The story of how Zack Dailey became the head coach of the MacEwan University Griffins men's hockey program reads less like a conventional sports resume and more like an adventure novel. His journey connects a remote Alaskan town, a small aircraft, an Alberta airport, and a cattle ranch, forming a unique blueprint for a coaching career built on sheer determination.
A Foundation Forged in Alaska
To understand the coach Dailey is today, you must look to where he started. Born in California and adopted by a family in Healy, Alaska, Dailey grew up in a remote setting far from neighbours. Life on the homestead demanded hard work, a trait his parents modeled daily and one that became ingrained in him.
"My parents had to work extremely hard at their jobs, and then come home and work (on the homestead) as well, and that instilled a strong work ethic in me early in my life," Dailey recalled. He credits this ethic as a core part of the DNA he now instills in the MacEwan Griffins.
His hockey beginnings were humble, starting on the only outdoor rink in Healy and the frozen ponds near his home. In a family that wasn't immersed in hockey culture, every step was a new discovery. "We didn't know about sharpening skates, we didn't know about left-handed or right-handed. I just had a straight blade for my stick," said Dailey. "Everything was new, and when everything is new, every step can be scary to take."
A Self-Made Passion Drives the Journey
Without a traditional hockey background, Dailey's passion was entirely self-driven. His father, bush pilot John Dailey, remembers a preschool-aged Zack borrowing VHS tapes from the library to learn about hockey. By age seven, he was organizing community efforts to build a local ice rink.
Initially, hockey was just a way to spend time with friends, but Dailey's competitive nature took over. "When I first started, I was definitely the weak link on the team," he said, describing early house-league caliber play. "But, I'm the type of person who, when I get into something, I go all-in." That meant hours of stickhandling in his living room and skating on nearby ponds.
His parents supported his dream without pressure. When he sought greater competition, his father called teams in and around Edmonton to arrange tryouts, paving the way for the next chapter. His playing career evolved through:
- Minor hockey across Alberta.
- Junior A with the Fort Saskatchewan Traders.
- Major Junior with the Everett Silvertips in Washington.
- A standout five-season tenure with the University of Alberta Golden Bears, where he won two national championships.
Landing Behind the Bench at MacEwan
That unconventional, hard-won path ultimately led Dailey behind the bench. For the past three seasons, he has served as head coach of the MacEwan men's hockey program, guiding the Griffins as they compete in the Canada West Conference.
Reflecting on the circuitous route that included memories of a Cessna 182 aircraft, the Josephburg airport in Strathcona County, and a cattle ranch near Edmonton, Dailey acknowledges its uniqueness. "It all sounds kind of made up, but it was a darn cool experience," he said.
His story is a testament to where self-motivation and perseverance can lead. From an Alaskan boy with a straight-bladed stick to a university head coach, Zack Dailey's career proves there is no single blueprint for success in hockey, just the willingness to work for every opportunity.
