Podcast: Every day on the job is a dream for new hockey head coach

Last year, UAA hockey was in a much more precarious place. One of three athletic programs slated for discontinuation due to drastic cuts to the University of Alaska System’s state-funded budget, Seawolf hockey elicited support from Alaska to Washington, meeting its fundraising goal of $3 million to be reinstated in time for the 2022-23 season.

Now back on track, the UAA hockey team has a brand new head coach, one who may be familiar to followers of Anchorage hockey: history alumnus Matt Shasby, who played 127 games as a Seawolf from 1999 to 2003 before playing pro hockey with the Alaska Aces.

Off the ice, Shasby serves as vice president of player development for the State of Alaska and has coached youth hockey at every age for the Anchorage Hockey Association, making the move to coach university student-athletes a natural progression.

In this episode, Matt talks about his trajectory as a player, what he’s learned from his hockey head coach predecessors, and how his experiences as a teacher influences his approach to coaching.

Seawolf Voices is available on Spotify, Audible and YouTube.  

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