KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Western Michigan hockey program and head coach Andy Murray have announced the hiring of Dave Shyiak to the position of associate head coach on Friday.

Shyiak comes to the Broncos most recently from the Toronto Maple Leafs organization where he was an amateur scout. Shyiak spent eight seasons as a head coach at Alaska-Anchorage and prior to that as an assistant and associate head coach at his alma mater, Northern Michigan.

“We are excited to have Dave Shyiak join our coaching staff,” said Murray. “As with Ben Barr, I have had a long relationship with Dave. He is a quality person that brings a competitive, pit bull mentality. His coaching experience in college hockey and his NHL scouting experience with the Toronto Maple Leafs will only enhance our ability to recruit and develop players for pro hockey. He has an expertise in the defensive side of the game that will complement Ben's offensive emphasis.”

Shyiak, 47, began his playing career with the Wildcats in 1986 and helped them to three 20 win seasons, two NCAA Tournaments and the 1991 National Championship.

“This was too good of an opportunity to turn down,” said Shyiak. “The opportunity to work with Coach Murray and his staff and the chance to grow as a coach with a program that has continued to improve on the ice and in the classroom. This staff and the administration has really elevated the program and it is exciting to help continue that work.”

The Brandon, Manitoba native left UAA with 80 career wins with a best of 16 during the 2010-11 season in which the Seawolves made it to the quarterfinals of the WCHA Tournament. He also spent a season as the head coach and general manager of the Kimberly Dynamiters (1993-94) of the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League and a season as the head coach and general manager of the Merritt Centennials of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League (1994-95). Shyiak also served as the head coach of the North American Select team in 2000 and 2001, leading the teams to silver-medal finishes at both years at the World 'Junior A' Hockey Tournament in Tampere, Finland.

Shyiak and his wife Lucia are the parents of two sons (Kristian and Sheldon) and a daughter (Isabela).