Ice Hockey: All in the family

Tim Cheveldae had no chance.

In his second NHL game, Washington defenseman Todd Nelson drilled the puck past the Winnipeg netminder for his first NHL goal. The Prince Albert native had achieved the dream of every kid that ever laced on a pair of skates.

He remembers it well: "I moved in from my point position to the top of the face-off circle, the puck came to me and I just fired it. It bounced off the crossbar but I never saw it go in-the crowd went nuts and I knew I had scored. It was awesome! It was kind of surreal, this is why you play hockey, and here I was, in the NHL."

Sadly, it was his only goal of the 1993-94 campaign and his career.

Boston goalie Blaine Lacher had no chance. Washington center Jeff Nelson redirected a shot for his first of three NHL goals.

He remembers: "It wasn't anything special, just a run of the mill deflection. My first game was against the Rangers and I had been up and down the entire 1994-95 season."

The moment couldn't be shared with brother Todd--the older brother spent the year with Portland of the AHL.

"We're a close family and did a lot of things together growing up," remembers Jeff of his Prince Albert, Saskatchewan roots. "I still love going home. I played a lot of baseball during but hockey is huge at home. I wanted to make the NHL. Our family is into sports. Dad played hockey and an uncle played semi-pro, so naturally we picked it up when we were quite young."

Todd, three and a half years older, agrees: "I played every sport growing up, but when I turned 15, it was all hockey. Making the Prince Albert Raiders was really something. I grew up going to their games and suddenly I was on such a great team with guys like Mike Modano."

The Pittsburgh Penguins chose Todd in the fourth round of the 1989 draft.

"I was rated to go in the 6th round so I felt pretty good. I wanted to get drafted by an American team. I love Prince Albert but I grew up there and unlike many juniors that play elsewhere, I spent my entire career at home. I felt it was time to broaden my horizons and I wanted to be paid in American dollars."

Following another junior year, Todd spent the first of two seasons with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League. After Muskegon's 1991-92 campaign, Todd got his first taste of the regular season NHL. Walking into the dressing room, he spotted Mario Lemieux and Paul Coffey.

"The way they carried themselves was something. They knew how to behave in restaurants, with the media, and on the road. I learned a lot from those guys."

The Lumberjacks moved to Cleveland the next season and despite his best season yet, Todd learned he wasn't in the Penguins plans any longer.

"I don't really know what happened. It was Eddie Johnston that drafted me but Craig Patrick took over soon after and despite being the best defenseman that season in Cleveland, I never even got a call-up. I was disappointed."

The disappointment was about to end. That summer, Todd Nelson signed as a free agent with the Washington Capitals and was assigned to the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League. He would be joining brother Jeff for the second time.

Jeff Nelson is a natural goal scorer. Three times he led the Raiders in scoring and finished second behind Mike Modano a fourth. Incredibly, he produced a 56 game point streak in 1990-91. Interviewed by several general managers, draft day 1991 saw Jeff Nelson in Buffalo, waiting for his name to be called-he didn't care who called it. Washington announced him as their second pick and 36th overall.

Returning to Prince Albert after his first NHL camp, the sniper scored 48 times in 64 games. Assigned to Baltimore of the AHL, the Capitals moved the club to Portland, Maine for 1993-94. Perhaps inspired by the reunion with Todd, Jeff Nelson picked up 34 goals and 107 points to finish fourth in league scoring and led the Pirates to the Calder Cup.

"That was a fantastic year, reminisced Jeff. "Obviously Todd being there was special. We had a veteran team and the overall chemistry was wonderful."

"It was great playing with Jeff again that year," recalls Todd. "I remember how much talk there was about building a solid team, and they did. Kevin Kaminski was a real leader that year."

Having future NHLers Olaf Kolzig and Byron Dafoe between the pipes didn't hurt either.

While Jeff got to bask in the glow of a championship, Todd headed to the big club for a first round playoff meeting with the Craig Patrick managed Pittsburgh Penguins.

"Yeah, there was definitely the feeling that I had something to prove. Right away I noticed how much more intense the playoffs are so it was really exciting to be there." Todd got his vengeance.

The Capitals eliminated Pittsburgh in six games before bowing out to the eventual Stanley Cup champion New York Rangers in the next round. Todd Nelson would never play another regular season NHL game.

"I guess it wasn't my time," mused Todd, while discussing the Washington situation. "I'm still convinced I had what it take for a successful NHL career but sometimes it's just circumstances and being in the right place at the right time."

Following another season together in Portland, the Nelson brothers separated. Todd ended up in the Philadelphia Flyers system with Hershey, while Jeff divided his time between the big club and the Pirates.

