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Rob Proffitt knew this day was right around the corner, he just wished it hadn't come so soon.

In a perfect world, there would have been a few more games left to play.

But after the Ice Dogs were knocked out of the playoffs with a 5-4 overtime loss to Topeka on Sunday, the Fairbanks head coach and general manager announced that he was leaving the bench.

“It’s time,” an emotional Proffitt said. “I’ve been doing this for 12 years. I’ve spent 100 days a year on the road.”

Proffitt will stay on as the Ice Dogs general manager, while assistant coach Josh Hauge will take over the top spot.

“It’s twofold: for me, it’s for my family; for him it’s opportunity,” Proffitt said. “He wants to be a coach at the Division I level and he needs this first. He’s absolutely ready to go. He’s going to be very methodical.”

Proffitt added he plans on returning to the Ice Dogs’ bench when Hauge takes a D-I job.

The idea of Proffitt passing the reins to Hauge was something the pair talked about ever since Hauge joined the team as an assistant three years ago.

“Obviously, coach has done such a great job for such a long time up in Fairbanks,” Hauge said.

“It’s obviously going to be a change, and change is going to be tough sometimes.”

Hauge spent two years coaching at the Junior B level in Dubuque, Iowa, before joining the Ice Dogs. Hauge also has a coaching stint with the Junior B Twin City Northern Lights and a playing career as a defenseman at Bethel College on his hockey resume.

“I don’t think it will be a big, huge change. There will definitely be some differences in our coaching style, you might say,” Hauge said. “Obviously our personalities are a little different, which is why we’ve had success working together.”

Hague would play the laid-back foil to the emotionally charged Proffitt.

“Maybe my blood pressure can stay down on the weekends now,” Proffitt said.

Though Hauge spent his playing days as a defenseman, he hopes to bring a strong offensive presence to Fairbanks. Behind Hauge’s tutelage, the Ice Dogs saw their power play improve by leaps and bounds over the course of the season, and his aggressive penalty kill kept the high-scoring Wichita Falls Wildcats in check during the playoffs.

“I really believe in a high-skill game at the junior level, that’s one thing I’d like to bring,” he said. “For Fairbanks to be successful, we have to be a defensive-minded club, but I’d like to see us be more offensive.”

That means hitting the recruiting trail — and Hauge has shown he has an eye for talent.

The coach found Nick Guran toiling in Junior B over the Ice Dogs’ winter break and brought him up to Fairbanks.

Guran went on to compile 16 goals and 10 assists for Fairbanks in 34 games.

“More and more and more and more, (Hauge’s role as coach) continued to build,” Proffitt said. “He has an unbelievable relationship with the players, with the community. The tough thing about it sometimes is, you have to reward those people around you. You can’t expect them to hang around.”

Though still shocked by their season-ending loss, the players gave Hauge a big vote of confidence.

“Coach Hauge’s a great coach. He’s done everything for us this year, along with coach Proffitt,” goalie Cody Reichard said. “The team’s going to be great next year under coach Hauge. They’ll be right back where we are this year — competing for the championship.”

For his part, Proffitt is looking forward to a lot less time on the road and a lot more time with his family.

“Coaching my son (Ty) and his Squirt team, the little 9- and 10-year-olds, I’m going to have fun with that.” Proffitt said. “My family and my kids have made some tremendous sacrifices for me to do this for a living. I just want to give a little bit back while I can.”

Proffitt said he’s also looking forward to coaching his daughter, Jordan, and helping out his wife, Stacee.

“She’s probably the saint in the whole crew, no question,” he said.

Proffitt also thanked the fans and the Ice Dogs’ board of directors for their support.

And Proffitt made one promise to them: “It’s not going to change what Ice Dog hockey is.”