Greg Nemisz Turns to Coaching After Two Injury-Plagued Seasons with the Charlotte Checkers
By Brett Finger
Greg Nemisz has left the Charlotte Checkers and the Carolina Hurricanes organization to join the Oshawa Generals in the Ontario Hockey League, not as a player, but as an assistant coach.
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The announcement was made today via the Oshawa Generals official Twitter account.
BREAKING: Greg Nemisz has been named an Assistant Coach of the Oshawa Generals. Details can be read HERE> http://t.co/SQzY2Uoudw
— Oshawa Generals (@Oshawa_Generals) July 15, 2015
Greg Nemisz suited up with the Charlotte Checkers in 35 games over a two year span after being traded to the Hurricanes from the Calgary Flames in December of 2013. He picked up 25 points in those 35 games in Charlotte. He never received a call-up to the NHL.
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Nemisz was drafted with the 28th overall pick in 2008 by the Flames and had three straight incredibly solid years with the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League. He tallied 77 points in the 2008-2009 season and was a +52.
His final year in the OHL was one hindered by injuries, which will turn out to be a common theme here, but he did manage to get 70 points in just 51 games in his final year of OHL eligibility.
The jump to the American Hockey League was not too bad for Greg Nemisz. He tallied 33 points in 68 games in 2010-2011, and he even earned a 6-game call-up to the Calgary Flames, in which he got his first NHL assist.
Another 9-game NHL stint in 2011-2012 was not very productive, being kept off the score sheet in all 9 games. Since then, Greg Nemisz has not played in the NHL and has struggled away in the American League due to constant injuries.
The former first round draft pick has played just 67 games over the past two seasons in the AHL due to injury, which ultimately led to him not being resigned by the Carolina Hurricanes this summer, despite being quite a decent a player when healthy. He even donned the alternate captain’s “A” last season with the Checkers when he was healthy.
"“He was wearing an A for a reason, and even when he was hurt for the last part of the season he’d still be up in the weight room, was very detailed in his rehab and wasn’t taking any shortcuts,” said former Checkers head coach Jeff Daniels. “There’s an example guys can watch. When you are out, do you shut it down and kind of sit around all day, or do you go up in the weight room and work to get back? That’s what he was doing.”"
In an article on the Charlotte Checkers official website in May, Nemisz expressed his excitement to train and get ready for next year after a second straight season featuring a serious, season-ending injury.
"“Last summer with the surgery was tougher to train for sure,” said Nemisz. “I’ve got to work on my foot speed and just my overall general speed. This summer will be way easier. I’m about two weeks away from getting on the ice, so I’m going to have five or six months to get myself prepared. I’m really excited to do that.”"
Unfortunately, something there has changed between then and now. Nemisz has decided to walk away, at least for now, and coach in the Ontario Hockey League.
It’s always disheartening to see a good hockey player, or athlete in general, be forced to walk away from his or her sport due to injury, but that is what appears to have happened here with 25-year-old Greg Nemisz.
He is a big, talented hockey player who likely could have made a run at the NHL team this season had he been healthy.
Hopefully Greg Nemisz can rebound and turn into a good, young coach for the Oshawa Generals. He is slated to be behind the bench as an assistant coach for them next season.