This note comes from USA Hockey’s World Junior Championship blog, which reports that Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill spoke with the U.S. WJC team on Monday night:
Jeff Blashill, head coach of the Detroit Red Wings, joined the team via Zoom after dinner Monday evening. Blashill, a Michigan native, is no stranger to coaching U.S. teams, coaching six teams as both a head coach and an assistant.
Now in his seventh season as the bench boss for the Red Wings, Blashill’s presence on screen demanded attention. He shared his first memories as a coach, putting on a blue USA Hockey blazer that at the time was mandatory for coaches to wear on the bench. It was his first opportunity to represent his country on the international stage, and something he’ll never forget.
“I’m jealous of you right now, I love wearing those colors.”
Players asked Blashill questions about how to handle the bubble, how to become a good team in international tournament, and what he thinks is important for winning the World Juniors. After the back-and-forth, Blashill shared his final thoughts of advice and encouragement.
One thing was clear: everyone at some point will be asked to lead.
Players slept on the call overnight, and woke up early for morning practice. It was apparent the advice from the call had been well-received. Practice found a new level of intensity, pushing the pace closer to game speed.
