Brad Fast named director of hockey operations at Michigan State

Fort St John alumni Brad Fast has landed one of the top hockey jobs with the Michigan State Spartans of the NCAA. The school announced last week that Fast would be joining the team as director of hockey operations.

Fast applied for the job shortly after he returned from running this year’s North Peace Alumni Hockey School after a friend who previously held the position took a job with USA Hockey.

While he won’t be coaching the players directly, Fast will have an active role in helping the squad get ready for their games this season

“I do a lot of preparation for games. It’s a non-coaching role so I’m not out on the ice because of NCAA compliance rules. They prevent me from getting out there. What I do is I watch video from our opponent’s previous games, I break down the video from our games and try and get us as best prepared as we possibly can for every weekend,” he said.

Michigan State has always had a soft spot in Fast’s heart going back to when he first visited the campus when he was being recruited by the school as a player.

“I really just love being a part of Michigan State. To be a part of the hockey program is an added bonus. From the time that I came here and visited the school way back when I was in high school I fell in love with this place,” he said.

Fast laced up the skates for the Spartans back in his playing days where he was an All-American, and an Academic All-American. From 1999-2003 he tallied 114 points in 164 games for the team.