Jeff Blashill
Encyclopedia
Jeff Blashill is an assistant coach for the National Hockey League
's Detroit Red Wings
. He previously served as the head coach of the Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey
team and as the head coach and general manager of the Indiana Ice
and was an assistant hockey coach at Ferris State University
and Miami University
.
of the United States Hockey League
from 1991–1994.
as an assistant coach in 2002. In 2008 he was named head coach and general manager of the Indiana Ice
, a Tier 1 junior hockey team in the United States Hockey League
. In Blashill's first season, the Ice won the Clark Cup for the USHL Championship.
Blashill was named head coach of the Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey
team on April 6, 2010. In his first season as head coach, Blashill led WMU to a top-four finish in the CCHA, the CCHA Championship game, and the 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament, the best season for WMU in 15 years. After the season, he was named USCHO Coach of the Year, Inside College Hockey Coach of the Year, and College Hockey News Coach of the Year.
In July 2011, after only one season at Western Michigan, Blashill accepted an assistance coach position for the NHL's Detroit Red Wings
.
, where his father Jim was a professor at Lake Superior State University
after a stint as a police officer in Detroit
. He has a brother, Tim, who also played and coached college hockey, and who currently coaches high school hockey in Big Rapids, Michigan
.
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
's Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
. He previously served as the head coach of the Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey
Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey
The Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Western Michigan University. The Broncos are a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association...
team and as the head coach and general manager of the Indiana Ice
Indiana Ice
The Indiana Ice is a Tier I ice hockey team formed in 2004 when it was purchased from the former Danville, Illinois, USA, team, the Danville Wings. It plays the majority of its home games at the Pepsi Coliseum, located on the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Indiana. Some of its home...
and was an assistant hockey coach at Ferris State University
Ferris State University
Ferris State University is a public university with its main campus in Big Rapids, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1884 as the Big Rapids Industrial School by Woodbridge Nathan Ferris, an educator from New England who later served as governor of the State of Michigan and finally in the US Senate where...
and Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
.
Playing career
Blashill played college hockey as a goaltender at Ferris State University from 1994–1998. He had previously played junior hockey for the Des Moines BuccaneersDes Moines Buccaneers
The Des Moines Buccaneers are a Tier 1 junior ice hockey team of the United States Hockey League . The team played in the West Division starting in the 2009 - 2010 season....
of the United States Hockey League
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 16 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger...
from 1991–1994.
Coaching career
After his playing career ended, Blashill joined Ferris State as an assistant coach in 1999. He remained there for 3 seasons before joining Miami UniversityMiami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
as an assistant coach in 2002. In 2008 he was named head coach and general manager of the Indiana Ice
Indiana Ice
The Indiana Ice is a Tier I ice hockey team formed in 2004 when it was purchased from the former Danville, Illinois, USA, team, the Danville Wings. It plays the majority of its home games at the Pepsi Coliseum, located on the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Indiana. Some of its home...
, a Tier 1 junior hockey team in the United States Hockey League
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 16 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger...
. In Blashill's first season, the Ice won the Clark Cup for the USHL Championship.
Blashill was named head coach of the Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey
Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey
The Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Western Michigan University. The Broncos are a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association...
team on April 6, 2010. In his first season as head coach, Blashill led WMU to a top-four finish in the CCHA, the CCHA Championship game, and the 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament, the best season for WMU in 15 years. After the season, he was named USCHO Coach of the Year, Inside College Hockey Coach of the Year, and College Hockey News Coach of the Year.
In July 2011, after only one season at Western Michigan, Blashill accepted an assistance coach position for the NHL's Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
.
Personal
Blashill was raised in Sault Ste. Marie, MichiganSault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Sault Ste. Marie is a city in and the county seat of Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is in the north-eastern end of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, on the Canadian border, separated from its twin city of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, by the St. Marys River...
, where his father Jim was a professor at Lake Superior State University
Lake Superior State University
Lake Superior State University is a small public university in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. It is Michigan's smallest public university with an enrollment around 3,000 students. Due to its proximity to the border, notably the twin city of Sault Ste...
after a stint as a police officer in Detroit
Detroit Police Department
The Detroit Police Department , established in 1865, is responsible for the city of Detroit, Michigan.-History:The Detroit Police Department was established in 1865 to serve the city's growing population and covers the city with 5 districts and two precincts. The Detroit Police Department was also...
. He has a brother, Tim, who also played and coached college hockey, and who currently coaches high school hockey in Big Rapids, Michigan
Big Rapids, Michigan
Big Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 10,849. It is the county seat of Mecosta County. The city is located within Big Rapids Township, but is politically independent.-Geography:...
.