FAIRBANKS – On Tuesday Alaska hockey head coach Dallas Ferguson announced the hiring of Erik Largen to the position of Assistant Coach. Largen, a former Nanooks goaltender, will return to his hometown of Fairbanks to replace Corbin Schmidt on the Alaska hockey coaching staff.
"I am beyond thrilled to be a part of the Fairbanks community and the Nanook hockey family once again," Largen said on Tuesday. "I would like to thank Coach Ferguson and the Alaska Nanooks Department of Athletics for providing me this once in a lifetime opportunity."
Largen joins Ferguson, fellow assistant coach Lance West and volunteer coach Ryan Reinheller after spending the 2015-16 season as head coach for the Marian University hockey team, an NCAA Division III program located in Fond du lac, Wisconsin. In his inaugural season as bench boss, Largen led the Sabres to an 18-7-3 season overall and 15-4-1 in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) play.
"We are very excited that Erik has made the decision to join our coaching staff, I'm looking forward to working alongside him and learning from him," Ferguson said of his newly appointed assistant coach. "He is a very passionate coach who has a tremendous attitude towards teaching players and continuously learning more about the game."
Largen brings a variety of coaching experience to the Nanooks, with stints in the United State Hockey League (USHL), the North American Hockey League (NAHL) and the Minnesota Junior Hockey League (MJHL). Most notably, Largen served as assistant coach for the Fairbanks Ice Dogs from 2009-2011, as the team was the Robertson Cup runners-up in 2010 before claiming the championship title in 2011. Additionally, Largen coached current Nanooks Nick Hinz and Tayler Munson on the 2011 Robertson Cup Championship team.
"Erik brings a unique coaching resume with him," Ferguson explained. "He has worked in the NAHL, the USHL and most recently the NCAA. Through all of his experiences, Erik has built up a great reputation amongst his peers."
A hometown product of Fairbanks, Largen was a Nanook goaltender from 2006-08, playing under Tavis MacMillan his rookie season before Doc DelCastillo took the reins in 2007-08. Largen is also featured on the College Hockey Honor Roll in the Fairbanks Hockey Hall of Fame.
Largen's main focus will be working with all four of Alaska's goaltenders this season, as well as recruiting potential student-athletes to the Nanooks hockey program.
Ferguson concluded, "Erik has proven to be a tireless recruiter that has a great eye for talent. His experience as a former Nanook, and also as a native of Fairbanks, has given him a great perspective of the type of players who we can expect to excel in the Alaska hockey program."
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks hockey team, follow @NanooksHockey on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks hockey team page on Facebook.
