Shuchuk Hired as Hockey Assistant Coach
HOUGHTON, Mich. – Michigan Tech today announced that Gary Shuchuk (pronounced SHOE-chuk) has been hired as an assistant hockey coach. He will begin his duties immediately.
“I’m extremely excited to announce the addition of Gary to our coaching staff,” said head coach Mel Pearson. “He’s very well-known and respected in the hockey community, and is very accomplished in the sport as both a coach and player. Gary is a passionate teacher of the game and has a proven track record of developing athletes. His vast network of contacts will be a tremendous asset and allow him to help attract high-end student-athletes to Michigan Tech.”
Shuchuk comes to Houghton after a five-year stint (2010-15) as an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin, where he helped guide the Badgers to league playoff titles in 2013 (WCHA) and 2014 (Big Ten) and a pair of NCAA tournament appearances (2013, 2014).
Prior to joining Wisconsin, Shuchuk worked in a variety of coaching roles. He was behind the bench for Team Wisconsin’s U16 squad from 2008-10, leading the team to consecutive USA Hockey Tier I National Championship appearances. Additionally, Shuchuk has served as a coach at USA Hockey’s Select 17 Player Development Camp.
A native of Edmonton, Alberta, Shuchuk was a four-year letter-winner (1986-90) with the Badgers, helping Wisconsin to the 1990 NCAA title while earning First-Team All-America and WCHA Player of the Year honors that winter. He went on to enjoy a 14-year professional career that was highlighted by stops with the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings and Los Angeles Kings. While with the Kings, Shuchuk skated in the 1993 Stanley Cup Final alongside Wayne Gretzky. He also helped the Adirondack Red Wings of the American Hockey League to a Calder Cup championship (1992), earned a DEL title while playing in Germany (2003), and was named team MVP of the AHL’s Springfield Falcons in 2004 while also serving as an assistant coach.
Shuchuk and his wife, Michelle, have three children who all play collegiate hockey – Alex (University of Wisconsin men’s team), Maki (Norwich University women’s team) and Kat (Middlebury College women’s team).
(COURTESY MICHIGAN TECH ATHLETICS)