Mike Aikens is a Rochester Minnesota native who was an all-conference player at John Marshall High School in 1988. He then played two years with the Rochester Mustangs where he was named first team USHL and a league all-star for the 1989-1990 season while helping his team win a National Championship. He earned a scholarship to attend the University of Denver where his career was cut short due to a neck injury.
After serving as a student assistant coach at the University of Denver, Aikens began his coaching career in Omaha (USHL) where he served as an assistant with the Omaha Lancers in 1995. After three seasons, he landed his first head coach/ gm position with the Rochester Mustangs where he was selected to coach in the USHL All-Star Game and an associate head coach of the King of the Hill Tournament. After one season in Rochester, Aikens remained in the USHL serving as the assistant coach of the Fargo-Moorhead Ice Sharks (1999-2000) and later the Chicago Steel (2000-2001) when the Ice Sharks relocated to Chicago. He then shifted to the North American Hockey League where he guided the Billings Bulls over the next four years to an impressive 150-59-15 overall record, two Borne Cup Championships and a third place finish at The National Tournament. Prior to coaching the Russell Stover Hockey program 2007-2010, Aikens spent one season as the head coach/gm of the Williams Lake Timberwolves (BCHL) during the 2005-2006 season followed by a stint as the assistant coach of the Topeka Roadrunners (NAHL) in 2006-2007. Aikens was named the head coach/gm of the Omaha Lancers (USHL) from 2011-2013 compiling a .624 win percentage.
Aikens has a level four coaching certification from USA Hockey and has coached at numerous USA Hockey Festivals.
Mike relocated back to Rochester in 2013 with his wife, Hope and two daughters, Maren and Brianna. He has been a skating/hockey trainer at Olmsted Medical Center since 2013 and an assistant coach with the Rochester Grizzlies since 2018.
Contact Coach Mike at: coach@anchoragewolverines.com
