Minot State men’s hockey coach Wyatt Waselenchuk directs his team during a practice at Maysa leading into its season opener at Jamestown on Friday, Oct. 10. Mike Kraft/MDN

The American Collegiate Hockey Association announced today that Minot State University Head Coach Wyatt Waselenchuk has been named the 2026 Men’s Division I Coach of the Year, as selected by ACHA Men’s Division I head coaches. With his second Men’s Division I Coach of the Year award, Wyatt joins an elite group of multiple award winners: Joe Battista, Joe Augustine, Chad Cassel, Craig McAlister, Wade Regier, and Rick Zombo, the only three-time winner of the award. Waselenchuk is the second Minot State University coach to win the award along with Wade Regier, who was named ACHA Men’s Division I Coach of the Year in both 2013 and 2017. Wyatt is the 10th former ACHA player to win the award, a list which includes Chad Cassel, Dan Morris, Jeremy Goltz, Dan Phelps, Wade Regier, Greg Powers, Gary Astalos, Kirk Handy, and Anthony Vignieri-Greener. Wyatt has been a finalist during each of his five seasons as head coach.

Waselenchuk was chosen from a group of finalists that included Tom Mooradian of Niagara University, Barry Schutte of Ohio University, and Gary Astalos of Adrian College.

“I am incredibly humbled to once again receive this honor, as voted upon by my peers. The growth of the ACHA, and the elevated level of play year after year, is a testament to so many tremendous coaches that could be receiving this award,” said Waselenchuk.

“Furthermore, I would like to thank my staff, Tyler Grimshaw, Brian Bauman and Jake Anthony, for the tireless effort that they put in all season. This is truly an award that is not based upon an individual, but the support that one has. I would also like to thank our administrative staff here at Minot State, especially President Dr. Steven Shirley and Athletic Director Kevin Harmon, for their incredible support and faith that they have put in me to lead this program.

“To my team, I cannot thank the 25 young men enough for the effort, drive, and professionalism that they shared day in and day out. Although we came up short of our overall goal, we can reflect on a truly special year that will help push us soon to grow as a program and strive to keep getting stronger year after year.

“Last, and certainly not least, I cannot thank my family enough for all their support!”

The Beavers finished the 2025-2026 season with a 31-2-2 overall record, were regular season and playoff champions of Midwest College Hockey (MCH), and qualified for the ACHA Men’s Division I National Championships for the 17th consecutive season and 22nd overall. As well, Minot State played and defeated Canadian schools University of Regina (5-1) and Briercrest College (6-5, 3-2). The Beavers held the No. 1 position for 7 of the 17 rankings and have held the top spot for 37 of the last 60 rankings, dating back to November 16, 2022. At the recently concluded 2026 ACHA Men’s Division I National Championships, the top seeded Beavers fell in the quarterfinals to No. 9 Adrian College 4-1.

Coach Waselenchuk was introduced as the head men’s hockey coach in the spring of 2021 and just finished his fifth year as the Beavers head coach in 2025-26.

In his second season as the head coach for Minot State, he led the program to its third ACHA Men’s Division I National Championship and a 36-3-1 overall record. Team captain Davis Sheldon was named Tournament Most Valuable Player after Minot State’s 1-0 win over No. 3 Adrian College in the title game. Minot State also beat No. 17 University of Michigan-Dearborn 8-0, then twice advanced in overtime with a 4-3 win over No. 8 Indiana Tech in the quarterfinals, and a 3-2 victory over No. 5 Liberty University in the semifinals.

Waselenchuk has been part of all three of the team’s ACHA National Championships: as goalie for the 2012-2013 National Championship team, as assistant coach for the 2018-2019 National Championship team, and as head coach for the 2022-2023 National Championship team.

During the 2024-25 season, Coach Waselenchuk earned his 100th career win, a 4-2 victory over No. 4 Ohio at the Maysa Arena on October 19, and led the Beavers to the semifinals before falling to national runners-up Adrian College 4-0. Minot State’s Logan Rands, Joey Moffatt, Jake Anthony, and Christian Kadolph each were named Men’s Division I All-Athletic while Brayden Pawluk and Jay Buchholz were named to the Men’s Division I All-Tournament Team. The Beavers claimed their first Midwest College Hockey (MCH) playoff title, beating rival University of Jamestown 2-1 in overtime in the championship game in the Beavers inaugural season as an MCH member. Joey Moffatt, Logan Rands, Jay Buchholz, Christian Kadolph, and Jake Anthony earned All-MCH honors, Will Dyke was named MCH Rookie of the Year, Moffatt was named MCH Most Valuable Player, Waselenchuk was named MCH Coach of the Year, and Moffatt was named MCH Tournament Most Valuable Player.

Also, during the 2024-25 season, Coach Waselenchuk was selected as an assistant coach for Team United States at the 2025 Winter World University Games in Torino, Italy from January 13-23. Forward Jay Buchholz and defenseman Christian Kadolph were also named to the team.

During the 2023-24 season, the Beavers advanced to the ACHA quarterfinals before falling 2-1 in overtime to Ohio, and Coach Waselenchuk was named the 2023-24 ACHA Coach of the Year.

In his first year as the Beavers head coach in 2021-22, he led the team to a 31-3-0 record, a No. 1 ACHA Men’s Division I national ranking during the season, and another appearance in the ACHA Men’s Division National Tournament.

A former Minot State assistant coach and player, Wyatt Waselenchuk took over a Beaver men’s hockey program that has been one of the most prolific ACHA Division I teams in the country over the last eleven years – including winning three national championships, nine straight quarterfinal appearances, and 5 final fours prior to Waselenchuk being named head coach.

Previously, Waselenchuk served as an assistant coach for five seasons. He is a native of Port Moody, British Columbia, and grew up playing his minor hockey in the Greater Vancouver area before moving on to play in the BCHL with the Langley Chiefs and the SJHL with the Nipawin Hawks.

Coach Waselenchuk played for the Beavers from 2010-2014, which included being a part of the 2013 Men’s Division I National Championship team. He became the first and only player in the team’s history to be named ACHA Men’s Division I Player of the Year following the Beavers title run in 2012-2013. Wyatt was also named a First-Team All-Athletic in 2013 and a Second-Team All- Athletic in 2014. Holding dual citizenship, he was chosen in his final season to represent the United States Men’s National University Team at the Winter World University Games in Trentino, Italy.

Wyatt also was an assistant coach with the Minot Minotauros (NAHL) for 5 seasons (2016-2021) prior to taking over leadership of the Minot State Beavers program, and still works as the Minotauros’ goalie coach, and is the head goalie coach for the Minot Hockey Boosters youth hockey association.

Upon the end of Wyatt’s playing career in 2014, he immediately jumped into coaching, and specifically goalie development. He is the owner and co-founder of Goalie Coaches and spends his off-season running goalie camps throughout the midwestern part of the United States and Canada.

Wyatt resides in Minot with his son Jett.