FORT FRANCES, Ont. – The Fort Frances Lakers are looking for a new coach once again.
Dave Allison, the former Ottawa Senators coach who took the reins of the Superior International Junior Hockey League team prior to the 2021-22 season, is moving on, having accepted a deal to take over coaching duties with the North American Hockey League’s Fairbanks Ice Dogs.
Former Ice Dogs coach Trevor Stewart resigned to pursue an NCAA Division 1 coaching opportunity.
“Making a coaching change mid-season is not ideal by any means, but the stars aligned to have Coach Allison come out of retirement to lead our team,” Fairbanks general manager Rob Proffitt said in a release.
“His resume speaks for itself, but his knowledge of the game and ability to connect with players set him apart from other candidates.”
Allison was a long-time minor pro in his playing days, earning a three-game stint with the Montreal Canadiens in 1983-84.
He went 2-22-1 behind the bench with Ottawa in 1995-96, before being fired. He won a championship coaching the Borderland Thunder of the SIJHL in 2002-03 and spent parts of seven seasons as a head coach in the American Hockey League, among other minor-league stints. Before joining the Lakers this past fall, he spent four seasons as the coach of the USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers.
“It is with excitement and gratitude that I join the Fairbanks Ice Dogs organization,” Allison said. “Trevor and the staff have created a high standard that will continue with the quality, ability and character of the players we have in our locker room.”
