Does anyone out there have any more information or knowledge about the
coaching situation at the University of North Dakota.  From what I
understand, John "Gino" Gasparini has been forced to resign after being
the coach at UND for 16 years.
 
I am a big fan of Sioux hockey since I lived in Grand Forks, ND (the
home of the Sioux) for 15 years.  He was a great coach, and its sad to
see him go.  In his sixteen years of coaching, he led UND to 3 NCAA
Division I National Championships, a Runner-Up, and 4 WCHA titles. I
even went to high school with his eldest son.
 
Has anyone heard of a possible replacement for this coaching vacancy?
Personally, I hope they get Dean Blais, who was a former assistant under
Gino.  He has since went on to coach in the minors and has also coached
Roseau (Minn.) High School to I believe 2 Minnesota State High School
Hockey Championships.
 
I always thought Gino was a great coach, but even more so, I felt that
his assistant coaches made the team. His two main assistants, Dean Blais
and John Marks, were the actual people who helped Gino by recruiting
such great players as Ed Belfour, James Patrick, Tony Hrkac, Bob Joyce,
Rick Zombo, John Casey, Craig Ludwig, Dave Tippet, Dave Christian, etc.
I feel that Dean Blais's coaching abilities and recruiting abilities
would be a great assest to UND's program and would revitalize it to the
national powerhouse status that it once had.  I sure hope they hire him.
 
Please respond with any comments or new information you have.  Thanks.
 
Asif
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