Great Lakes Wire

Former Northern Michigan University hockey player Dave Shyiak has been named the institution's fourth head hockey coach, as announced by Athletic Director Rick Comley on Wednesday.

"I'm thrilled that Dave Shyiak will be returning to campus to lead our hockey program," Comley said. "Dave was a part of our National Championship team and helped keep our program at an extremely high level as an assistant coach for many years."

A 1991 graduate of Northern Michigan University, Shyiak played four seasons with the Wildcats (1987-91), where he captained the 1991 National Championship team and was a member of both the 1989 and 1991 WCHA Playoff championship teams. He began his coaching career at Northern as an assistant (1995-2002) under Comley before being promoted to associate head coach for three seasons (2002-05).

Shyiak later served as head coach at Alaska Anchorage for eight years, followed by successful stints at Western Michigan and St. Cloud. With over 25 years of collegiate coaching experience, Shyiak has been behind the bench for more than 1,000 NCAA games, including an appearance in the NCAA National Championship game and five NCAA tournament appearances.

Comley added, "Dave is the right person, at the right time, in the right place to lead Northern Michigan back to a national level of success."

"This is an incredible opportunity to return to my home away from home," Shyiak said. "Northern Michigan and Marquette are really special to me and my family. We have remained close to a lot of our friends and fellow alums in the Upper Peninsula. To start as a student-athlete in 1987 and come full circle to lead the hockey program as head coach is something for which I will forever be grateful. I want to thank President Tessman and Rick Comley for believing in me. I feel honored and privileged, and I will do everything I can to make this University and community proud."

Shyiak spent the past four seasons as associate head coach at St. Cloud State, where he contributed to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including an NCAA runner-up finish in 2020-21. Under his guidance, six SCSU defensemen earned All-NCHC honors, with Dylan Anhorn named an AHCA/CCM Hockey Men's Second Team West All-American this past season.

Prior to joining SCSU's staff, Shyiak served as associate head coach at Western Michigan University from 2014-20. During his tenure in Kalamazoo, he helped secure an NCAA Tournament berth in 2017 and home ice advantage in the NCHC playoffs in multiple seasons.

His first collegiate head coaching position was at the University of Alaska Anchorage from 2005-13, where he became the Seawolves' all-time win leader during the WCHA era with 80 wins.

Shyiak also has experience as general manager and head coach for Merritt Centennials of BCJHL (1994-95) and Kimberley Dynamiters of RMJHL (1993-94). He served as player/coach for one season with Murrayfield Racers of Super League-British Ice Hockey (1991-92).

An evaluator for USA Hockey selection camps from 2015 to 2020, Shyiak coached at USA Hockey national selection camp in Buffalo in 2020. He also guest-coached for Washington Capitals Development Camp (2010) and Swedish National U20 Team Camp (2009).

Dave Shyiak is married to Lucia – a former two-time NMU All-American volleyball standout – with whom he has three children: Kristian, Sheldon, and Isabela.

An introductory press conference featuring Dave Shyiak and NMU athletic director Rick Comley will take place at 11 a.m., Friday, June 28th in the Wildcat Room. The public and local media are encouraged to attend. A Zoom option will be available for national media coverage; it will also be live-streamed on NMU Wildcats YouTube page. For more information contact Zach Nicholas (znichola@nmu.edu).

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