Former Bulldog Assistant Lalonde Named Detroit Red Wings Head Coach
Detroit, Mich. - The Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL) have officially announced the hiring of former Bulldog assistant coach and two-time Stanley Cup Champion Derek Lalonde as the 28th head coach in franchise history.
"I'm very excited to see another Bulldog as an NHL Head Coach," Ferris State Hockey Head Coach Bob Daniels said. "I'm not surprised to see Coach Lalonde move up through the coaching ranks to become an NHL Head Coach. Derek has been instrumental wherever he's been in helping his teams grow and achieve success. I look forward to watching his progress with the Detroit Red Wings."
Lalonde comes to the Red Wings after a four year run with the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning where he helped the Lightning win a pair of Stanley Cup Championships. Lalonde was hired in Tampa Bay by current Detroit Red Wings general manager and Red Wing legend Steve Yzerman.
"I'm thrilled to be named head coach of the Red Wings," said Lalonde in a quote released by the Detroit Red Wings. "I'd like to thank Chris Ilitch and the entire Ilitch family, as well as Steve Yzerman and the Red Wings management team for entrusting me with the opportunity to lead this historic franchise. I'm ready to get to work with our group. There's a very bright future ahead in Detroit."
In Big Rapids, the assistant coach known affectionately as "Newsy," helped lead the Bulldogs to what remains the winningest season in program history in 2002-03. Lalonde helped player development for a Bulldog squad that broke dozens of individual and team single season records that season, and continued to be a boost for the Bulldogs until his departure at the end of the 2006 season.
"Both Derek and Jeff Blashill were integral members of the Ferris State Hockey coaching staff, and their work here played an important role in our program's accomplishments," Daniels said. "I am proud that both have continued this success into the NHL. I have no doubt that Derek will be successful in Detroit and Jeff will build on his record of success in the NHL."
Following his time at Ferris State, he worked in the same position at Denver University before becoming a head coach for the Green Bay Gamblers in the United States Hockey League (USHL).
At the professional level, Lalonde begane by bringing the Toldeo Walleye to prominence in the ECHL, where they remain one of the top franchises since he took over in 2014. Under his tutelage, the Walleye made a stunning and still league record 58-point single season turnaround.
Lalonde was hired as the Iowa Wild's Head Coach in the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2016 where he crossed paths with Bulldog alum Gerry Mayhew, who he worked with at the end of the 2016-17 season and for the entire 2017-18 season as Mayhew rose in the AHL's ranks as one of the best forwards in the league.
The Red Wings have scheduled an introductory press conference for Lalonde at 11 am, Friday July 1 on Bally Sports Detroit.