ANCHORAGE (April 12) - University of Alaska Anchorage athletic director Dr. Steve Cobb, chair of the search committee for the head hockey coach, today announced two finalists for the position. John Hill and Dave Shyiak, both assistant coaches at Division I programs, will visit campus next week for interviews.

John Hill, a former Seawolf team captain and assistant coach (1991-95), is currently an assistant coach at the University of Minnesota. In his second season with the Gophers, he helped them to the 2001 NCAA tournament. Hill served as an assistant at Colorado College from 1995-99, assisting the Tigers to the national tournament each of his four seasons. Hill was the head coach for Dubuque of the U.S. Junior A Hockey League for two seasons, 1989-91.

Dave Shyiak has served as an assistant coach at Northern Michigan for seven seasons. He has head coaching experience in the British Columbia Junior A Hockey League and the Rocky Mountain Junior A Hockey League. As a student-athlete at Northern Michigan, Shyiak was co-captain of the 1991 national champions and helped the Wildcats to a WCHA Playoff Championship and a berth in the national tournament in 1989. En route to the national title in '91, the Wildcats faced the Seawolves in the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament.

Hill is scheduled to interview in Anchorage on Monday and Tuesday, April 16-17. A reception for Hill will be held on Monday evening and will be open to the public. Shyiak will be on campus Wednesday and Thursday, April 18-19. The public is invited to meet Shyiak at a reception on Thursday evening.