He has a lengthy association with Division 1, National Collegiate Athletic Association hockey, one which will continue for a while yet.
Sault Ste. Marie native Joe Shawhan has signed a three-year extension to carry on as head coach of the Michigan Tech Huskies of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
The 58-year-old Shawhan took over as bench boss at Michigan Tech in 2017 and led the Huskies to the WCHA championship in his first season as head coach after having been an assistant coach with the program for three years.
Shawhan has a four-year record of 74-64-13 as head coach at Michigan Tech during which time the Huskies have had three winning seasons.
Michigan Tech athletics director Suzanne Sanregret lauded Shawhan’s passion and commitment to the school’s hockey program.
“Joe understands and is passionate about our hockey tradition, cares deeply about our student-athletes and their success on and off the ice, and is committed to excellence in all areas of the program. I look forward to continuing to support him and his vision for Huskies hockey,” relayed Sanregret.
Shawhan said he and his wife, Laura, are thrilled to be staying on at Michigan Tech, which is based in the small Upper Peninsula town of Houghton.
“I want to thank Suzanne for her support,” Shawhan said. “Laura and I love this community and the people. It is home for us. With regards to hockey, what is most important to me is to be part of something special. Michigan Tech hockey is supported in the Copper Country with passion and enthusiastic expectations to be among the best in the nation.”
Prior to his arrival at Michigan Tech in 2014, Shawhan was an assistant coach of many years for both the Northern Michigan Wildcats and Lake Superior State Lakers.
Shawhan played his collegiate hockey at Lake State as a goalie. Prior to that, he tended twine for the Soo Indians of the old International Jr. B Hockey League.
A career coach, Shawhan has the best numbers of any bench boss in the history of the junior level North American Hockey League. While coaching the erstwhile Soo Indians of the NAHL from 1995 to 2005, Shawhan posted an amazing record of 474-162-43.
Randy Russon’s media career began in October, 1975 at CKCY Radio in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. He joined Sault This Week in February, 1982 and has been its primary sportswriter ever since. Besides writing for Sault This Week and Hockey News North, Russon hosts the weekly Hockey North Show on ESPN 1400 Radio.
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