Miami University Men's Ice Hockey

Brekke, who now has 17 years of collegiate coaching experience under his belt, came to Miami in the summer of 2008 after spending the previous nine seasons as an assistant coach at Cornell University of the ECAC. In addition to working with the defense, Brekke is also the programs co-recruiting coordinator and handles all aspects of game scheduling for the RedHawks. His tireless efforts as an assistant coach earned him the Terry Flanagan Award in 2015. Since coming to Miami, Brekke has turned the RedHawks into one of the top defenses in the country annually. Miami ranked in the top 10 in the NCAA defensively in each of Brekkes first five seasons, ranking in the top four on four occasions. Along with that, he has been instrumental in coaching Miamis penalty kill unit, which has also ranked in the top 10 nationally five times in Brekkes tenure. After a down 2013-14 season saw Miami drop to 41st nationally in scoring defense, Brekke molded a new look defense with two freshman regulars to a 10-spot national improvement in 2014-15. The improvement was even more pronounced on the penalty kill, where the Red and White moved up 17 spots following a No. 43 showing in 2013-14. The penalty killing unit improved further to second nationally during the 2015-16 season, allowing just 12 power play goals out of 132 opposing power plays (90.9 percent kill rate). Brekkes impact in Oxford was felt immediately as he helped lead the RedHawks to the schools first ever appearance in the NCAA Frozen Four and the national championship game in his first season (2008-09), while guiding Miami to a CCHA regular-season title and a second straight Frozen Four berth in his second season (2009-10). The 2009-10 squad was the top defensive unit in the country, allowing a paltry 1.95 goals per game, anchored by CCHA Defensive Defenseman of the Year Wil Weber. In 2010-11, Brekke aided the `Hawks in capturing their first ever Mason Cup for winning the CCHA Tournament with his defensive unit serving as the backbone, allowing just six goals in four tournament games. He again helped Miami capture a CCHA title in 2012-13, as the RedHawks claimed the final CCHA regular-season championship. The Red and White have remained a strong defensive unit in the years since those consecutive Frozen Four appearances, finishing in the top 10 in scoring defense three more times in the past six seasons. The 2012-13 squad turned an especially impressive performance in 2012-13 despite breaking in three freshmen as regulars on the blue line, finishing second nationally allowing just 1.74 goals per game, the RedHawks best defensive performance under Brekke. The penalty kill was strong as well, ranking sixth nationally at 88.6 percent. Hes mentored a trio of all-league defensemen in Chris Wideman (Second-Team All-CCHA in 2010-11), Matthew Caito (All-CCHA Honorable Mention in 2012-13 and All-NCHC Honorable Mention in 2014-15) and Louie Belpedio (NCHC All-Rookie in 2014-15, All-NCHC Honorable Mention in 2015-16). While at Cornell, Brekke helped the team make four appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including a trip to the Frozen Four in 2003, and compiled a 185-90-30 record. During the 2003 season, Brekke helped guide the Big Red to its first No. 1 national ranking in program history. After a four-year playing career at Western Michigan University, Brekke graduated with a degree in marketing in 1994. He served as the teams assistant captain for the 1992-93 season, and during the 1993-94 season was the first player in the programs history to be unanimously named the teams captain by his teammates. A ninth-round selection (188th overall) of the Quebec Nordiques in 1991, Brekke skated with the USA Hockey National Junior Team that placed fourth in the 1991 World Junior Hockey Championships. Once his time at Western Michigan was complete, Brekke went on to play for the Cornwall Aces, Quebecs American Hockey League affiliate, for the 1994-95 season. One season later, he went on to captain the Dayton Bombers of the East Coast Hockey League. Brekke and his wife, Stacey, a former track and field athlete at Western Michigan, have a daughter, Bailee, and a son, Cody.

