Dean Charles Blais[1] (born January 18, 1951) is an American ice hockey coach. He was the head coach of the University of North Dakota men's hockey team, head coach of the Omaha Mavericks, the men's team of the University of Nebraska Omaha, and also head coach of the United States men's national junior ice hockey team. He led Team USA to a gold medal in the IIHF 2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Saskatoon, Canada, held in late December 2009 through early January 2010.[2]

Dean Blais
Blais in Omaha in 2015
Born (1951-01-18) January 18, 1951 (age 73)
International Falls, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Forward
Shot Left
Played for Dallas Black Hawks (CHL)
NHL Draft 68th overall, 1971
Chicago Blackhawks
Playing career 1973–1976

He is the former associate coach of the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets. He led the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux (now Fighting Hawks) men's hockey team to NCAA Division I championships in 1997 and 2000. Blais also has two other appearances in the Frozen Four, the semifinal round of the NCAA tournament—with North Dakota in 2001 (losing in the championship game) and Omaha in 2015 (losing in the semifinals). Blais also led the 1990 Roseau Rams to a Minnesota State High School Hockey Championship.

Playing career edit

A native of International Falls, Minnesota, Blais played college hockey at the University of Minnesota from 1970 to 1973. He was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 5th round (68th overall) of the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft, and played three seasons of pro hockey with the Chicago Blackhawks’ development team in Dallas.[3] He also played for the United States national team at the 1973 ice hockey world championship pool B tournament.[4]

In popular culture edit

On March 10, 2009 and May 14, 2010, a photograph of Blais was shown on the Late Show with David Letterman for a segment called, "Guys who look like Dave."[5]

Career edit

Head coaching record edit

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
North Dakota Fighting Sioux (WCHA) (1994–2004)
1994–95 North Dakota 18–18–3 14–15–3 t-5th WCHA Quarterfinal
1995–96 North Dakota 19–18–1 16–15–1 1-4th WCHA first round
1996–97 North Dakota 31–10–2 21–10–1 t-1st NCAA national champion
1997–98 North Dakota 30–8–1 21–6–1 1st NCAA West Regional semifinals
1998–99 North Dakota 32–6–2 24–2–2 1st NCAA West Regional semifinals
1999–00 North Dakota 31–8–5 17–6–5 2nd NCAA national champion
2000–01 North Dakota 29–8–9 18–4–6 1st NCAA runner-up
2001–02 North Dakota 16–19–2 11–15–2 t-6th WCHA first round
2002–03 North Dakota 26–12–5 14–9–5 4th NCAA West Regional semifinals
2003–04 North Dakota 30–8–3 20–5–3 1st NCAA West Regional Final
North Dakota: 262–115–33
Nebraska–Omaha Mavericks (CCHA) (2009–2010)
2009–10 Nebraska–Omaha 20–16–6 13–12–3–2 6th CCHA quarterfinals
Nebraska–Omaha Mavericks (WCHA) (2010–2013)
2010–11 Nebraska–Omaha 21–16–2 17–9–2 3rd NCAA West Regional semifinals
2011–12 Nebraska–Omaha 14–18–6 11–12–5 9th WCHA first round
2012–13 Nebraska–Omaha 19–18–2 14–12–2 7th WCHA first round
Omaha Mavericks (NCHC) (2013–2017)
2013–14 Omaha 17–18–2 13–9–2–1 3rd NCHC semifinals
2014–15 Omaha 20–13–6 12–8–4–3 3rd NCAA Frozen Four
2015–16 Omaha 18–17–1 8–15–1–0 6th NCHC quarterfinals
2016–17 Omaha 17–17–5 9–13–2–0 6th NCHC quarterfinals
Omaha: 146–133–30
Total: 408–248–63

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Awards and honors edit

Award Year
All-NCAA All-Tournament team 1971 [6]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Dean Blais". HockeyDraftCentral.com.
  2. ^ Blais to coach U.S. juniors
  3. ^ UNO Mavericks ice hockey – accessed 2009-09-09
  4. ^ "All-Time Roster". Archived from the original on May 8, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  5. ^ Late Show with David Letterman. March 10, 2009. CBS.
  6. ^ "NCAA Frozen Four Records" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 19, 2013.

External links edit

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Spencer Penrose Award
1996–97
2000–01
Succeeded by
Preceded by WCHA Coach of the Year
1996–97
1998–99
2000–01
2010–11
Succeeded by
Preceded by
first
Fargo Force Head Coach
2007–2009
Succeeded by