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Congratulations to FYHA Coaches of the Year!

By Admin, 03/22/18, 4:30PM CDT

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Girls Program Coach of the Year, Eric Zimmerman, Girls 15U Team Head Coach

Coach Zimmerman lead the team to an overall record of 21-19-4 this past season. Despite the team’s ups and downs, the players always knew Coach Zimmerman and his coaching staff would have their backs and be ready to work with them tirelessly throughout the week to get them prepared for each weekend of games. That hard work throughout the year paid off, as the team went on to win the 19U/NDAHA High School Girls ND State Championship as the #4 seed (league record 10-7-1) knocking out both the #1 and #2 seeds in the tournament. We look forward to hanging a Championship banner in the rink this offseason. Assistant Coaches: Dan Gonshorowski (2017 Girls COY) and Jason Jundt. Famous Quote that encapsulates the season: “It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish that counts” – Zig Ziglar

 

Bantam Program Coach of the Year, Alex Werk, B1 Navy Head Coach

Coach Werk lead the team to an overall record of 21-15 this past season. The season ended with a 4th place finish at the ND State Bantam B1 tournament. Coach Alex put in countless hours of video and practice planning with Justin Kirchhevel and his team throughout the year to make sure the players were getting better each day. His players bought into his coaching philosophy as a group and had a fantastic year playing unselfish team hockey. With Coach Werk’s dedication to coaching, it comes at no surprise that he is receiving the Bantam Coach of the Year award for the 2nd year in a row. Assistant Coach: Brian Hanson. Famous Quote that encapsulates the season: “He who fails to plan is planning to fail” – Winston Churchill

 

Peewee Program Coach of the Year, Jeff Haiskanen, B1 Navy Head Coach

After an 0-5 record to start the season and nearly finishing the first month winless (1-5 record in November), some coaches may look at the situation and think this is going to be a long season. But Coach Haiskanen stayed patient, focused, and trusted in the process. The team went 26-12 in their final 38 games. This effort qualified the team for the Gold Bracket of the ND Peewee B1 State Tournament with a league record of 8-6 (overall record of 26-17).  Despite the impressive record, Coach Haiskanen will tell you it’s not about the wins and losses, it’s about the journey. One highlight of that journey was winning the BWW Woodchipper Peewee B1 Championship in which the team overcame giving up the go-ahead goal with less than 2-minutes left to play in the game and then winning the game in OT. Assistant Coaches: Chris Allmaras, Brian Hanson and Travis Winnegge. Famous Quote that encapsulates the season: “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.” – Jim Valvano

 

Squirt Program Coach of the Year, Keith Hushagen, B Green Head Coach

Coach Hushagen is a student of the game and has an unbelievable passion for coaching youth hockey. He went above and beyond this season always trying to become a better coach for his players. His efforts included shadowing other coaches, attending extra coaching clinics, watching game tape of his team, holding video sessions with his players and conducting off-ice training sessions. The effort put in and knowledge gained will benefit our program in the years to come. Coach Hushagen is good coach but even a better person. There is nothing he wouldn’t do to help out the Freeze organization and its members. Notable accomplishments this season include finishing 3rd at the Monticello Squirt Tournament and making the Diamond Bracket of the Squirt International Tournament. His efforts also resulted in the team lowering their goals against average from 7.35 during the 1st half of the season down to 4.44 in the second half of the season. Assistant Coach: John Langston. Famous Quote that encapsulates the season: “If a man has done his best, what else is there?” George S. Patton