Seth Appert named head coach of Amerks

Seth Appert has been named head coach of the Rochester Americans, the team announced Tuesday.

Appert, 46, has coached at the NCAA and international levels since 1997. He spent the past three seasons with the United States National Team Development Program, where he played a role in developing the organization's record-breaking crop of 17 draft picks (including eight first-round picks) in 2019.

"Seth has a proven track record of developing talent at various levels and we are looking forward to him being the next head coach of the Rochester Americans," Sabres General Manager Kevyn Adams said. "His approach to coaching and leadership, both on and off the ice, is a natural fit with the philosophy Ralph Krueger and I have started to implement as we build the organization. Seth will be an asset to Rochester and to the Sabres organization, and I'm excited to see him succeed behind the bench with the Amerks."

"It's honor to become head coach of the Rochester Americans and be part of the Buffalo Sabres organization," Appert said. "I know the passion of both fan bases and I look forward to helping develop players for the Sabres while building on the winning culture in Rochester. I would like to thank Terry and Kim Pegula, Kevyn Adams and Ralph Krueger for this incredible opportunity and their belief in me."

Appert alternated as head coach of USA Hockey's U-17 and U-18 teams during his time at the NTDP. He won a silver medal as head coach at the U-18 World Junior Championship in 2018 and gold at the same tournament as an assistant coach in 2017. His international resume also includes a bronze medal as an assistant at the men's World Championship in 2018.

Prior to joining the NTDP, Appert spent 11 seasons as head coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, leading the program to an NCAA tournament berth in 2010-11. He spent the first nine seasons of his coaching career as an assistant at the University of Denver.

Appert will be tasked with aiding the development of what could be a prospect laden Amerks roster next season. Defensemen Mattias Samuelsson (second round, 2018) and Oskari Laaksonen (third round, 2017) both signed entry-level contracts during the offseason and are expected to join a group of recent draft picks that could include forwards Rasmus Asplund, Brett Murray and Matej Pekar; defensemen William Borgen, Jacob Bryson, and Casey Fitzgerald; and goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, among others.

The AHL announced in July that the 2020-21 season will start no earlier than Dec. 4 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.