Behind the Bench: Mike Nason and the Unis Flyers’ Playoff Push
Unis Flyers head coach Mike Nason watches the play during a CEHL semifinal game on March 7, 2026. (Photo: FANFOTO / Nayra Blaauwbroek)
Written By Gina Anton
The clock is winding down late in the third period.
The puck rattles along the boards as players battle in the corner. The crowd rises to its feet, sensing the tension that only playoff hockey can create. Every shift feels heavier. Every mistake feels dangerous.
Behind the bench, Mike Nason doesn’t lose his focus.
Instead, the head coach of the Unis Flyers Heerenveen leans forward slightly, watching the ice. While players rush on and off the bench, Nason calmly calls the next line.
Moments like this are where experience matters most. And few coaches in the Central European Hockey League bring as much experience to the bench as Nason.
A Coach Who Has Seen Every Side of the Game
For Nason, coaching in the CEHL semifinals is more than just another game. It’s the continuation of a hockey journey that has taken him across continents and through nearly every level of the sport.
Born in Pickering, Ontario, Canada, he grew up surrounded by the country’s deep hockey culture. Like many Canadian players, his path started in competitive junior hockey before eventually leading him into the college ranks.
Nason played college hockey with the Manhattanville Valiants before transferring to the Toronto Varsity Blues, where he finished his collegiate career.
His final season proved especially impressive. Nason earned a place on the OUA Second Team All-Star roster and was named the conference’s Most Sportsmanlike Player, a recognition for both his skill and leadership on the ice.
Nason also represented Canada at the Winter Universiade, an international tournament featuring top collegiate athletes from around the world.
A Career That Crossed the Atlantic
After graduating, Nason began his professional career in Europe. He spent time developing his game in Germany before eventually finding his way to the Netherlands, a move that would shape the rest of his career.
From 2007 to 2013, Nason played for the Unis Flyers Heerenveen, becoming a familiar presence in the club and building strong connections within the organization.
Those years helped establish something deeper than a typical player-team relationship. They created a long-term commitment.
From Player to Coach
When Nason eventually stepped behind the bench as head coach in 2015, the transition felt natural.
He already understood the club, the culture, and the expectations surrounding the Flyers. More importantly, he understood the players.
Over the years, he has helped develop talent not only with the senior team but also throughout the Flyers’ youth system and even within Dutch national programs.
That experience has shaped the style of hockey the Flyers play today: disciplined, structured, and resilient.
The Calm Behind the Bench
As the CEHL semifinals continue, the spotlight naturally falls on the players scoring goals and making big saves.
For Mike Nason, the journey from Canadian rinks to the bench of the Unis Flyers has never been about recognition. It’s been about building something lasting. A team identity, a culture, and a belief that preparation wins games long before the puck drops.
So when the next critical shift begins and the Flyers jump over the boards, Nason will be standing in the same place he always is, thinking two moves ahead.
Because for a coach who has spent nearly his entire life in the game, the biggest moments aren’t overwhelming. They’re simply the moments he’s been preparing for all along.
