Guy Gadowsky (2014) - Hall of Fame - University of Alaska Fairbanks Athletics

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Guy Gadowsky

Class
Induction

2014
Sport(s)

Men's Ice Hockey

Gadowsky led the Alaska hockey team as its head coach from 1999-2004 and in his time with the Nanooks, he set the tone for the future of the program. After his first two seasons were in rebuilding mode for the team, he put together the third-winningest season in program history in 2001-02 with 22 victories and guided Alaska to its first-ever trip the Central Collegiate Hockey Association quarterfinals at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Mich. His final two years as bench boss saw the Nanooks finish with 15 and 16 wins, respectively, as he rounded out his five-year career with 68 wins, including 50 CCHA triumphs.

Following his stint in Alaska, he has also been head coach at Princeton and became the first coach in the history of the Penn State hockey program. Wins aside, his tenure also saw increased attendance from sub-3,000 to more than 4,000 by his final season. He implemented the Alaska Hockey Extravaganza in 2000, which was a co-ed 3-on-3 tournament for adults and youth while also instituting a community service log for all student-athletes to improve the team's community profile. In 2002, Gadowsky was presented with the Golden Heart Award for Exceptional Community Service and also founded the Guy Gadowsky Hockey Endowment Scholarship.

"Guy worked to establish a strong working relationship between the university and all other local hockey programs, "hockey office manager Shawn Head said in a letter of support for Gadowsky's induction. "He also pursued ideas that would bring the community closer to the hockey program. He began holding press conferences after the games and encouraged fans to attend. Preseason banquets were established so you could get to know the new players as well as returners."

She continued, "When he left the program to pursue his coaching career at Princeton, he left the program in good hands with Tavis MacMillan and a strong set of professional standards he engrained in the support staff."

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