Northern Michigan hockey names Phil Fox as assistant coach – The Rink Live

MARQUETTE, Mich. — The Northern Michigan hockey team announced Friday that former Wildcat Phil Fox has been named assistant coach, effective with the 2024-25 season.

The 38-year-old Fox, a native of Stillwater, Minnesota, has served as general manager and head coach of the New Mexico Ice Wolves of the NAHL for the past five seasons. Fox was the team’s first-ever coach after the Ice Wolves joined the NAHL as an expansion team in 2019-20.

“We are excited to have Phil, his wife Ricci and two children, Levi and Bode, return to Marquette,” NMU coach Dave Shyiak said in a statement released by the university. “Phil was on the last NMU hockey team to reach the NCAA Tournament, and his passion for the program and community will be valuable to our current players and future recruits.”

“He understands the type of players that fit our program, which is important to achieving the success we all strive for.”

Fox compiled a 137-123-16-12 record during his five seasons with the Ice Wolves. New Mexico claimed three straight 30+ win seasons and made the playoffs in two of those three seasons, while Fox was named the 2021-22 NAHL Coach of the Year after a campaign that saw the Ice Wolves record a franchise-record 38 wins during the regular season.

In 2022, Fox also served as head coach of the South Division team during the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament.

Fox played four years for the Wildcats in college from 2007-11, including a stint as captain in 2011. In total, Fox played in 155 games in his career with NMU, collecting 65 points on 40 goals and 25 assists. Fox helped Northern Michigan to two consecutive third-place finishes in the CCHA Tournament (2008, 2009), as well as an appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2010.

Following his college career, Fox played four years of professional hockey, starting with the Texas Brahmas of the CHL. During his rookie campaign in 2011, Fox scored 43 points (19-24-43) and had a plus-11 on-ice rating in 59 games. He followed that up in 2012 with 34 points (21-13-34) in 44 games, leading the Brahmas to the playoffs, where he scored three goals in nine games.

After spending some time with the Houston Aeros of the AHL, Fox returned to the CHL, appearing in 39 games for the Allen Americans. Fox recorded 24 points on 12 goals and 12 assists that season, as the Americans won the Ray Miron President’s Cup for two consecutive years, marking only the third time in CHL history that a team had won back-to-back league titles.

Fox will coach under Shyiak, who was introduced as NMU’s fourth head coach late last month. Shyiak replaces former Wildcats coach Grant Potulny, who left late in the midseason to pursue an AHL coaching job with the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Trent Singer is a hockey and sports reporter for The ice rink live And Sioux Falls LiveHe focuses his coverage on Augustana men’s hockey, the CCHA and sports in the Sioux Falls area. Singer’s previous stops include Women’s sport onlythe Southeast Missourian and the Kentucky New Era.