https://www.fairbanksicedogs.com
LOCATION
139 32nd Avenue
(just off South Cushman behind Enterprise Rental)
(907) 452-1643 Fax
SEPTEMBER – MARCH OFFICE HOURS
Monday – Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
(4:00 pm on game nights)
APRIL – AUGUST OFFICE HOURS
Monday – Thursday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
907.452.2111
GET IN TOUCH
info@fairbanksicedogs.com
(907) 452-2111
COACHING STAFF
HEAD COACH – RYAN THEROS
ryan@fairbanksicedogs.com
(218) 390-1621
Ryan Theros joined the Ice as head coach in April of 2023.
Prior to the Ice Dogs, Theros led the Yellowstone Quake of the NA3HL, where he was named interim head coach and general manager in November of 2022. Theros served as head coach and GM for the Quake from 2015-2018, guiding the team to a 129-23-5 record in three seasons.
Theros served as an assistant coach for the Waterloo Blackhawks of the USHL from 2018-2019, and as an associate head coach of the Lone Star Brahmas of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) from 2019-2020.
A native of Two Harbors, Minnesota, Theros served as the director of on-ice operations and a hockey performance instructor for the Velocity Hockey Center in Eden Prairie beginning in 2010. He transitioned to seasonal work at the performance center in 2015 when he accepted the head coaching job with the Quake. Theros is a big believer in developing the player mentally and physically, not only on the ice as a hockey player in individual skills and team concepts, but also as a person.
ASSISTANT COACH – DAKOTA BELL
dakota@fairbanksicedogs.com
(419) 308-9122
Dakota Bell joined the Ice Dogs as an assistant coach in July 2022.
He most recently spent two seasons as a graduate assistant coach for New England College. Prior to his time there, Bell was a volunteer assistant coach for the Bowling Green Falcons. Bell was the Head Coach of the Sylvania Northstars U15 AAA from 2018-2020. Bell also worked as either the head or assistant coach of the Bowling Green Ice Cats (USA Hockey Tier 1 AAA, USA Hockey Tier 2 AA) from 2013-2018.
Bell earned an MBA in Strategic Leadership from New England College in 2022 and a Bachelor of Science in Education From Bowling Green University in 2019.
FRONT OFFICE STAFF
GENERAL MANAGER – ROB PROFFITT
Rob Proffitt, or Prof as he is known in the hockey circles, was born and raised in Sault Ste Marie, MI. He began playing hockey as a young boy and excelled from the beginning. Fate intervened at age 14 when he sustained a serious injury.
“I broke my neck while swimming. I didn’t play hockey again for four years,” Proffitt said. “I began working as a ref, and that experience helped me learn the game better. Looking back on it, I developed a good part of my coaching philosophy while working as a teenage ref.”
After high school, Proffitt tried a couple years of college.
“I was not focused on my classes,” Proffitt said. “I got passing grades, but let’s just say that they weren’t up to parents’ standards.”
Proffitt came to Fairbanks in 1991 to try out for the Gold Kings. It would be his first taste of full-contact hockey in six years. He was a “high energy” player who frequently irritated opponents. He began coaching youth hockey almost as soon as he arrived in the Interior.
“That first year, I was an assistant to Roger McKinnon with a Bantam team. I also coached Lathrop High School for two years,” Proffitt recalls.
In 1997, a new “Junior” team was created. This is the squad we know as the Ice Dogs. Proffitt has been the heart and soul of this program since its inception. He served as both Head Coach and General Manager from day one, until stepping aside as coach at the start of the 2008 season.
That change did not mean the end of Proffitt’s coaching career. Far from it. He has coached the Arctic Lions competition team for several years.
“Rob brings a unique set of skills to the Fairbanks hockey community,” said Ben Roth, a local youth hockey coach. “Day after day, he comes prepared to give his all. Rob’s coaching and practices provide his athletes the opportunity to learn skills, team play and the confidence to perform at a higher level. In addition, he teaches valuable life lessons including discipline, work ethic, and respect. It’s been a great learning experience for the players, for Rob and for me. I hope he continues to influence the hockey culture in Fairbanks for years to come.”
Proffitt has also coached the Arctic Lions Midget team, which is considered one of the best Midget programs in the United States.
“I’m passionate and competitive about hockey,” Proffitt said. “It’s no secret that my emotions have gotten me in trouble a few times, but I also feel that they are my greatest strength. Once I learned to harness those emotions, I’ve continued to grow as a coach. I’ve been lucky to attend many high-level coaching clinics, surrounded by the top coaches in the country. I’ve taken bits and pieces of coaching strategy from every one of them, whether they were in the NHL or with a Pee Wee team. I love to go to the rink every day and share my passion with the players. Hopefully, they’ll take that passion for hockey into other aspects of their life.”
Many coaches expect players to succeed in the classroom. Prof demands it. He also requires a certain level of behavior when his teams are in public. He prepares them to succeed not only at their current level, but also several years into the futre. There isn’t anyone in Fairbanks who does as much for the sport of hockey as Rob Proffitt.
To contact Rob, please email him at coachproffitt@fairbanksicedogs.com
OFFICE MANAGER AND GAME DAY OPERATIONS
WENDY PLAVAN
contact her at wendy@fairbanksicedogs.com.
