Blais impresses UNO players

Growing up a Minnesota Golden Gophers fan, UNO forward Dan Swanson saw plenty of Dean Blais in WCHA games with North Dakota.

“I respected him,” Swanson said. “I can’t say I wasn’t cheering against him a few nights, but that’s changed now. It’s just exciting to think about what the possibilities are here for UNO.”

Swanson was one of many University of Nebraska at Omaha hockey players who dropped in to see their new coach at Friday’s introductory press conference. What they saw on the podium, and later when meeting him in person, is one of the most prominent figures in college hockey.

Goalie Jeremie Dupont, who grew up in Ontario, isn’t quite as familiar with United States college hockey history, but it didn’t take long to get up to speed.

“We all know he has a very extensive background and that’s exciting for us,” he said. “First impression is that he seems really confident, really self-assured and just has an air of success about him. As a player you can’t help but respect that and want to play for him.”

Defenseman Mark Bernier, the team captain, said Blais will spark conversation among more than just his teammates.

“It’s a big-time name,” he said. “And if you look at his record and history, it’s great for us. It’s going to get a lot of attention from our fan base, and it’s going to get a lot of attention from our competitors. They’ll say, ‘Wow, these guys are serious.’”

Nick Fohr, a UNO assistant coach, has plenty to remember of Blais. He grew up in Grand Forks, N.D., where his dad runs the visitors’ penalty box at Engelstad Arena.

“Dean is a legend up there,” Fohr said. “I grew up watching games — I never missed one. I know what Dean is about, how he runs the game and what he expects. I just hope I get a chance to work for him.”

Blais has a reputation for having teams play a fast-paced, offensive-minded style.

“I don’t mind winning 8-7 games,” Blais said. “I know the goaltenders hate it.”

Dupont said he had no problem with Blais’ style.

“I still think he expects a lot out of his players,” he said. “Just because you’re scoring a lot of goals doesn’t mean you give up hope on defense. All I want to do is win games anyway. It doesn’t matter if it’s 5-4 or 1-0. We want to win games, and that’s why they brought him in.”

Blais’ style works for other Mavs, too.

“I don’t think you’ll find too many hockey players who are disappointed to hear something like that,” Swanson said. “That’s what they want to do, and that’s what the fans want to watch.”

But Blais said he won’t force his system on UNO. He said he didn’t get a chance to watch the Mavericks last season, so he doesn’t yet know how his personnel fits.

“We’ll play the way the players allow us to play,” he said. “If we have a big, rugged team, we’ll play big and rugged.”

There is one thing Blais said he knows for sure about how UNO will play.

“I coach a pretty simple game, but it all starts with hard work,” he said. “No one will out-condition or outwork us. The players will know real quick that they have to work.”

Contact the writer:

444-1027, rob.white@owh.com