NAX Announces 2021/22 U18 Prep Staff
Tassone is in his fourth season as head coach of the U18 Prep team having won back to back CSSHL Championships in 2017/18 and 2018/19, before leading his team to a first place regular season finish in a COVID shortened 2019/20. Now in his sixth season at NAX, Tassone played his minor hockey in Fort Saskatchewan before being selected in the eighth round of the 2004 WHL Bantam Draft by the Swift Current Broncos. Tassone would make the jump to the WHL at 17 playing in a total of 187 games. After being selected in the sixth round of the 2008 NHL Draft by the Dallas Stars, he would play 188 pro games over five seasons before injuries unfortunately ended his playing career.
A former Swift Current teammate of Tassone's, Derek Claffey, will return to NAX for his third season as U18 Prep assistant coach. A third round pick by the Broncos in the 2004 WHL Bantam Draft, Claffey would play 246 WHL games including captaining the team during the 2009/10 season. He would then play three seasons at St. Francis Xavier University before ultimately joining the NAX program.