Louis Mass grew up on UAA hockey. Watching the Seawolves play back in the day at the UAA Sports Center spurred him to play the sport. And several Seawolves, the players he idolized, were among his youth coaches in Anchorage.
Now, after a college and professional hockey playing career and a long, fruitful stretch as the Alaska Aces' assistant coach, Mass is joining the program that sparked his love of the game.
UAA on Tuesday morning announced Mass is the new assistant coach on Seawolves coach Matt Thomas' staff. The move comes after eight seasons as a coach with the Aces.
Mass, 38, won an ECHL Kelly Cup with the Aces as a player (2006) and twice as an assistant coach helped guide the Aces to Kelly Cups (2011, 2014).
A former Bowling Green University and Aces defenseman who will oversee the Seawolves defense, Mass said he's ready to transition from pro pucks to college.
"Honestly, the real thing about it was the opportunity to step into a new challenge,'' Mass said. "I really liked working for the Aces, and especially working for (current head coach Rob Murray).
"It's been nothing but a positive experience, but for me, I need a mountain to climb. Do you climb the same hill, or find another hill?''
Mass' move to UAA from the Aces came one day after broadcaster Kurt Haider, who called UAA games for 19 seasons, began his job as broadcaster and media relations director for the Aces. When Haider arrived at Thomas' office recently to give the UAA coach a heads-up he was switching gigs, Mass was there waiting to interview with Thomas.
Mass owns an Anchorage training facility -- Elite Sports Performance -- where a slew of players, including several NHLers and other pros, work out. He has also coached youth hockey teams.
Thomas said Mass' coaching abilities, particularly with defensemen and on the penalty-killing front, and his deep roots in Anchorage made him a strong fit for UAA.
"I was looking to avoid turnover, looking for someone into a longer haul than someone just looking to come up for a year or two,'' Thomas said. "I wanted stability. I wanted someone who could sell Anchorage and Alaska because they believe in it.
"For me, it was a no-brainer.''
Mass replaces T.J. Jindra, who this spring left the program to pursue other opportunities. Mass joins a staff that includes Thomas, assistant coach Josh Ciocco, who Thomas said first floated the idea of contacting Mass; Steve Thompson, the goaltending and strength and conditioning coach; and volunteer coach Barrett Heisten, the former NHL and Aces winger who with Mass won a Kelly Cup in 2006.
Mass with the Aces connected with several accomplished coaches, including Murray, the former NHL center. Mass played under Davis Payne, a former NHL winger and current Los Angeles Kings assistant coach, and coached with Keith McCambridge, former NHL defenseman Brent Thompson and Murray. McCambridge is head coach of the American Hockey League's St. John's IceCats and Thompson is head coach of the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
"Right there, he's got four guys who are all a phone call away, who are all big-time in the coaching profession, '' Thomas said. "This guy's got a good network.''
Aces managing member Terry Parks said the club is seeking a replacement for Mass and, ideally, is looking for a veteran skater who can serve as a player-assistant coach.
Thomas said Mass will be responsible for UAA's defensemen and penalty-killing unit. Mass, a former penalty-killing blueliner, shouldered significant responsibilities for that unit with the Aces, who nearly every season are among the ECHL's elite penalty-killing units.
Mass coached against Thomas when Thomas was bench boss of the rival Stockton Thunder in the ECHL and played against Thomas when Thomas was head coach of the ECHL's Fresno Falcons.
"I respected how his teams played,'' Mass said. "His teams always played so hard and I was like, 'Whatever this guy is doing, I respect that.' ''
Thomas said Mass' long experience coaching at Sullivan Arena, where the Olympic-sized ice is larger than a standard NHL rink, is a boon. The Aces entered last season with the ECHL's all-time highest winning percentage on home ice.
Mass said joining UAA is special because of the Seawolves' impact on his life.
"It's not my alma mater and I didn't play here, but I do feel a connection to the program,'' Mass said. "The reason I put on skates and started playing hockey was watching the Seawolves at the old Sports Center.
"To come full circle is a cool thing. The 10-year-old Louis Mass would have been jacked to see me as part of this.''
Reach Doyle Woody at dwoody@alaskadispatch.com, check out his blog at adn.com/hockey-blog and follow him on Twitter at @JaromirBlagr