Blasi has helped Miami achieve what many thought could never be done in a small town in Southwest Ohio. Using a team-first mantra and The Brotherhood ideals of responsibility, he has elevated the RedHawks from sporadic NCAA Tournament appearances to consistent national-title contender. The crowning achievements have come since 2009, when Miami made its first-ever Frozen Four and NCAA Championship Game appearance in 2009, followed by its second trip to the NCAA Frozen Four in 2010 and captured two regular season conference titles (CCHA 2009-10 and 2012-13) and its first two conference tournament crowns (2011 Mason Cup and 2015 Frozen Faceoff) in program history. With conference realignment dominating the college hockey landscape and affecting four separate leagues, Blasi helped the RedHawks form the ultra-competitive National Collegiate Hockey Conference prior to the 2013-14 season. In the three seasons since joining the league, Miami has appeared in the NCHC Tournament finals twice, winning the Frozen Faceoff and securing a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament in 2015. With six freshmen dressing regularly and a roster comprised of just 24 players (21 skaters) in 2015-16, Miami grinded its way to a fifth-place finish in the NCHC standings. Senior captain Sean Kuraly made history as he become Miamis first specialty award winner since moving conferences when he was named the NCHCs Defensive Forward of the Year. In 2014-15, Blasi led a resurgent RedHawk team to a 25-14-1 record and a second-place regular season NCHC finish, a 10-win and six-spot improvement from a year ago. Miami returned to the NCHC Frozen Faceoff title game after outlasting Western Michigan in a three-game NCHC Playoff series before topping defending NCHC Tournament champion Denver, 6-3, in the semifinals. The RedHawks completed the journey through the tournament by topping St. Cloud State, 3-2, in the finals to net their first ever NCHC Championship and second conference tournament title in program history. That tournament title officially clinched the RedHawks ninth NCAA Tournament berth in the past 10 years, earning them a No. 1 seed in the NCAA East Regional. That campaign washed the taste of a tough 2013-14 season that saw the Red and White miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nine seasons after finishing 15-20-3, though reaching the NCHC Frozen Faceoff title game. Despite the disappointing season, MU showed it could hang with the best the NCAA could offer, going a respectable 9-10-1 against all NCAA Tournament qualifying teams. A 1994 graduate of Miami, Blasi took over the reins at his alma mater in 1999 as the youngest head coach in Division I hockey and has worked tirelessly ever since to make that family the strongest unit it can be. After earning 2010 College Hockey News and CollegeHockey247.com National Coach of the Year honors, the 2006 Spencer Penrose Award from the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) for National Coach of the Year, and five CCHA Coach of the Year Awards, Blasis credentials speak for itself. The RedHawks have won 20 or more games 12 times in Blasis 17 seasons on the bench, qualified for the NCAA Tournament 10 times (all in the past 13 campaigns), captured three regular season and two conference tournament crowns and brought MU to two Frozen Fours. Prior to his arrival, Miami had won 20 or more games only five times in 21 years, with just two NCAA Tournament berths in that span. It is Blasis devotion to his alma mater, and his ability to motivate his players both athletically and academically that prompted Director of Athletics David Sayler to ink Blasi to a 10-year contract extension following the 2012-13 season that keeps him in Oxford through the 2022-23 season. Blasi was also recognized for his work with his players both on and off the ice and in the community in 2011 by Miamis School of Education, Health and Society, which presented him with the Profound Impact Award, given annually to Miami EHS alumni who are making a difference in both their profession and their community. Additionally, Miami produced at least one AHCA All-American 12 straight years from 2004-15, the only school in Division I to do so in that span. MU also had nine Hobey Baker Award finalists during the 12-year stretch, including Miamis first winner in Andy Miele in 2011, and three CCHA Players of the Year in the leagues final four seasons with Cody Reichard in 2009-10, Miele in 2010-11 and Austin Czarnik in 2012-13. Under Blasis guidance behind the bench, a total of 14 RedHawks have earned All-America status with four being named the CCHA Player of the Year. In addition to cultivating individual success at Miami, Blasi has helped develop players at the next level as 26 RedHawks have signed NHL contracts since Blasi took over as head coach. A total of 28 RedHawks have also been drafted in the NHL since Blasis first year as head coach in 1999-2000 and breathed a life into the program never seen in its previous 21 seasons (detailed below).   