The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has hired Nick Pryor and Alexi Pianosi as theorganization’s Director of AmateurScouting and Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, respectively. Both individuals will be in charge of the day-to-day operations of their departments.

Pryor, 33, spent the last three seasons as the Director of Amateur Scouting with the Pittsburgh Penguins. In that role, he oversaw the organization’s scouting procedures at all amateur levels in both North America and Europe. Pryor’s two first-round selections during that span were Brayden Yager (14^thoverall in 2023), who helped guide Moose Jaw to a WHL Championship in 2023-24, and Owen Pickering (21^stoverall in 2022), who earned WHL First All-Star Team honors both seasons since being drafted.

Before joining the Penguins, Pryor was an amateur scout with the Philadelphia Flyers from 2013-21 wherehis area of focus was NCAA and USHL players. Notable draft choices the Flyers made from those leagues during that span include Cameron York (14^thoverall in 2019), Bobby Brink (34^thoverall in 2019), Joel Farabee (14^thoverall in 2018) and Mark Friedman (86^thoverall in 2014).

Pryor, originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, attended the University of Maine from 2009-2013, where he played college hockey. Prior to joining the Black Bears, he spent one season in the USHL. He also represented the U.S. National Team Development Program from 2006-2008 and achieved a bronze medal at the IIHF U-18 World Championship in 2008.

Pryor was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the seventh round (208^thoverall) in the 2008 NHL Draft.

Pianosi, aged 35, was previously affiliated with the Penguins organization, where he became a part of the Strength and Conditioning team in the 2017-18 season. Over the past five seasons, Pianosi consistently fulfilled the role of Strength Coach, earning a promotion before the start of the 2019-20 campaign. Initially, he was hired as the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for his debut season with the club in 2017-18. Throughout his tenure, which spanned seven seasons, Pittsburgh successfully qualified for the postseason in five instances.

Before becoming a member of the Penguins, Pianosi held the position of Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing various aspects such as strength and conditioning, nutrition, and sports science programs.

Pianosi, originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, has been running a private business since 2009, catering to professional and semi-professional hockey players from both the Maritime region and other areas. Notably, Pianosi started collaborating with Nathan Mackinnon, the Stanley Cup champion and recipient of the 2023-24 Hart Trophy, in 2009. Since then, Pianosi has maintained a close working relationship with Mackinnon during the off-season in Halifax, specifically focusing on his training as an Avalanche forward.

From 2006 to 2009, Pianosi had a successful playing career in the QMJHL, representing the Moncton Wildcats, Victoriaville Tigres, and Val-d’Or Foreurs. Subsequently, from 2010 to 2014, he pursued his Kinesiology degree at Queens University while continuing to play hockey.