Brad Schaack Named Coach of the Year by NDAPSSA

Congrats to my friend Brad "Shacker" Schaack for being selected as coach of the year by the North Dakota Associated Press Sportswriters and Sportscasters. I would also like to wish him well as he starts a new chapter of his life.

JAMESTOWN (NewsDakota.com)- There was a three-way tie for female high school coach of the year, but that doesn’t make it any less special for Brad Schaack who was among those chosen by the North Dakota Associated Press Sportswriters and Sportscasters.

“I am very humbled,” Schaack said Tuesday. “Usually coaches that get this award win state champs or conference champs. But in my mind, these girls I coached for the last four years, are champions.”

Schaack lead the Jamestown Blue Jay girls hockey team from the depths of North Dakota hockey over his four years at the helm. Taking the Jays to four state tournaments including a fifth place finish in 2012 and a fourth place finish in 2013.

Jamestown also beat the Bismarck Blizzard during the regular, the Blizzard beat heavy favorite West Fargo in the state championship game.

His daughter, Amber, was named North Dakota’s Miss Hockey after a stellar senior season that saw her finish third in the state with 41 goals. Goalie Carissa Finck was also named to the all-state team and is headed to Lake Forest (Ill).

Schaack has stepped down as the girls hockey coach so he can watch his daughter at Concordia-Moorhead and his son Nick, who will be a sophomore on the boy’s team.

Amber Schaak named Girls Outstanding Senior Athlete of the Year

I would like to recognize Jamestown senior Defenseman Amber Schaak, Amber was named the Senior Athlete of the Year for North Dakota. Amber played for the Jamestown Bluejays for four years and scored (132g-43a—175pts) in 97 games. So Goon’s World would like to Congratulate Amber Schaak. Next season, Amber is headed to Concordia to play for the Cobbers.

Press Release from North Dakota High School Hockey

Girls Outstanding Senior Athlete of the Year (ND Miss Hockey)

Amber has been the leading scorer on the team every year since she joined the team as a freshman.  Schaack leads by example both on and off the ice.  Amber has been All-State each year since her freshman season and has been named All-State a number of times. 

Amber logs a tremendous amount of ice time for the Bluejays and one stat that does not get a lot of attention is the few penalties she takes for the amount of minutes she plays each game. 
Amber has a 3.95 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society.  She is currently Senior Class Publicity Director for the Student Council at Jamestown High School. 

The Bluejay Girls have teamed up in Rely for Life the last three years and Amber has acted as the Team Leader.  The Girls have raised over $18,000 over the last three years.  Schaack also was a student teacher assistant at Roosevelt Elementary School for a semester.  She also plays on the High School Softball Team in Jamestown. 

Coach Brad Schaack said of Amber, "Amber has been a pleasure to coach the last four years."  "She has been a Forward her entire career but was asked to play defense this year because of lack of players."  "She didn't hesitate to do it as long as it helped the team." 

Amber will attend Concordia College in Moorhead to continue her education as well as play College Hockey for the Cobbers. 

"Amber is going to be missed dearly on the team next season and our team would not be where it is today without her efforts over the last four years, " said Coach Schaack.

2012-13:     Senior          24-GP        40-G     11-A        51-Points
2011-12:     Junior           26-GP        35-G     13-A        48-Points
2010-11:     Sophomore  24-GP        37-G       9-A        46-Points
2009-10:     Freshman    21-GP        19-G     10-A        29-Points