Miscellaneous

• Earned WCHA All-Star Honorable Mention with Minnesota in 1969-70.
  
  
• Named to NCAA All-Tournament team with Minnesota in 1971 after playing on team that lost to Boston University in NCAA championship game.
  
  
• Led Minnesota with 40 points as a sophomore in 1970-71.
  
  
• Selected by Dayton Aeros in 1972 WHA General Player Draft, the first draft in WHA history, in February 1972.
  
  
• Played on the first Minnesota (WCHA) team coached by Herb Brooks in 1972-73.
  
  
• Played for Team USA, a collection of college All-Stars, in second annual World Cup Hockey Tournament at Bloomington, Minn., in December 1972 and January 1973. The team, coached by Bob Johnson, finished sixth in a six-team round-robin event that included the Soviet national team.
  
  
• Missed part of 1972-73 season with strained ligaments in left knee, an injury suffered during Minnesota's Feb. 16, 1973, game vs. Michigan.
  
  
• Selected by Toronto Toros in 1973 draft of established professiona players not yet signed by NHL teams.
  
  
• Signed his first pro contract with Chicago on July 8, 1973
  
  
• Won CHL Adams Cup with Dallas in 1974.
  
  
• Missed remainder of 1974-75 season with torn cartilage in knee, an injury suffered during Dallas' Jan. 18, 1975, game vs. Seattle. The injury required season-ending surgery.
  
  
• Missed start of 1975-76 season recovering from knee surgery as he worked himself back into playing condition.
  
  
• Retired as a player on Jan. 17, 1976, after playing in only 25 games for Dallas (CHL) in 1975-76. He said his knee njury from one year earlier had not healed well enough for him to continue his playing career.
  

International Tournaments

Additional Facts

Full Name: Dean Charles Blais

Post-Draft Teams: Minnesota (WCHA); Dallas (CHL)

Education: Graduated from International Falls High School in 1969. ... Graduated with his bachelor's degree in physical education from University of Minnesota in 1977. ... Graduated with a master's degree in education from University of North Dakota in 1982.

Career Beyond Hockey: Also taught physical education at University of North Dakota during his early years as assistant hockey coach.
 

Coaching Career

Named Minnesota (WCHA) assistant coach prior to 1976-77 season and remained in position through 1976-77 season. ... Named head coach at North Dakota's Minot High School prior to 1977-78 season and held position through 1979-80 season. ... Named North Dakota (WCHA) assistant coach in August 1980 and remained in position through 1988-89 season. ... Named Roseau (Minn.) High School head coach prior to 1989-90 season and held  position through 1990-91 season. ... Named Team USA assistant coach (under Dave Peterson) for the 1992  Olympics on Jan. 25, 1991. ... Served as assistant coach during Team USA's 1991-92 pre-Olympic tour. ... Named Internationall Falls (Minn.) High School head coach prior to 1992-93 season and remained in that position through 1993-94 season. ... Named North Dakota (WCHA) head coach on May 21, 1994, and remained in that position until June 25, 2004. ... Named Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL) associate coach on June 25, 2004, and remained in position until July 10, 2006. ... Named Fargo (USHL) head coach on Feb. 21,  2007, in preparation for inaugural 2008-09 season, and held position until June 12, 2009. ... Named Nebraska-Omaha (CCHA/WCHA/NCHC) head coach on June 12, 2009, and currently holds this position. 

Coaching Honors

Went 42-24-2 in three seasons and led team to two state tournament appearances as head coach at Minot High School. ... Won his first NCAA championship as assistant coach with North Dakota (WCHA) in 1982. ... Won his second NCAA championship as assistant coach with North Dakota (WCHA) in 1987. ... Won Minnesota state high school hockey championship as head coach of Roseau in 1990. ... Named Minnesota high school Coach of the Year with Roseau in 1989-90. ... Served as an assistant coach at 1990 U.S. Olympic Festival at Minneapolis, Minn. ... Served as assistant coach of Team USA in 1991 Pravda Cup tournament at Leningrad, Soviet Union. ... Served as a head coach at 1991 U.S. Olympic Festival at Los Angeles, Calif.. ... Named head coach of Team USA for 1994 World Junior Championship tournament on Aug. 11, 1993. ... Won AHCA Spencer Penrose Award as NCAA Division I coach of the year with North Dakota (WCHA) in 1996-97. ... Won Midwest Sports Channel Sports Salute Gala Award as regional Coach of Year with North Dakota (WCHA) in 1996-97. ... Won WCHA Coach of the Year Award with North Dakota (WCHA) in 1996-97. ... Won North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters Coach of Year Award (across all sports) with North Dakota (WCHA) in 1996-97. ... Won North Dakota Sportswriters Association Male Coach of Year Award (across all sports) in 1996-97. ... Won WCHA Coach of the Year Award with North Dakota (WCHA) in 1998-99. ... Won his third NCAA championship as head coach with North Dakota (WCHA) in 2000. .. Was head coach of North Dakota (WCHA) team that lost to Boston College in NCAA championship game on April 7, 2001. ... Won AHCA Spencer Penrose Award as NCAA Division I coach of the year with North Dakota (WCHA) in 2000-01. ... Won WCHA Coach of the Year Award with North Dakota (WCHA) in 2000-01. ... Left North Dakota (WCHA) with 262-115-33 record, as well as highest career winning percentage (.679) of any active NCAA coach. ... Won USHL Coach of the Year Award with Fargo in 2008-09. ... Named head coach of Team USA for 2011 World Junior Championships on May 28, 2009. ... Won his 300th career game as an NCAA head coach in Nebraska-Omaha's 4-3 win over Wisconsin on Feb. 12, 2011. ... Named head coach of Team USA for 2011 World Junior Championships on March 18, 2011.
 

Management Career

Named Athletic Director at International Falls (Minn.) High School from prior to 1992-93 school year and remained in that position through 1993-94 school year. ... Named Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL) player development executive on July 10, 2006, and remained in that position until Feb. 21, 2007. ... Named Fargo (USHL) general manager on Feb. 21, 2007, in preparation for team's inaugural 2008-09 season, and remained in that position until June 12, 2009.

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