University of Wisconsin-Superior assistant coach Shane Fukushima is joining the Waterloo (Iowa) Black Hawks coaching staff as assistant coach. Fukushima replaces Chris Tok who recently left the United States Hockey League team to take the assistant coaching job at Michigan Tech.
Waterloo head coach and general manager P.K. O'Handley and Fukushima have roots that go very deep in hockey. Fukushima played two seasons on the North Iowa USHL team when O'Handley was the coach there, and his father, Mas Fukushima, coached O'Handley when he played for Superior High School.
"Shane has the talent, the knowledge and the passion to fit into our program and be a huge part of it from day one," O'Handley said.
"He knows the game of hockey and is well connected in the recruiting circles. He is a good teacher and a good leader and I know our players will respond to him right away."
Prior to being an assistant coach at UWS, Fukushima was an assistant coach at Owatonna (Minn.) High School.
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He played his college hockey at UW-River Falls where he was named to the All NCHA First-team and the All WIAC First-team for the 1999-2000 season. The same season he led the NCHA in scoring.
Fukushima is expected to join the team immediately as the Black Hawks prepare to begin practice in mid-September.
The Hawks begin their season on the road in early October and will host the USHL's newest member the Ohio Jr. Bluejackets on Oct. 14 at Young Arena.
