Ty Nelson

Ty Nelson (born March 30, 2004) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a defenceman for the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the third round, 68th overall, by the Kraken in the 2022 NHL entry draft.

A native of Ontario, Nelson played in the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens, winning the GTHL championship in his final season with the team. He was then selected first overall in the 2020 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) priority selection by the North Bay Battalion. After establishing himself as a top defenceman on the team, he was signed by the Kraken in 2023. In 2024, after three season with the Battalion, he joined the Coachella Valley Firebirds. In his first season with the team, he played all 72 games.

Internationally, Nelson has represented Canada, doing so at the 2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

Playing career

Junior Nelson was born on March 30, 2004, to parents Rick and Tracy in Toronto. In his hometown, Nelson played minor hockey with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens of the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL). During the 2019–20 season, through 33 games, Nelson tallied 11 goals and 21 assists for 32 points, leading the league in scoring by a defenceman. As an alternate captain of the team, Nelson's efforts helped the Jr. Canadiens win the GTHL championship that season, scoring 12 points in 11 games during the playoffs. Following his success in the GTHL, on April 4, 2020, Nelson was selected as the first overall pick in the 2020 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) priority selection by the North Bay Battalion.

Nelson was named an alternate captain of the Petes to start the 2021–22 season. On October 7, 2021, Nelson made his OHL debut, collecting an assist on a goal by Matvey Petrov as part of a 7–4 victory over the Peterborough Petes. A week later, on October 15, he scored his first OHL goal in a 7–1 win over the Mississauga Steelheads. Nelson finished his first OHL season with 9 goals and 42 assists for 51 points through 66 games, ranking 11th among all OHL defensemen and first among rookie defencemen in scoring. During the 2022 OHL playoffs, Nelson notched 10 assists in 13 games. On July 8, Nelson was selected in the third round, 68th overall, by the Seattle Kraken in the 2022 NHL entry draft. before being reassigned to the Battalion on September 28. In his first six games of the 2022–23 season, put up three goals and four assists through is first six games. By November 30, Nelson led the Battalion in scoring with 27 points through 23 games. In 67 total games, Nelson tallied 24 goals and 52 assists for 76 points, a franchise record for most goals in a season by a defenceman. In three rounds of the 2023 OHL playoffs, Nelson recorded six goals and 19 assists for 25 points, leading all OHL players in scoring during that time. On May 11, 2023, Nelson signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Kraken.

Nelson once again participated in the Kraken's development camp prior to the 2023–24 season. After participating in training camp, he was reassigned to the Battalion on September 27. With the team, he totaled 16 goals and 36 assists in 54 games.

Professional Prior to the 2024–25 season, Nelson once again participated in the Kraken's rookie camp. He played in a preseason game against the Vancouver Canucks on September 24, 2024, taking a penalty, before he was reassigned to the Firebirds on September 27. Nelson made his AHL debut on the Firebirds' season opener on October 11, collecting an assists on the only Firebirds goal in a 2–1 loss to the Bakersfield Condors. On November 2, Nelson scored his first professional goal, part of a 5–3 loss to the Condors. Nelson was one of only two Firebirds players to play all 72 games in the season, collecting six goals and 26 assists while doing so. During the 2025 Calder Cup playoffs, Nelson scored his first professional postseason goal on May 3, 2025, in a 5–4 win over the Abbotsford Canucks. That was the only goal Nelson scored in six playoff games.

Nelson featured in the Kraken's rookie camp once more before the 2025–26 season. On February 7, 2026, with the Firebirds, Nelson scored the overtime game-winning goal in a 4–3 victory over the Henderson Silver Knights. He scored another overtime goal on March 14 in a 4–3 win against the Ontario Reign. In 63 games, Nelson tallied 11 goals and 24 assists for 35 points. During the 2026 Calder Cup playoffs, he put up one goal and five assists in 12 games. On December 28, Nelson recorded two assists in a 10–0 victory over Latvia. He would add one more assist during the tournament to total three assists through five games.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2021–22 North Bay Battalion OHL 66 9 42 51 39 13 0 10 10 6 2022–23 North Bay Battalion OHL 67 24 52 76 60 20 6 19 25 15 2023–24 North Bay Battalion OHL 54 16 36 52 50 16 5 9 14 10 2024–25 Coachella Valley Firebirds AHL 72 6 26 32 48 6 1 0 1 0 2025–26 Coachella Valley Firebirds AHL 63 11 24 35 26 12 1 5 6 2AHL totals 135 17 50 67 74 18 2 5 7 2

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2024 Canada WJC 5th 5 0 3 3 0 Junior totals 5 0 3 3 0