Chris Shadow is starting his third successful season as head coach of a
NORPAC franchise. He is thrilled to be coming back to Butte the sight
of his final Junior A playing days with the Butte Fighting Irish and his
first NORPAC coaching job. Coach Shadow brings a winning attitude and record back to Butte. His career stats include a 63-25 regular season record and 8-6 in the playoffs.
While demanding hard work both on and off ice, his players develop the skills necessary for this and the next level of play. Coach Shadow has a two part philosophy for the development of young men. Our on ice goal is to improve as players every time we are on the ice. Whether in practice or a game we will always get better. The foundation for this is conditioning and strength. The second part of this philosophy is achieved by integrating the team into the community life of Butte Players will work with the Boys and Girls Club, read to students in the schools, and help with minor hockey.
We have high expectations for this year, with the kids coming in and the
veterans coming back we believe we will have a great season.

At the age of 6, Mike started playing hockey on outdoor rinks. With his Grandfather and Uncle providing most of his coaching, they taught him to love the game of hockey. In 1990 he moved away to Spokane, Washington to attend college. While there he had a played with Gonzaga University and had a walk-on tryout with the Spokane, Chiefs. Not enjoying the big city he moved back to marry his high school sweetheart Suzanne. He soon started his coaching career with the high school team. Mike is the proud father of 2 hockey-playing sons (Christian and Markus), and a dancing daughter (Shelby). He has coached all levels of hockey and baseball. Coaching his sons’ teams in squirts, peewees, bantams and high school, he has shown great success. He has been GM and assistant coach of the Butte Roughriders for the past 2 years, with each year seeing the team progressing. Besides playing and coaching hockey, Mike is an avid softball player and outdoorsman. While juggling marriage, coaching his sons and the Roughriders, and traveling for dance, he still finds time to play on his adult hockey team the, Copper City Chiefs. The Roughriders appreciate the fact that Mike has been with us since the inception of the Roughrider team.