Northern Michigan University Assistant Coach Confirms
Northern Michigan University Assistant Coach will lead our Junior A to Pro group in Week 4. A former goalie, Joe looks forward to assisting our goalie staff as well. We are excited to have Coach Shawhan with us this summer.
About Coach Shawhan:
Joe Shawhan enters his sixth season with the Northern Michigan University hockey program in 2013-14. He served as a volunteer assistant coach during the 2008-09 season and was the director of hockey operations during the 2009-10 season.
Shawhan served as an assistant coach at Lake Superior State for three seasons (2005-08). With the Lakers the team earned consecutive home-ice playoff berths and a trip to the CCHA Championships in Detroit for the first time since 1996.
Shawhan spent 10 years (1995-05) as the head coach and general manager of the Soo Indians. During his tenure with the Indians they were one of the most successful junior hockey programs in the country. He went 474-162-43 on the bench, to become the winningest coach in the history of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), which included three league titles and multiple national tournament appearances. Over 100 of his former junior players went on to play collegiate hockey. Former ‘Cats from the Indians have included Ray Kaunisto, Chris Gobert, Juha Allen and Bill Zaniboni.
His most notable former player is current Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller, who was named the MVP of the hockey competition at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. Miller played two seasons for Shawhan prior to attending Michigan State University where he was named the winner of the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in college hockey in 2001.
Shawhan has been an active member of USA Hockey in the roles of educator, evaluator and coach. Shawhan has instructed at coaching symposiums, evaluated and coached at USA Hockey festivals and represented USA Hockey internationally guiding the U.S. National Junior Team twice in competition including a silver medal at the 2004 Viking Cup in Alberta.
Shawhan played his collegiate hockey at Lake Superior State, where he earned four letters, as he recorded 1,130 saves and posted a career goal-against average of 3.83 with the Lakers. For the 1985-86 season he led the CCHA in both GAA and save percentage. Shawhan left the LSSU program tied for first all-time in career GAA.
