Hockey

Lance West to serve as interim hockey coach at UAF

Lance West, a coach with the program for 10 years, was named interim head coach of the University of Alaska Fairbanks hockey team Wednesday.

West, of Penticton, British Columbia, will replace Dallas Ferguson, who resigned last week to take the same post with the Calgary Hitmen of the major-junior Western Hockey League.

West became a UAF assistant coach in 2009-10. He was a volunteer coach and video coordinator for two seasons before then.

[UAF hockey coach Dallas Ferguson resigns for WHL gig in Calgary]

"(I) want to extend a special thank you to Dallas Ferguson for everything he has done for my family and I over the last nine years," West said in a school press release. "… I look forward to trying to challenge myself to exceed expectations and know we have the foundation in place to be successful."

As an assistant coach, West worked with forwards and the penalty kill and was UAF's recruiting coordinator. The Nanooks finished 16th in Division I on the penalty kill last season, at 84.2 percent.

[UAA hockey hopes recruiting class of 12 boosts scoring, depth]

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Prior to joining UAF, West was a four-year letter winner for the University of Alabama-Huntsville from 1991-95, tallying 43-65—108 totals in 106 career games. He served as team captain as a senior.

West continued his hockey career with his alma mater as a volunteer assistant coach (1995-98) and assistant coach (2000-07). The Chargers earned two NCAA Division II National Championships in 1996 and 1998.

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