"I was on the fourth line that half-season in Washington (1995-96), says Jeff. "You have to earn your way up by proving yourself every night, that's just the way it is. Things didn't really work out the way I expected. I finished the season there pretty well but never really got an answer as to what my future was with the organization. I attended four training camps and thought I made a good impression but I guess they had different things in mind."

Following that season, the brothers reunited with the expansion Grand Rapids Griffins of the IHL.

"Yeah, that's my big claim to fame," laughed Todd. "I was the first guy they signed."

Jeff continued his prolific scoring with 34 goals and 89 points while Todd was a steadying influence on the point. The veteran team included Eldon "Pokey" Reddick and ironically, Blaine Lacher.

During the IHL's heyday, debate raged as to which was better: The AHL or the IHL.

"I think the IHL was closer to NHL style hockey," says Todd. "The pace was faster and the players were smarter and more controlled while sticking to their position. Maybe it was because the IHL had more veterans but it seemed like in the AHL you had guys running around all over the place -- you didn't see that in the IHL. I saw it (the IHL) as a poor man's NHL."

"We got to visit some great places that you wouldn't in the American Hockey League," continued the articulate older brother. "The IHL was in a lot of big cities and we would visit Las Vegas and Orlando in the middle of winter rather than a cold Newfoundland where the AHL was."

When the NHL announced that a franchise had been awarded to Nashville for the 1998-99 season, Jeff Nelson was ecstatic at the opportunity. Having spent the 1997-98 season with the independent Milwaukee Admirals as a free agent, (they eventually became Nashville's farm club) Washington traded his NHL rights to the country music capital where he played nine regular season games for the first year Predators, picking up two goals and an assist.

"I had a lot of good times in Nashville," said Jeff. "Being an expansion team, everything was new and exciting. I was able to get a lot of ice time and the fans really got into it down there."

Curiously, Washington reacquired his rights after his season in Nashville, assigning Jeff to Portland for two seasons where he picked up 24 and 18 goals respectively while earning team MVP honors in 2000-01. Asked if he felt hesitant about returning to a franchise that inexplicably let him go, Jeff responded: "A little bit. Yet, this time they were up front with me and said they wanted some veterans on the farm team and it seemed like a good fit."

At a crossroads after his MVP season, Jeff and his wife jetted to Germany for a season with the Schwenningen Wild Wings. Echoing his brother, Jeff wanted to expand his horizons and absorb the cultures and customs of a different continent.

"We loved it over there. It got frustrating with the language barrier so the whole experience was bittersweet." It didn't affect his on ice performance as he finished among the league's leading scorers.

Despite several offers to stay in Europe, he returned to North American shores and attended the San Jose Sharks camp in 2002. Sent to Cleveland of the AHL, Jeff picked up 60 points in a Barons uniform.

While Jeff shuffled between Milwaukee and Nashville, Todd spent the 1998-99 season with the Berlin Capitals.

"I received some contract offers to stay in North America, but I always wanted to play in Europe and the money I was offered was excellent."

Todd remembers October 6, 1998 vividly. "That was the day (teammate and former NHLer) Stephane Morin was on the bench and died of a heart attack, he was only 29. I don't think you ever forget something like that," recalls a somber Todd.

After a few games in the rough and tumble Finnish league the next season, Todd and his wife returned to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the IHL for 1999-00. A solid franchise coupled with Bob McNamara as general manager made it an easy choice. The Griffins lost to Chicago in the finals.

A season with the Rochester Americans followed, but a new door was about to be opened.

"After my season in Rochester, Dan Cole got the coaching job with Muskegon of the United Hockey League and asked me about joining him. I became player coach that year (2001-02) and we went on to win the Colonial Cup. The next year I became assistant-coach with the Griffins."

Todd inked a deal for 2003-2004 as not only head coach of the UHL's Muskegon Fury, but also Director of Player Operations.

"I did wonder how the players I had played with would react now that I was coaching them. I remember the first time I snapped at them-I think I truly became their coach at that moment.

A fourth reunion with Jeff was in the cards.

"I phoned up Todd and asked if he needed a center," laughs Jeff.

"I enjoyed coaching Jeff before the moved up. He's developed into a complete player and a smarter player. He's more mature now, and I am too-but that comes with age."

Today, Jeff has two daughters. Abigail is 4 and Eliza 1. He lives in Grand Rapids while suiting up for the AHL's Griffins.

Todd has learned his craft quickly.

"This league has come a long way," he says. "I think it's like the IHL of the 1980s, ready to take off. We have a lot of former NHLers here and the quality of play is constantly improving."

He also lives in Grand Rapids with his wife and two children and commutes to nearby Muskegon. While he has no regrets, he does wish he committed himself more during his playing days. But he's not complaining.

"I'm very happy with how my career went," Todd says. "Hockey has been very good to me. My goal is to coach in the NHL. I know that if I stay positive and focused, I can achieve it."

Don't be surprised if Jeff is by his side.