OT: WMU Hockey Coach to join Red Wings?

Blashill, who led the Broncos this past winter to their first NCAA tournament in 15 seasons and the CCHA tournament championship game for the first time in a quarter-century, confirmed Wednesday that he’s interviewed for one of the Red Wings’ vacant assistant coaching positions. “I am interviewing, but they have not made a decision and I have not made a decision yet,” Blashill said Wednesday afternoon. “I do expect to know at some point by the end of the week. ... I think they are narrowing in to make a decision. And, at that point, I will make a decision.”

“I think when Mike Babcock calls and Ken Holland calls and the Detroit Red Wings call, you certainly listen,” Blashill said. “Yeah, it’s a potential great opportunity. I love Western Michigan. This is a special place in college hockey. I wouldn’t be talking to any other colleges, that’s for sure. But obviously it’s the NHL and the Red Wings are what they are.” WMU director of athletics Kathy Beauregard said Wednesday afternoon that she understands why the Red Wings would be interested in Blashill and why Blashill would have trouble saying no to them. “It’s been Jeff’s dream from the day we hired him, he talked about his goal of getting to the NHL,” said Beauregard, who was with Blashill when he informed the team on Tuesday. “Very honestly, the opportunity came much more quickly than I think any of us expected.” http://www.mlive.com/broncos/index.ssf/2011/07/wmus_jeff_blashill_a_fin…