Who Will Replace Dean Blais at UNO?

Deep down, I knew it probably was coming.  I hoped it wouldn’t, but I had that feeling that Dean Blais wasn’t going to return behind the bench for UNO hockey.  My emotions ran the gamut:  disappointment that he wouldn’t be back, anger at the fans that turned on a coach that two years ago put UNO on the biggest stage in college hockey, gratefulness that Blais took a chance on UNO and elevated the program.

And perhaps more importantly: concerned about who will take over.  I’m sure there are more candidates out there than this, but I’ll throw three names out there who should be considered…and one who absolutely should not be considered in 2017.

Mike Guentzel

I had Guentzel on my short list in 2009, and I have no reason to not put him back again in 2017. Many people have him as the heir apparent to Minnesota’s Don Lucia; eight years ago, it looked like Lucia might eventually wear out his welcome in the Twin Cities, but now it looks like Lucia will be a Gopher as long as he wants.  And since Guentzel is just four years younger than Lucia, there’s not much reason for Guentzel to wait if he wants to be a head coach.  Guentzel is a former Lancer head coach, and was an assistant under Blais in 2010.  His son Jake was born in Omaha (when Mike was the head Lancer), and played at UNO from 2013 through last season.  You may remember Mike’s reaction in November when Jake scored his first NHL goal on his very first shift for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Family reactions >>>>> pic.twitter.com/4bnoqzghab— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) November 22, 2016