Kevin Shupenia the Head Coach and General Manager of the Fort Wayne Federals for the past four seasons has stepped down from his duties with the team.  Shupenia who founded the club and brought junior hockey to Fort Wayne in 2010, has hired Scott Fankhouser as the new Head Coach and GM for the Feds.  "We are unbelievably excited to bring positive change to the organization with Scott.  He brings great winning credentials and experience with coaching at the junior and professional level to help take the Feds to the next level" expressed Shupenia.

Fankhouser most recently was the Head Coach and GM of the Atlanta Junior Knights of the EJHL South where he had a ton of success with an overall record of 56-14-10 in two seasons.  Also during his time with the Knights, Fankhouser had two first place regular season finishes, one League Championship and a National Championship in 2011-2012. All of that in addition to the highest college commitment rate in the EJHL South with 14 players placed at NCAA Division III and one in Division I colleges from 2011-2013. Prior to that Fankhouser was an assistant coach for the Cincinnati Cyclones Professional Hockey Club of the ECHL from 2001-2011 and the Bloomington Prairie Thunder Professional Hockey Club of the IHL in 2010-2011.  "I'm excited to be in a great hockey town like Fort Wayne, " said Fankhouser who added "I'm also very excited to take over the reigns from Kevin to build on the great success he established".

Fankhouser began his coaching career upon his retirement from his professional playing career as a goalie, which included 23 career games in the National Hockey League with the Atlanta Thrashers.  Click here for a look at his full playing career.  

As for Shupenia, he will remain active with the Feds while the transition takes place.  Also announced today, Cody Hess will return as an assistant coach for next season.  As well as Broadcaster and Director of Media/Public Relations, Chris Treft has been promoted to Interim Assistant General Manager to help smooth the transition as well. Lastly, the Feds partner up with OZ Strength & Conditioning and Strength & Conditioning Coach Mike Caro again for the upcoming season.