College Hockey Coach Accused of Slashing Player With Stick

Details are beginning to surface over the coaching job Utica Hockey Coach Gary Heenan is pursuing.  Recently, the college confirmed that the Pioneers coach interviewed for the Alaska-Anchorage job and at this point, there's no word on whether or not Heenan will be offered the position.  Meanwhile, details are surfacing in regards to what led to the job opening at the Division I school in the first place.

According to a report that just surfaced, the former University of Alaska-Anchorage hockey coach, Dave Shyiak, violently struck a player with his stick during a practice in 2011.  Former player, Mickey Spencer claims that he then instructed his players to keep quiet about the incident.  The latest information is detailed in a letter by Spencer to university president Patrick Gamble.

“I’ve seen a coach break a stick over a goalpost or the glass because he’s pissed about something, but I’ve never seen one take out his anger on a player,“ said Spencer.

Shyiak was fired on March 29th after eight losing seasons.

Utica Coach Gary Heenan, who's credited with reviving hockey in Utica, was unavailable for comment.  He reportedly interviewed for the head coaching position in Alaska last month.