Fairbanks Ice Dogs new coach

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) -The Ice Dogs have finally announced the new head coach and the fifth in franchise history, Ryan Theros.

Coach Theros has worked with the Ice Dogs for the last 10 years as a scout and has always been eyeing up a coach job with the team. The last few years, Theros has coached for a few different teams including the Waterloo Black Hawks in United States Hockey League (USHL), and the Lone Star Brahmas in the National Amateur Hockey League (NAHL), with both teams earning top spots in their divisions with playoff runs that included a high scoring offense and solid defensive system.

Theros gave his thoughts on what to expect from the Ice Dogs moving forward with General Manager Rob Proffitt, wanting the team to have more accountability and physicality moving forward.

“That’s kind of my style as well and I think that’s why it’s a good fit for Prof as well as I talked with a lot of the or all the alumni players over the last couple of days and like you said just setting the tone on what it’s going to be the accountability factors and playing really hard accountable, aggressive hockey,” said Theros.

Another point brought up was the fans and their support for the Fairbanks Junior team and how it’s not lost on Theros from his time with and around the team.

“Yeah, I mean from what I’ve known and what I’ve seen in the past. I truly believe the Ice Dogs have the best fans in all of junior hockey in the entire country and just the passion that they have and the commitment that they have,” concluded Theros.

Copyright 2023 KTVF. All rights reserved.