon Jonasson as their Head Coach and General Manager. Jonasson becomes the team’s first ever Head Coach and General Manager.

“It’s a humbling feeling to have the opportunity to be the first ever Head Coach/GM of the Minnesota Moose,” Said Jon Jonasson. “With the pieces that are in place here for the development of the player is phenomenal. We are looking forward to making the Moose one of the top Tier 3 Jr A Development programs in the country. Our priority and focus will be development and advancement of our players, also to have an organization the community will be proud to call their own. I am grateful for the opportunities that Craig Larson and Breezy Point provided to me last season, making this change was difficult but in the end the best choice for my family and career.”

Jonasson comes to the Minnesota Moose as the Head Coach and General Manager with 10+ years of coaching experience at all levels. Jon is from Bloomington, MN where he played 3 years of Varsity hockey for Bloomington Kennedy. Following high school hockey Jon played 3 years of Junior Hockey in the MNJHL for the Twin Cities Northern Lights and the Minnesota Owls. After his junior career, he had a short stint at the Minor Professional level with Evansville Icemen of the AAHL in 2009 before he decided to continue his coaching career.  

Jonasson spent the 2010-2011 season as the Associate Coach for the Phoenix Polar Bears Junior A team of the WSHL where his contributions led them to a trip to the Western Division Championship. In 2011-2012 Jon was named Director of Scouting for the Cheyenne Stampede for their inaugural season, having a helping hand in the team having a successful first season. The same season Jon also coached a Bantam AA team in Minnesota’s strongest district leading the Chaska/Chanhassen team to a .700 record and reaching the VFW championship.

From 2014-2016 Jon was the Head Coach of the Helena Bighorns Junior A team in the NA3HL out of Helena, MT. While at the helm of the Bighorns he held a solid winning record in a strong division in the last 2 seasons. In his first year with Helena, Jon led the team to the Frontier Division championship coming just short of 1 point of being in the Silver Cup. Most recently he was the Head Coach of the Breezy Point North Stars in the NA3HL, posting the most successful season in the team’s history in wins and player advancements.  Since entering the Junior coaching ranks he has moved over 60+ players on to the next level including NAHL, NCAA Div 3, ACHA D1, ACHA D2.

Jonasson was named Director of Midwest Scouting for the Janesville Jets of the NAHL at the start of the 2014 season and still currently holds that position with the Jets. Since Jon’s arrival with the Jets they have compiled a record of 126-40-14 winning the NAHL regular season tile in 2014 setting the all-time points record of (100) most wins (49) and fewest goals against (114). That same season the Jets had 12 players receive NCAA Division 1 scholarships and heard 5 players names called in the USHL draft. In 2015 the Jets continued setting the standard for their dedication to advancement and had 10 players receive NCAA Division 1 scholarships and heard 4 of their players names called in the USHL draft and the Jets even had their first ever player drafted in the NHL. Jack LaFontaine was selected 75th overall in the 3rd round by the Carolina Hurricanes. The 2016 season the Jets finished the season winning the Midwest Division Regular season title and Midwest playoff title advancing to the Robertson Cup. They had 12 players earn NCAA Division 1 scholarships, 4 earn NCAA Division 3 opportunities and they heard 8 players names called in the USHL draft.

Jonasson said fans can expect a skilled, fast and physical brand of hockey, as the Moose look to be a contender in year one.

“Our team will be a skilled, quick transitioning team that is going to outwork teams in all three zones. I know how good of a division this is with teams like the Dells Ducks, Chicago Cougars and Wisconsin Riverkings. We are very excited for the challenge at hand and excited to get things going.”