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THE JOURNAL - AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION BY THE ALASKA MINERS ASSOCIATION
FEBRUARY 2026 | WWW.ALASKAMINERS.ORG
‘Zoom’ Earns Coach of the Year Honors BY DAVE "ZOOM" SZUMIGALA
We have had more than 100 kids in the 6U program for many years, and this year (2025-2026) we have more than 120 kids. I have so much fun teaching little kids how to skate and the basics of hockey. The 6U hockey program is also the development program for many of our youth hockey coaches. While we are coaching the youngest players in our hockey community, we experienced coaches are also teaching the fundamentals of coaching to our rookie coaches. It is satisfying to see coaches that I worked with at this age group con- tinue coaching at most age levels in Fairbanks. I was honored to be the HCF Coach of the Year for the 2019- 2020 season. It’s humbling to be recognized in that manner because there are so many great coaches in Fairbanks. I really believe in teaching every kid at every skill level how to play
I I grew up near Toledo, Ohio. We had a creek through the back- yard, which we dammed in the autumn so that it would flood the yard and freeze to form a rink. There was also a pond across the street at the public park. So, I had plenty of places to skate and play pond hockey, but I never played organized hockey as a kid. The first indoor ice that I ever skated on was at the Patty Ice Arena. I find it ironic that I came to the coldest place that I have ever lived, only to skate indoors. I played several years of intramurals at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and learned a bunch of hockey skills from some of the guys on my Nerland Hall dorm team. Like a lot of youth hockey coaches, I started coaching because my
Most people know me now as the coach for the HCF 6U program. I have been coaching 4-, 5- and 6-year-olds for the past decade, mostly with Mike Steffey as head coach of the program. When Mike left Fairbanks in 2024, I took over that role. Mike Steffey shared his thoughts: “I had the pleasure of coaching with Coach Zoom for 20 years. While developing hockey skills is always at the forefront for Zoom, the thing that I appreciate the most is his desire to help the players grow and develop as people. Dave is always there with a smile to listen and help in any way he can. I am grateful to have coached with Zoom, but even more honored to call him my friend. Congratulations, coach.”
kids wanted to play hockey. After starting as an assistant coach with the Arctic Lions at 8U Minor, my boys and I made the switch to the Fairbanks Amateur Hockey Asso- ciation (FAHA). I was a coach with FAHA until they merged into Hockey Club Fairbanks (HCF). I am still cur- rently coaching with HCF, as well as serving as the HCF vice president, SafeSport coordinator and Disci- plinary Committee chairman. I’ve been coaching young people in hockey and other sports for more than 20 years in Fairbanks. I’ve coached most levels of youth hockey. Coaching at those varied levels and ages allowed me the opportunity to learn from so many great coaches and interact with so many wonderful young people in our community.
hockey. Hockey is a game for life and there are opportunities to play hockey at any age as long as one has the passion to participate.
Dave Szumigala was honored as Coach of the Year in January during the annual ceremony of the Fairbanks Hockey Hall of Fame.
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