As all good things do, it took time for Blasi to mold the RedHawks into the consistent national contender they are today. After taking over a team that went 11-20-5 in 1998-99, Blasi guided Miami to a seven-spot improvement in the CCHA standings (tied for second) and a 20-win season in just his second year at the helm. The RedHawks traded 20-win and 20-loss seasons over the first four years before finally breaking through to the NCAA Tournament with a 23-14-4 2003-04 season. Two years later, the golden era of Miami hockey had officially started as they closed the old Goggin Arena with a regular season CCHA title and a 26-9-4 campaign that saw the RedHawks earn their first No. 1 national ranking in program history and Blasi himself was won the Spencer Penrose Award for AHCA National Coach of the Year that season. That began a string of eight-straight seasons of 23 or more victories, all of which saw the Red and White in the NCAA Tournament. In that span, MU posted an astounding 207-89-34 record (.679 win percentage), won three regular season CCHA titles, its first Mason Cup in school history, appeared in two Frozen Fours and stood a minute away from winning its first national title in 2009. The first Miami hockey alumnus to return to his alma mater as the head coach, Blasi came to Miami after working four years--three as an assistant and one as a graduate assistant--under former Miami mentor George Gwozdecky at the University of Denver. While in Denver, Blasi helped the Pioneers to two trips to the NCAA Tournament and three Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) upper-division finishes. His main responsibilities during that time included assisting in the Pioneers recruiting efforts and video analysis, as well as on-ice duties. During the 1998-99 season, Denver posted the NCAAs largest turnaround, improving from an 11-25-2 mark in 1997-98 to 26-13-2 and capturing their league-record 12th postseason playoff championship by defeating then top-ranked North Dakota, 4-3. Before going to Denver in 1994-95, Blasi spent one season as the assistant coach for the Wexford Raiders junior team. As a player at Miami from 1990-1994, Blasi was a vital cog in the Red and Whites run to their first CCHA title in 1992-93 and first NCAA Tournament appearance that same season. As the captain of the 1993-94 squad, he finished third on the team in scoring with 28 points on 13 goals and 15 assists. His 123 career points are still tied for 25th on Miamis all-time points list. Over the course of his playing career, Blasi helped the RedHawks to 71 victories. Combined with his coaching career, he has won 422 games at Miami. A native of Weston, Ontario, Blasi earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from Miami. He resides in Oxford with his family. Five-time CCHA Coach of the Year (2000-01, 2003-04, 2005-06, 2009-10 and 2012-13) - second-most in league history 2006 Spencer Penrose Award winner for AHCA National Coach of the Year Led Miami to three CCHA regular-season championships (2005-06, 2009-10 and 2012-13) Directed Miami to two conference tournament championships (2010-11 Mason Cup and 2014-15 Frozen Faceoff) Guided the RedHawks to 10 NCAA Tournaments Led Miami to back-to-back Frozen Four appearances (2009 and 2010), including the school's first-ever berth in 2009 when the RedHawks made the National Championship game All-time winningest coach in Miami hockey history (366 wins) Coached Miami to its first NCAA Tournament victory in 2007 Saw the RedHawks earn their first No. 1 national ranking in any sport in 2006 Produced 12 20-win seasons, including a school-record 33 wins in 2007-08 Oversaw Miami's first Hobey Baker Award winner in 2011 (Andy Miele) and has coached 10 Hobey Baker Award finalists Coached 14 AHCA All-Americans and four CCHA Players of the Year Mentored 31 all-conference selections, including 13 first-team honorees, and 28 NHL draft picks under his tutelage A total of 26 RedHawks have gone on to sign NHL contracts after having Blasi as their coach

Hill will coordinate travel arrangements, set up meals and organize ice time, among other duties. He will also handle much of Miami's video, organizing it, exchanging with teams and cutting clips for scouting reports. Hill will serve as the liaison to the Blue Line Club and other departments, as well. As Miami's volunteer assistant coach during the 2012-13 season, Hill worked with players on the ice, assisting in skill development and contributing to in-game strategy. He also broke down film in his first year at Miami while helping prepare scouting reports -- something he'll continue to do in his new role. Hill coordinated the Junior RedHawks program and other community service outreach, as well, in 2012-13. Hill came to Miami after completing a four-year hockey career at former CCHA rival Ferris State from 2008-12. As a senior he served as co-captain and led the Bulldogs to their first ever Frozen Four and a berth in the national championship game. He also helped guide FSU to the program's second CCHA regular-season title in 2011-12. A defenseman his first three years before moving to forward as a senior, Hill played in 61 career games as a Bulldog, including a career-high 24 as a senior. He blocked 30 shots during his Ferris State career while firing 36. He earned his bachelor's degree in finance from FSU in the spring of 2012. Hill was honored with the NCAA Elite 89 award in April of 2012, which recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. It is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 89 championships. Among Hill's other awards are the FSU Blue Line Competitive Award, which he won as a junior for being the top competitor on the team on a daily basis. The award was voted on by his teammates. He earned the Bulldogs' Most Improved Player Award as a sophomore and was given the FSU Dean's Academic Award three times during his career. The Portage, Mich., native earned his master's degree in sport studies at Miami while serving as director of hockey operations in 2016.