Ferris State Hockey Alum Jeff Blashill Tabbed Head Coach Of 2019 U.S. National Team

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's ice hockey program has continued its strong presence internationally as today Bulldog alum Jeff Blashill (Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.), who recently completed his fourth season as head coach of the National Hockey League's Detroit Red Wings and was signed to a two-year contract extension, was named head coach of the 2019 U.S. Men's National Team as announced by USA Hockey.

It marks the third straight year for Blashill at the helm of the U.S. Men's National Team, which will compete in the upcoming International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Championship set for May 10-26 in Kosice and Bratislava, Slovakia. Blashill has guided the U.S. to a a combined 14 wins in 18 world championship games (12-2-0-4/W-OTW-OTL-L), including a bronze medal finish a year ago and a fifth-place effort in 2017.

Blashill will be joined by assistant coaches Dan Bylsma (Grand Haven, Mich.), John Hynes (Warwick, R.I.) and Kevin Reiter (Pittsburgh, Pa.).

"It's terrific to have Jeff back coaching our national team," said Chris Drury (Trumbull, Conn.), general manager of the 2019 U.S. Men's National Team. "He's an excellent leader and is well-versed on what it takes to be successful on the international stage. We're also fortunate to have a terrific group of assistant coaches and support staff that will represent us well in our ultimate goal of bringing the gold medal home to the United States."

In addition to his previous stints as head coach of the U.S. Men's National Team, Blashill also served as the goaltending coach for the 2009 U.S. National Junior Team Team as well as an assistant coach for the U.S. Junior Select Team that won the 2009 World Junior A Challenge and the U.S. Under-18 Men's Select Team that earned second place at the 2006 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.

Before joining Detroit, Blashill was head coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins, the Red Wings' AHL affiliate, for three seasons (2012-15). In 2012-13 he led the Griffins to its first Calder Cup championship in the 17-year history of the franchise. Blashill joined the Red Wings' organization after 11 seasons in the collegiate ranks and two seasons in the United States Hockey League.

A goaltender in his playing days, Blashill's coaching career began as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Ferris State University, from 1998-2002 before fulfilling the same role at Miami University for six seasons (2002-08). He then made his head coaching debut with the USHL's Indiana Ice, compiling a 72-43-5 mark as head coach and general manager while guiding the Ice to a franchise-record 39 wins in 2008-09 and Clark Cup title as playoff champions of the USHL.

After two seasons in Indiana, Blashill returned to the NCAA as the head coach at Western Michigan University in 2010-11. In one season with the Broncos, he led WMU to double its win total from the previous season and also to the school's first appearance in the CCHA championship game since 1986.

Ferris State Hockey has had a strong presence internationally in recent years. Among others, former FSU defenseman and team captain Chad Billins played on the U.S. Olympic team in the most recent Winter Olympics. Another alum, four-time Stanley Cup Champion Chris Kunitz, was a member of Canada's Olympic gold medal squad in 2014 while one of Blashill's former Bulldog teammates, Seth Appert, served as head coach of the 2018 U.S. Under-18 Men's National Team.