By Mason Lyttle
JANESVILLE, WI — Gary Shuchuk has been named head coach of the Janesville Jets, as announced today by team President Bill McCoshen.
Shuchuk replaces Joe Dibble, who stepped down earlier this month to spend more time with his family.
Shuchuk, 50, comes to the Jets from two years as an assistant coach at Michigan Tech, where he helped the Huskies win the 2016 McNaughton Cup as Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) regular season champions, and a 2017 Broadmoor Cup as WCHA playoff champions.
The Edmonton, Alberta, native served five seasons as assistant coach for his alma mater Wisconsin prior to joining the Huskies. With the Badgers, Shuchuk won the 2013 Broadmoor Cup and the 2014 Big Ten playoffs.
“Joe Dibble left some very big shoes to fill in Janesville,” said McCoshen. “But we are very excited to get someone of Gary’s caliber as our new head coach. We believe Gary can build on the success we have had in recent years. The Jets’ priority will continue to be on player development and advancement. Gary was a tremendous D-1 player and played many years of pro hockey before coaching at the D-1 level. He knows firsthand what it takes to get to the next level and that knowledge will be critical to our players’ development.”
Shuchuk played 142 NHL games and recorded 39 points between the Detroit Red Wings and the Los Angeles Kings, coming to within three wins of a Stanley Cup in 1993 alongside Wayne Gretzky. He also played more than 420 games and tallied 367 points in the AHL and IHL, winning a Calder Cup with the Adirondack Red Wings in 1992. He co-captained Adirondack, the Houston Aeros, and Orlando Solar Bears before finishing his professional career in Europe, winning a 2003 DEL (Germany) championship.
As a Badger, Shuchuk co-captained the 1990 National Champion team, garnering first team All-American status along the way to WCHA Most Valuable Player and University of Wisconsin Male Athlete of the Year titles. Shuchuk is tied for 12th on the Badgers’ all-time scoring list (176 points) and stands seventh in goals (85). His 80 points in 1990 are the second-most in a single season by a Badger.
“I’m extremely excited about the opportunity to coach the Jets,” Shuchuk said. “I can’t wait to get the players here in training camp next weekend. I want to thank Joe Dibble for his hard work and dedication to making the Janesville Jets one of the top programs in the NAHL. I know the Jets have great community and fan support and I’m looking forward to bringing a Robertson Cup championship to the city of Janesville.”
Contact the Janesville Jets’ front office at (608) 752-JETS, or go to www.janesvillejets.com for news about the Jets’ upcoming ninth season, including the 2017-18 schedule, promotional calendar, community outreach, season ticket information, and sponsorship opportunities. Stay connected to the Jets through Facebook (/janesvillehockey) and Twitter (@JanesvilleJets1).