A search committee for a new hockey coach has been quickly assembled following the resignation of Coach Tavis MacMillan last week.

The team of six includes three Nanook hockey alumni, the president of the Face-Off Club, a UA program director and a local lawyer who has long been involved in the hockey world.

"I do not know how he can be replaced," said Steve Shuttleworth, a committee member and president of the Face-Off Club. "Tavis wears his heart on his sleeve. He absolutely loves this hockey program and his players."

Along with Shuttleworth, the committee consists of Kirk Patton, Todd Henderson, Ben Roth, Mike Sfraga and Mike MacDonald.

Shuttleworth has been the president of the Face-Off Club, the Nanooks' hockey booster club, for the past four years, and is a self-described lifelong hockey and sports fan. He is the building director for the city of Fairbanks.

Kirk Patton is a Fairbanks native who played defense for the Nanooks from 1991 to 1995. He came back and joined the Nanooks again for three seasons as an assistant coach from 1997-2000. He is now the general manager of the Carlson Center, the Nanooks' home-game rink.

Todd Henderson was a Nanook goaltender from 1989 to 1993. He is now the vice president of corporate controls for Brice Inc., a civil construction and environmental services enterprise.

Ben Roth is also a hometown alumnus. He played defense for the ‘Nooks from 1987 to 1991. He is now a chartered financial consultant for SBS Financial Group.

Mike Sfraga is the director of the UA geography program. He has been on other coach selection committees for UAF in the past. In 1996 he was the chair of the committee that hired Al Sokaitis, the former men's basketball coach.

Mike MacDonald is a Fairbanks attorney who has been involved with hockey for years. He played hockey for Harvard in his college days. Now his son is a local youth player and he recently organized the USA Hockey Level IV Coaching Clinic which will take place in Fairbanks in May.

With so much hockey experience on the committee, and the hockey experience of Athletic Director Forrest Karr, who was a goalie for Notre Dame from 1995 to 1998, there is confidence in their ability to select the right coach for the ‘Nooks.

"Forrest knows the hockey world," said Trevor Hyatt, a sophomore leftwinger. "We're pretty confident that he'll find a good replacement."

When MacMillan resigned, it was made clear that he would be sorely missed by the department and his team.

"We know that you can't replace Tavis MacMillan," Karr said. "He has unbelievable qualities as a person, as a father, as a friend; just someone that knows how to lead and knows how to be led."

The committee shares those sentiments.

"His knowledge of the game combined with his passion for the ‘blue and gold' has been a tremendous factor over the years and will be difficult to replace," said Patton, who has both played and coached with MacMillan.

The committee members are optimistic about the search process as well.

"Everyone involved on the committee is determined to find the best head coach candidate possible for the hockey program," Patton said. "All of us on the committee have pride and passion for our university and hockey program."

"Integrity is the key element," Karr said of what the committee will be looking for in a new coach.

Shuttleworth said that although he couldn't speak for the entire committee, he had a few important characteristics in his mind.

"Passion, energy, vision, synergy, motivation, recruiting skills, game knowledge, experience, communication skills, leadership and an unwavering commitment for excellence," he said.

Patton, in an e-mail, hailed the group's focus.

"We are going to look at the variety of attributes of each candidate to find the candidate that will continue to build on a successful hockey program," he said.