INDIANAPOLIS- Indiana Ice head coach Jeff Blashill was selected this week to be an assistant coach for the 2009 U.S. Junior Select Team that will compete at the World Junior A Challenge November 1-9 in Summerside, Prince Edward Island.Blashill, who guided the Ice to the 2009 Clark Cup Championship, will join Andy Jones (Sioux Falls) as assistant coaches who will serve under head coach Mark Carlson of Cedar Rapids.
"Anytime you get a chance to represent the United States of America it's a great honor," said Blashill. "I look forward to working with and learning from Mark Carlson and Andy Jones. Hopefully we come home with a gold medal."
Indy's bench boss is no stranger to Team USA, as he was the goaltending coach for the 2009 U.S. Junior National Team that competed at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship in Ottawa.
Joining Blashill in eastern Canada this fall will be Indiana Ice Director of Team Services, Darrin Flinchem who will serve as the squad's Equipment Manager.
"Anytime you are able to participate in USA Hockey it is an honor," explained Flinchem. "I am excited to represent the Indiana Ice and be a part of a high quality staff."
This will be the fourth year for the World Junior A Challenge. Teams represented in the tournament this year will be Belarus, Canada East, Canada West, Russia, Sweden, and the United States.
The Ice's home opener is this Saturday as the team will unveil their Clark Cup championship banner and host Team USA at 7:05 p.m. from Pepsi Coliseum.
Season ticket packages are available for under $100. Single game tickets start as low as $9 and can be purchased through TicketMaster locations including Karma Records and the Pepsi Coliseum and Conseco Fieldhouse box offices. For more information please visit us at www.indianaice.com or call the Indiana Ice front office at (317) 925-4423.
• Discuss this story on the United States Hockey League message board...
• Digg this story
• Add to Del.icio.us
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
