NA Now: Fairbanks Ice Dogs
The NA Now video series features an in-depth look into all NAHL teams as they prepare for the 2026-27 season. One team will be highlighted every day, leading up to the start of the regular season on September 11, 2026. Each interview features each team’s head coach, as they dive into detail on the expectations and outlooks for this upcoming season.
Fairbanks Ice Dogs
Head Coach: Dakota Bell (2nd season)
2025-26 Regular Season Record: 35-21-2-1 – 73 points (2nd in the Midwest Division)
2025-26 Leading Scorer: Oliver Barna (32-37–69)
2026 Postseason: Lost Midwest Division Semifinals Series to the Wisconsin Windigo (3-2)
2026-27 Division: Midwest Division
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Formation Year: 2003 (24th season)
Regular Season Titles: Three (2014, 2016, 2018)
Division Titles: Nine (2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2022)
Robertson Cup Championships: Three (2011, 2014, 2016)
Dakota Bell steps into year two as the bench boss of the Ice Dogs organization. He talks more about why Fairbanks players have a special experience playing for the team thanks to the support they receive from the city.
“I would say the community is definitely the number one thing that makes Fairbanks a special place to be, and that goes right into having 2500 fans in the building every single weekend. The way that they embrace us, the way that they support us, win, lose, or draw, they're always there until the very end.”
Bell is coming off a strong 2025-26 season finish with one of the youngest rosters in the NAHL. He talks more about the accomplishments of the organization this past season and shares more on his goals heading into the 2026-27 campaign.
Next up: Elmira Aviators
