Dave Shayak — St. Cloud State University hockey website
MARQUETTE — Well, it didn't take long.
Dave Shayak was introduced to the media and public on Friday morning as the fourth head coach in Northern Michigan University hockey history.
And before the afternoon was over, NMU Sports Information announced that Shiak had named his first assistant coach.
Marquette native and former Wildcats player Andy Comtois will join Northern's staff.
According to NMU SI, the NMU graduate with a degree in finance served the past three seasons as associate head coach for the Youngstown, Ohio, Phantoms of the 16-team United States Hockey League, the highest sanctioned junior league in the country.
Andy Comtois
In his three seasons at Ohio State, Comtois compiled a record of 100 wins, 61 losses, 16 ties and nine draws with Youngstown and played a leading role in leading the Phantoms to the team's first Clark Cup championship in 2022-23.
“Andy is ready for this opportunity.” “He is a Marquette University graduate who has developed into an incredible coach and recruiter. He will be a valuable asset to our program and community in the years to come,” Shayak said in a release from NMU SI.
“We can't wait for Andy and his wife Taylor to return (to the Upper Peninsula) and continue the Wildcat hockey tradition.”
Comtois, 42, is also grateful for the opportunity to play for his hometown team.
“I'd like to thank President (Brock) Tessman, (athletic director) Rick Comrie and coach Dave Shayak for the opportunity to return to Northern.” Comtois said in a release from NMU SI. “The program is in good hands in Coach Chaiack's hands and I couldn't be more excited to join his staff and help develop and build this program into something that Marquette University and the community can be proud of.”
Prior to coming to Youngstown, Comtois spent two seasons with the Indy Fuel of the ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League), a minor league professional hockey team that was a Chicago Blackhawks affiliate that made the playoffs both seasons and led the league in the number of players promoted to the American Hockey League, the top level of the minor league system.
Prior to Indy, Comtois spent two years with the Central Illinois Flying Aces of the USHL. During his time with the Flying Aces, Andy coached seven players who were selected in the NHL Draft and an additional 45 players who went on to play NCAA Division I college hockey.
Prior to becoming a coach, Comtois spent four years as a player with the Wildcats from 2002-06, the first three seasons of which were spent with Chaiak as NMU's associate head coach.
1999 Graduate of Marquette High School
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Dave Shayak — St. Cloud State University hockey website
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Andy Comtois
He played in 119 games with the Marquette Electricians Midget AAA junior hockey team, scoring 60 goals and a total of 135 points, and also played for the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL after high school.
Comtois played professionally for 10 years after leaving Northern, spending parts of four seasons in North America's AHL and ECHL and most of his final seven seasons in Europe.
Information was compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His e-mail address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.
