Calgary Hitmen Release

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – On Tuesday, Alaska Nanooks hockey head coach Dallas Ferguson announced that he will be resigning from the program after serving at the helm for the past nine seasons.  Ferguson's last official day with Alaska will be on August 17.

The Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League (WHL) also announced on Tuesday that Ferguson has accepted the position of head coach for the major junior team, who share ownership with the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League. 

"On behalf of my family and me, we want to thank the University of Alaska Fairbanks for the opportunity they have given us," Ferguson said on Tuesday. "This journey started in 1992 and I feel very fortunate to have been able to play, work and coach with such wonderful people throughout the years. Fairbanks is an amazing community that is made up of some of the most passionate and caring people I have ever surrounded myself with. As we move into the next chapter in our lives, we will always keep Fairbanks close to our hearts."

Ferguson was named the program's eighth head coach on May 15, 2008 following four years of service as an assistant coach for the Nanooks under then-head coaches Tavis MacMillan (2004-07) and Doc Delcastillo (2007-08).

"We're excited for Dallas since this opportunity in Calgary brings him one step closer to coaching in the NHL, a life-long goal of his," Alaska Director of Athletics Dr. Gary Gray said. "However, we are sad to see him leave the Alaska Nanooks, as he has been a fixture in our program for so many years. Certainly, Dallas will be greatly missed."

Gray added, "We plan to name an interim head coach as soon as possible so that the program can continue its positive, sustained growth. We are confident our Alaska Nanooks hockey program will continue to be a major component of the Western Collegiate Hockey League (WCHA), America's premier NCAA Division I hockey conference."

In nine seasons as the Nanooks' head coach, Ferguson oversaw six seasons with winning records and led Alaska to the program's first-ever NCAA Division I Ice Hockey Tournament appearance in the 2009-10 postseason. The Wainwright, Alberta native also led the Nooks to six Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup titles and nine non-conference tournament championships, while also being a part of Alaska squads that have defeated No. 1-ranked teams on five separate occasions.

After his inaugural year as bench boss, Ferguson was named the now-defunct Central Collegiate Hockey Association's (CCHA) Coach of the Year after leading the Nooks to a 17-16-6 record in 2008-09. Ferguson and the Nanooks played host to four CCHA home playoff series before overseeing the program's transition to the WCHA in 2013-14.

Ferguson has coached over 40 Nanooks who have gone on to pursue professional hockey careers, including St. Louis Blues standout Colton Parayko, Buffalo Sabres goaltender Chad Johnson and 2010 Stanley Cup Champion Jordan Hendry.

"One of my joys of coaching is the relationships you develop with the student-athletes. It's been amazing to build these relationships and to see how they grow after their playing days have expired," Ferguson continued. "We have always focused on recruiting great people that will come in, make a difference and embrace Alaska. I'd like to thank all of the student-athletes who have come to play for me and the program. It's a large commitment and I have always been grateful to those who chose UAF to pursue their academic and athletic goals."

"I have so many people to thank but there are two groups of people that really make this program what it is: the Nanook Hockey Alumni and the Face-Off Club," Ferguson said.  "I can't say enough about the positive impact these people make for the program and our student-athletes."

Ferguson's dedication to the Alaska Nanooks began when he donned the Blue and Gold as a defenseman from 1992-96 and served as the team's captain in his senior season.  Ferguson still ranks within the top-25 on Alaska hockey's all-time scoring list.

"When I first started coaching here, I never knew where it would take me," Ferguson concluded. "The last 13 years has truly defined me as a coach, a husband, a father and as a person. I can't begin to describe all of the lessons I have learned about myself and how living in Alaska and coaching at this university has impacted me. I will always be a Nanook and can't wait to see what this group of players will accomplish this season."

For more information on the Alaska Nanooks hockey team, follow @NanooksHockey on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks Hockey team page on Facebook.