Dave Shyiak

Western Michigan University

Dave Shyiak was named associate head coach of the Western Michigan hockey team on Sept. 15, 2014.

Shyiak comes to the Broncos most recently from the Toronto Maple Leafs organization where he was an amateur scout. Shyiak spent eight seasons as a head coach at Alaska-Anchorage and prior to that as an assistant and associate head coach at his alma mater, Northern Michigan.

Shyiak, 47, began his playing career with the Wildcats in 1986 and helped them to three 20 win seasons, two NCAA Tournaments and the 1991 National Championship.

The Brandon, Manitoba native left UAA with 80 career wins with a best of 16 during the 2010-11, one of the best seasons in program history that saw the Seawolves sweep Minnesota to advance to the WCHA Final Five.

During his time as an assistant and associate head coach with Northern Michigan the Wildcats averaged 19 wins a season and twice made the NCAA Tournament. Through his time at both NMU and UAA he helped recruit and develop 17 NHL draft picks and five NHLers including current pros Mike Santorelli and Jat Beagle. HE also helped produce six All-CCHA selections, three CCHA All-Rookie selections, three All-Americans and one Hobey Baker candidate.

He also spent a season as the head coach and general manager of the Kimberly Dynamiters (1993-94) of the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League and a season as the head coach and general manager of the Merritt Centennials of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League (1994-95). Shyiak also served as the head coach of the North American Select team in 2000 and 2001, leading the teams to silver-medal finishes at both years at the World ‘Junior A’ Hockey Tournament in Tampere, Finland.

Shyiak and his wife Lucia are the parents of two sons (Kristian and Sheldon) and a daughter (Isabela).