DJ Vold has been hired as head coach of the Breezy Point North Stars of the North American3 Hockey League.
Vold comes to the Stars from the Granite City Lumberjacks where he served as an assistant coach and recruiting director.
"I want to thank the entire Granite City Lumberjacks organization for allowing me the opportunity to start my coaching career," Vold said in a news release. "It was an honor to be a part of something so special. I am excited to join the Breezy Point club and hope to continue the success they have had in recent seasons.
"This league is here to advance players to the next level and that is the opportunity I have been given with my coaching career."
Vold played two years of AAA hockey for the Madison Capitols of the NAPHL. He moved on to play three years for Granite City, winning a Silver Cup during the 2011-2012 season.
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Due to a season-ending injury his last year with the Lumberjacks, he became an assistant to Granite City head coach Brad Willner. Vold held that role the last four years, taking on the recruiting coordinator position as well during the 2015-2016 season.
While on the bench, he helped the Lumberjacks to Silver Cup Championships in 2015 and in 2017.
Vold replaces the Stars' former head coach, Jon Jonasson, who has moved on to other junior hockey endeavors.
"I've followed DJ Vold as a player and an assistant coach for as long as he's been involved in junior hockey. I even tried to recruit him," Stars general manager Craig Larson said in a news release. "He's been a captain of a championship team and has held an important role as an assistant, in the recruiting for a championship team, as well as having an active role in placing kids in college. It's an area where the North Stars are getting more involved and we believe DJ is a great fit for our long-term plan."
The Stars finished the 2016-2017 season with a 25-19-3-0 record, good for their second trip to the Western Division playoffs.
"With 11 commitments this past season, we feel we have the right ingredients for players to grow and develop in Breezy Point," Larson said. "Having DJ Vold begin his head coaching experience with us makes this an exciting time for our program. We are looking forward to the upcoming season."
