Phelps new Adrian ACHA bench boss

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Adrian College has announced the hiring of Dan Phelps as the new ACHA men's hockey head coach. Phelps replaces Mike Buchan who led the team to a 17-21 record in ACHA Division I in the team's inaugural season.

"Dan Phelps brings a wealth of hockey experience and knowledge to Adrian College," commented athletic director Mike Duffy. "He has worked in the state of Michigan and has established many contacts throughout his career. Our administration feels that he will lead our program into the upper echelon of ACHA Division I programs. Our main goal is to someday hoist a championship trophy and we feel Dan has all the tools to make that happen."

Phelps has been involved heavily in the development of numerous youth hockey players in the state of Michigan. He most recently served as assistant coach and program administrator for the Victory Honda Midget Major team and was also head coach and general manager for the Michigan Ice Dogs Junior A squad since 2006. He handled every aspect of the Ice Dogs including financial matters, recruitment and player development. Through his time and effort, he helped send five players onto college hockey programs including four players to the NCAA Division III level.

Phelps' longest tenured position came at Novi High School as the head coach from 1998-2006. He helped establish the first ice hockey program in school history and advanced it to one of the top five high school hockey programs in the state of Michigan. His teams were conference champions from 2000-2002 and won five regional championships (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2006). Novi advanced to the state semifinals in 2001 and 2003.

Phelps has an extensive background in scouting and recruiting which will be used daily at the collegiate level. He served as a Michigan Area Scout for USHL Central Scouting during 2005-2006. He was head coach and general manager for CSHL - Toronto Prospects Selects Showcase from 2006-2008. He has also served as a Great Lakes Scout for the Sarnia Blast Junior B of the Western Ontario Hockey League and a regional scout for the Dubuque Thunderbirds of the MJHL Junior B League.

Phelps played collegiate ice hockey for one season at Division III Wisconsin-Stevens Point and concluded his career at Eastern Michigan University as a member of their ACHA club. He was named team captain all three years and team MVP twice. In addition, he was named First Team All-Defense three times and led the team in scoring during one season. Prior to college, he played for the Sarnia Ranson Bees and Chatham Maroons of the WOHL and the Detroit Falcons of the North American Hockey League.

Phelps graduated from EMU in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree in communications and a minor emphasis in public law and government. He also earned his secondary education certification from Madonna University in 2005.