Arizona State announced Thursday that veteran NHL defenseman Garnet Exelby will be added to the staff as the strength and conditioning coach for the 2016-17 season.

“We could not be more excited to have a world class hockey specific strength coach on our staff,” said Sun Devils coach Greg Powers in a statement. “Garnet has over 400 games played as a defenseman in the NHL, and when you combine his NHL experience with what we already have on our staff, we have officially comprised a staff of coaches that absolutely knows what it takes to send our student-athletes to the next level. Garnet’s passion and commitment to off-ice and on-ice conditioning will not only strengthen our vision for Sun Devil hockey, but it will accelerate it as well.”

Exelby played over 400 games in both the NHL and the American Hockey League, winning a Calder Cup in 2002 with the Chicago Wolves. He was named to the AHL All-Star team in 2003 and dubbed an NHL Young Star in 2004. He was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers in the eighth round of the 1999 NHL Draft.