Head Coach Dave Shyiak
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The Shyiak-led Seawolves captured the Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup for the third consecutive season in 2008-09, while extending their unbeaten streak against intrastate rival Alaska Fairbanks to 10 games (8-0-2). UAA also enjoyed victories over Connecticut, Maine and Mercyhurst for a 13-1-4 record against non-conference teams in the last three seasons combined.
During the 2008-09 season, Shyiak led the Seawolves to their best season in the WCHA since 2001-02 by posting a 41% winning-percentage - UAA's fifth-best conference winning-percentage ever. The Seawolves were the most improved team in the WCHA last season, increasing their point tally by 11. UAA finished the regular season with conference victories over every WCHA except Wisconsin and Minnesota - including sweeping eventual WCHA Final Five champions Minnesota-Duluth on the road.
Prior to last season, the Seawolves had gotten increasingly stingier defensively during Shyiak's tenure. UAA's shots allowed per game had dropped each season from 38.7 a game in 2004-2005, the season prior to his arrival, to just 25.8 in 2007-08, including 26.2 shots allowed in conference action - setting a school record for conference play. UAA also set a program-record with its eight overall ties in 2007-08.
Shyiak guided the Seawolves to a seven-game improvement in 2006-07 - his second behind the bench at UAA - while overseeing the first winning season on home ice (9-8-1) in five years. UAA also claimed the Nye Frontier Classic title and Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup title in 2006-07, marking the first time the Seawolves have accomplished both in the same season. Shyiak's second season was also highlighted by home sweeps over rival Alaska Fairbanks and league foe North Dakota.
Introduced as the fourth head coach in program history on June 14, 2005, Shyiak earned his first-ever head coaching victory with a 6-3 triumph at home over Rensselaer on Oct. 14, 2005. His first WCHA win also occurred on home ice with a 2-0 blanking of Minnesota Duluth on Nov. 19, 2005.
Under Shyiak's guidance the Seawolves have had 40 student-athletes earn recognition on the WCHA Academic All-Conference Team.
Prior to coming to UAA, Shyiak was an assistant at his alma mater, Northern Michigan University, for 10 seasons, including three as associate head coach.
At NMU, Shyiak helped the Wildcats to seven 20-win seasons, six Central Collegiate Hockey Association tournament berths and one NCAA tournament appearance. NMU was a member of the WCHA during his first three seasons as an assistant.
Shyiak served as the head coach of the North American Select Team in 2000 and 2001, guiding the squad to silver-medal finishes both seasons at the World 'Junior A' Hockey Tournament in Tampere, Finland.
Prior to his stint at his alma mater, Shyiak was general manager and head coach of the Merritt Centennials of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League (1994-95) and head coach of the Kimberley Dynamiters of the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League (1993-94). Shyiak led Kimberley to both the regular season title and the playoff title while also garnering Coach of the Year honors.
He began his coaching career as a student assistant at NMU under Rick Comley in 1992-93, helping guide the Wildcats to a NCAA berth.
A co-captain on NMU's 1991 NCAA Championship team, Shyiak also claimed two WCHA Tournament titles (1989 and 1991) and one WCHA regular-season title (1991) as a player and earned WCHA All-Academic Team accolades. He earned a Bachelors of Science in Physical Education from Northern Michigan in 1993 and a Masters degree in Training and Development in Human Performance from NMU in 2007.
Shyiak and his wife Lucia are the parents of two sons - Kristian and Sheldon - and one daughter - Isabela.
