Three players who were part of the Fort Frances Thunderhawks AAA Senior Hockey team in 2010-11 will be behind the bench as coaches next season for the International Falls boys hockey team.

The Falls School Board gave formal approval Monday to the hiring of Bruce Elson as head coach and Tom Biondich and Ross Johnson as assistants.

Elson, an FHS physical education teacher, had coached Falls’ girls hockey team for three seasons from 2006-09, compiling an overall record of 29-47-2. He had led the Broncos to their first non-losing season in the first 10 years of the girls program, finishing 13-13-1 in 2007-08.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity” to coach Falls’ boys team, said Elson, who also previously coached girls hockey in Warroad and whose recent youth hockey coaching experience includes being on the staff of the Red River Valley Jr. Stars AAA Hockey organization.

When asked about what he believes will be the difference between heading up Falls’ girls and boys hockey programs, Elson said they are “totally different in the expectations and pressure” with the boys program having won seven state championships and made several other state tournament appearances.

“The pressure that goes along with this position is immense,” he said.

Elson replaces Mike Bolstad, who resigned after one season with a record of 10-15-1.

Elson’s return to coaching hockey for the Broncos follows his departure as Falls’ head girls coach being mired in controversy.

Though the board had rejected a recommendation in 2009 that he also be terminated as a physical education teacher, Elson was subsequently notified he would not be recommended for renewal as the head girls hockey coach in 2009-10 and replaced by Gerald Bolstad, who has compiled an overall record of 23-25-6 the past two seasons.

The Journal reported in 2009 that the motion to terminate Elson’s contract had related to alleged “self-control issues.”

Elson said he had an altercation with an official while voicing his opinion to defend his team, but he now realizes upon becoming a Minnesota State High School League official last year that officials can’t see all the calls that should be made.

The Bronco boys hockey coaches will be new for 2011-12, but not new to the program. Biondich and Johnson, whom Elson calls “two fantastic assistants,” previously played hockey for the Falls.

All three coaches also have college hockey playing experience. Elson played for Concordia College in Moorhead, where he was the team’s leading scorer and an All-MIAC player in 1987-88. Biondich was a four-year starter for Robert Morris University in Pennsylvania. Johnson played at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Elson said he believes the Falls boys hockey program will have a “very talented group of kids” next season when he will emphasize the importance of team speed and moving the puck on the ice.

He said he hopes the players will share his goal of getting to the Section final and would like to place an eighth state championship banner on the south wall at Bronco Arena.