Chris Kamal watches an Alaska-Anchoarage hockey game from the Seawolves' bench. (Photo courtesy NMU)

MARQUETTE — One of the stars of a college hockey program that Northern Michigan University Dave Shyiak formerly coached at will be joining the Wildcats on their coaching staff.

Shyiak announced the hiring of Chris Kamal as an assistant coach on Wednesday after Kamal had been on the Alaska-Anchorage coaching staff since 2023.

Kamal was also the four-year starting goaltender for the Seawolves from 2010-14, the first three seasons coinciding with years that Shyiak was at Anchorage.

A national champion as a player at NMU in 1991, Shyiak coached at UA-Anchorage from 2005-13 and still ranks as its all-time wins leader during the WCHA era.

Kamal appeared in 71 games and finished with a 3.03 goals-against average and an .888 saves percentage in his four seasons with the Seawolves.

His name appears multiple times in the UAA record book, including having three shutouts in a season, one less than the program record. He also ranks fourth in two other categories, career goals-against average and season goals-against.

“Accepting this role with Northern Michigan University is truly an honor,” Kamal said in an NMU Sports Information news release announcing his hiring. “It is a privilege to join a program with such a strong hockey tradition, and I am excited to work alongside the dedicated staff to continue striving for excellence in Wildcat hockey.”

Before his most recent stint with the Seawolves, Kamal, 37, was an assistant at Anchorage from 2016-18, and just before that, was the UAA director of hockey operations and strength and conditioning coach in the 2015-16 season.

“We are excited to welcome Chris to the Wildcat family,” Shyiak said in the NMU SI release. “Chris has established an outstanding reputation throughout college hockey with his proven track record in goalie development and international recruiting.

“We are confident he will have an immediate impact on our student-athletes and play a key role in the continued growth and success of our program.”

Kamal earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from UAA in 2014 and has worked with the Anchorage Wolverines of the North American Hockey League and also with the Atlanta Fire Hockey Club.

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release reviewing the news. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.