Matt Shasby

Matt Shasby
Hockey player standing on the ice, looking to the right
Shasby in 2009 with the Alaska Aces
Born (1980-07-02) July 2, 1980 (age 44)
Eagle River, Alaska, USA
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position Defenseman
Shoots Left
NHL draft

150th overall, 1999
Montreal Canadiens

Coaching career
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamAlaska Anchorage
ConferenceIndependent
Biographical details
Alma materUniversity of Alaska Anchorage
Playing career
1997–1999Lincoln Stars
1998–1999Des Moines Buccaneers
1999–2003Alaska Anchorage
2003–2004Columbus Cottonmouths
2004–2005Hamilton Bulldogs
2004–2005Long Beach Ice Dogs
2005–2009Alaska Aces
2011–2012Alaska Aces
Position(s)Defenseman
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2021–presentAlaska Anchorage
Head coaching record
Overall23–36–3 (.395)

Matthew Shasby is an American ice hockey coach and former player who is currently in charge of the program at Alaska Anchorage.[1]

Career

An Alaska native, Shasby travelled south to finish out his junior hockey career and played two years in the USHL. He performed well enough to be selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.[2] The following fall he returned to Alaska to play college hockey at Alaska Anchorage. While the Seawolves had a decent season during his freshman year, they finished near the bottom of the WCHA standings in 2001. After a new coach was introduced and Shasby was named an alternate captain, the Seawolves rebounded with a solid season. Shasby was named team captain in his senior season but the team went on to produce a horrible season. Alaska Anchorage won just a single game and finished with the worst record in program history.[3] On top of the on-ice woes, 13 players were suspended for improperly using scholarship money for textbooks.[4] Shasby, along with 10 other players, received 3-game suspensions.

After graduating, Shasby signed a professional contract and joined the Columbus Cottonmouths, the ECHL-affiliate of the Canadiens. He led the team in scoring by a defenseman and helped them finish with a winning record after a difficult start to the season. He was promoted to the AHL for the next year but went scoreless in 11 games with the Hamilton Bulldogs. He rediscovered his scoring touch with in the ECHL and helped the Long Beach Ice Dogs reach the second round of the playoffs.

Shasby left Montreal's system in 2005 and signed on with the Alaska Aces. He arrived just in time to help the Aces win the franchise's first ever championship. He played four years with the team and put up tremendous offensive numbers. Additionally, Shasby served as team captain for the 2008 season. He helped the Aces return to the finals in 2009 but the team fell to the South Carolina Stingrays in seven games. After the postseason, Shasby announced his retirement and began his coaching career.[5] Three years later, he was brought out of retirement for a single game with the Aces and scored a goal in his final professional appearance.

Shasby remained in Alaska and coached several age groups and high school teams over many years. He rose through the ranks and became the vice president of player development for the state of Alaska.[6] When Alaska Anchorage successfully raised enough money to restart their ice hockey program, they turned to Shasby as the team's head coach.[7]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1997–98 Lincoln Stars USHL 48 1 15 16 30 8 0 0 0 2
1997–98 Lincoln Stars USHL 17 1 4 5 10 — — — — —
1997–98 Des Moines Buccaneers USHL 32 3 18 21 24 11 0 1 1 12
1999–00 Alaska Anchorage WCHA 32 1 8 9 36 — — — — —
2000–01 Alaska Anchorage WCHA 35 4 14 18 32 — — — — —
2001–02 Alaska Anchorage WCHA 35 7 20 27 72 — — — — —
2002–03 Alaska Anchorage WCHA 25 0 11 11 18 — — — — —
2003–04 Columbus Cottonmouths ECHL 66 8 20 28 34 — — — — —
2004–05 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 11 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2004–05 Long Beach Ice Dogs ECHL 40 4 18 22 52 4 0 0 0 2
2005–06 Alaska Aces ECHL 67 7 33 40 87 22 4 6 10 8
2006–07 Alaska Aces ECHL 66 10 45 55 109 15 1 6 7 12
2007–08 Alaska Aces ECHL 56 9 31 40 66 8 3 3 6 8
2008–09 Alaska Aces ECHL 68 7 39 46 60 20 2 6 8 22
2011–12 Alaska Aces ECHL 1 1 0 1 0 — — — — —
USHL totals 97 5 37 42 64 19 0 1 1 14
NCAA totals 127 12 53 65 158 — — — — —
ECHL totals 364 46 186 232 408 69 10 22 32 52

College Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Alaska Anchorage Seawolves (NCAA Division I independent) (2022–present)
2022–23 Alaska Anchorage 8–19–1
2023–24 Alaska Anchorage 15–17–2
Alaska Anchorage: 23–36–3
Total: 23–36–3

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Awards and honors

Award Year
Kelly Cup Champion 2005–06
Reebok Hockey Plus Performer Award 2006–07
ECHL All-Star Game 2008–09
All-ECHL Second Team 2008–09 [8]

References

  1. ^ "Matt Shasby". Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  2. ^ "1999 NHL Entry Draft". Hockey DB. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  3. ^ "Alaska Anchorage Hockey Media Guide". Go Seawolves.com. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  4. ^ "This Week in the WCHA: Jan. 9, 2003". USCHO. January 9, 2003. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  5. ^ "Aces' Shasby hangs up his skates". Anchorage Daily News. June 26, 2009. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  6. ^ "Seawolf alum Matt Shasby named UAA hockey head coach". University of Alaska Anchorage. October 21, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  7. ^ "College Hockey Returns to Anchorage; Kraken Get an Assist". si.com. August 31, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  8. ^ "All-ECHL First Team Announced". ECHL. April 2, 2009. Retrieved April 7, 2009. [dead link‍]