After losing Brad McCrimmon and Paul MacLean this off-season, the Red Wings announced their replacements today.
Bill Peters will join Jeff Blashill as the new assistant head coaches for the Detroit Red Wings.
Blashill (37), was named a finalist for the position earlier in the week. He was the head coach of Western Michigan University last year where he lead the Broncos to their first berth in the CCHA Championship Game since 1986 after turning in a 19-13-10 regular season record. Blashill was a finalist for the CCHA Coach of the Year Award then was named the National Coach of the Year by the College Hockey News.
Peters last served as the head coach for the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL. In three seasons with the Chicago AHL affiliate he compiled a record of 122-97-7-14 including a pair of Calder Cup appearances. Prior to his time with Rockford he was the head coach of the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs where he led them to a 2008 Memorial Cup title as the champion of the Canadian Hockey League.
Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock kept reiterating in his search that he was looking for fresh ideas on his coaching staff.
“To succeed in the National Hockey League, you constantly have to try and stay ahead of your opponents’ systems and strategies,” said Red Wings Head Coach Mike Babcock. “In looking to fill our coaching staff, I wanted successful and innovative coaches that would challenge us with new ideas in order to continually help the Red Wings become a better hockey team. I’m very happy to welcome Jeff Blashill and Bill Peters to the Red Wings coaching staff.”
Source: Mlive.com