Assistant coach Brad Tapper is returning to the Florida Everblades bench for a second season, team president/general manager Craig Brush announced Friday.

Tapper, who played professionally for nine seasons including three with the Atlanta Thrashers of the National Hockey League, assisted Everblades coach Greg Poss lead the team to a 37-30-5 record last season.

“Brad was a big part of the team last season and a real important piece of the puzzle to get back,” said Poss. “I’m looking forward to working with him again and I really thought we made good strides as a group. Keeping the coaching staff together was important for us heading into this year.”

Tapper saw action in a total of 71 NHL games, registering 25 points. The former right winger brings championship experience to the Everblades after winning titles with the Orlando Solar Bears of the International Hockey League in 2001 and with the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League in 2002.

The native of Scarborough, Ontario, played his final five professional seasons in the German Elite League with Nuremberg, Hannover and Iserlohn from 2004-09 where he registered 165 points in 187 games.

The Everblades open the 2011-12 season on Oct. 14 at Germain Arena against the Gwinnett Gladiators. Season ticket packages are still available for as little as $150 per seat.