Introduction
Corey Neilson (born August 22, 1976) is a Canadian-British professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently the Head Coach of the Nottingham Panthers of the British Elite Ice Hockey League.
Neilson was drafted 53rd overall in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers and spent the next few years developing his game in the OHL before turning Pro in 1997. Neilson spent several seasons in the ECHL, getting called up to the American League before heading over to England to play for the Nottingham Panthers, where he has been since 2006 when he was signed by then coach Mike Ellis as a player, he was later appointed player-coach in 2008 following a season as assistant player coach to Ellis.
Neilson continued to play and coach for the Panthers until he retired part way through the 2012-13 season, in which he later led the Nottingham Panthers to their first league title in 57 years and a grand slam season in 2012-13. Upon securing the league, the club retired Neilson's number 77 jersey alongside some of the Panthers legends of the past, Neilson became the 5th player to have his jersey retired by the club.
In addition, under his leadership Panthers have won six Challenge Cups and four Playoff championships, making him the most successful coach in Nottingham Panthers history.
Neilson also played for the Great Britain national ice hockey team after he obtained dual nationality.
Awards and honours
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| EIHL First All-Star team | 2011–12 |
Career statistics
Full Career Stats are being periodically added.
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1999-00 | Louisiana IceGators | ECHL | 56 | 10 | 16 | 26 | 127 | 19 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 36 | ||
| 1999-00 | Team Canada | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 2000-01 | Louisiana IceGators | ECHL | 64 | 15 | 25 | 40 | 128 | 14 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 24 | ||
| 2001-02 | Louisiana IceGators | ECHL | 71 | 12 | 40 | 52 | 138 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 8 | ||
| 2002-03 | Elmira Jackals | UHL | 72 | 10 | 44 | 54 | 136 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 26 | ||
| 2002-03 | Syracuse Crunch | AHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003-04 | Pensacola Ice Pilots | ECHL | 72 | 19 | 59 | 78 | 130 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | ||
| 2004-05 | Pensacola Ice Pilots | ECHL | 71 | 18 | 44 | 62 | 79 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2005-06 | Pensacola Ice Pilots | ECHL | 32 | 6 | 19 | 25 | 77 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005-06 | Florida Everblades | ECHL | 40 | 7 | 16 | 23 | 54 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 18 | ||
| 2006-07 | Nottingham Panthers | EIHL | 54 | 11 | 31 | 42 | 111 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 | ||
| 2007-08 | Nottingham Panthers | EIHL | 54 | 13 | 36 | 49 | 144 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2008-09 | Nottingham Panthers | EIHL | 54 | 15 | 47 | 62 | 123 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 10 | ||
| 2009-10 | Nottingham Panthers | EIHL | 67 | 15 | 50 | 65 | 132 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | ||
| 2010–11 | Nottingham Panthers | EIHL | 63 | 10 | 50 | 60 | 110 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | ||
| 2011–12 | Nottingham Panthers | EIHL | 62 | 13 | 46 | 59 | 115 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 2012–13 | Nottingham Panthers | EIHL | 9 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| EIHL totals | 363 | 77 | 266 | 343 | 753 | 21 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 40 | ||||
| ECHL totals | 406 | 87 | 219 | 306 | 773 | 52 | 5 | 31 | 36 | 94 | ||||