Glacier hires Gugin as new assistant coach

The Glacier Nationals of the NA3HL are proud to announce the hiring of Mike Gugin as their new assistant coach for the 2015-16 season. Mike is a native of Wisconsin, but presently lives in Michigan finishing his schooling at Aquinas College. Mike will be graduating this spring with a degree in Business Administration and Sports Management.  

Mike is no stranger to the world of hockey having played AAA in Green Bay then on to juniors with the Elliot Lake Bobcats. He then played NCAA at Northland College and ACHA at Aquinas College where he was the Captain of the team.

“We are very excited to bring a person like Mike into the program. His leadership as a player and experiences as both a coach and manager of teams will be a huge positive on the ice as well as in the front office,” stated GM Butch Kowalka.

Mike is currently coaching at Lowell Caledonia High School in Kentwood, MI while attending school. He has also worked for the Grandville High School program and the Michigan Tech Hockey Development Center. It is that level of diverse experiences that made Mike a perfect selection for the Nationals program.

“To bring someone in who has played at the very levels we are trying to move players into is fantastic. But to also have the management and operational experiences he has is a huge bonus for the program,” declared Kowalka.

Look for Mike to jump right into the fray as the Nationals have been playing very well of late and are finishing the season with a ton of positive momentum into next season.

"I am very excited to be a part of the Glacier Nationals and the opportunity to not only help young players continue to grow and develop, but to be involved in the local community and promote the game," stated coach Gugin.

Look for Mike to hit the recruiting trail right away as the Nationals have already begun the tenders process and are working hard to bring the next young talents into the junior hockey experience of the NA3HL. With an almost 100% placement record of their veteran players this season, the Nationals will continue to work hard with Mikes help to get players moved into the next level.

“Having both played and managed at the college level is a huge asset to our players. Mike has the knowledge of what it takes, what coaches are looking for and how to get the most out of and for our players,” says Kowalka.