Denver rounded out its hockey coaching staff on Tuesday by turning to veteran coach Dallas Ferguson, a man its staff is well familiar with.

Ferguson, who was a teammate of fellow Pioneers assistant Tavis MacMillan for two seasons at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks (1992-94), also served as an assistant on MacMillan’s Nanooks staff from 2004-07. Now they’ll work together under first-year head coach David Carle, who is a native of Anchorage, Alaska.

“Dallas has an immense amount of experience at the Division I and junior level,” Carle said in a school release. “We are very excited to add a person of his character and intelligence to our program. Dallas will connect with our student athletes at a high level as well as support them in becoming great people and hockey players.”

Ferguson resigned as the coach of the Calgary Hitmen of the major junior Western Hockey League one week ago today after leading the team to a 24-37-9-2 record. The Calgary Sun detailed his departure, which was due to family reasons.

Prior to his time in Calgary, Ferguson spent nine seasons as the Nanooks’ coach and four before that as an assistant. He spent the 2002-03 seasons as an assistant for the Fairbanks Ice Dogs after his four-year pro career ended.

Ferguson was a defenseman for the Nanooks, twice topping the 25-point mark during his college career.

Though Ferguson’s role on the staff was not immediately made know, it’s worth noting that Carle ran the Pioneers’ defense under former coach Jim Montgomery, while MacMillan coached the forwards.

©First Line Editorial 2017-18