University of Minnesota-Duluth Head Men's Hockey Coach Scott Sandelin will replace Dean Blais as head coach of the 2005 United States National Junior Team, which will compete at the 2005 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, it was announced today by USA Hockey. The tournament will be held Dec. 25, 2004-Jan. 4, 2005 in Grand Forks, N.D., and Thief River Falls, Minn., and features the best players in the world under the age of 20.

Blais, the former University of North Dakota head coach, stepped down from the position after accepting a job as associate head coach with the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League. Sandelin was originally named to the U.S. staff as an assistant on March 9 along with David Quinn . Mike Hastings, head coach and general manager of the United States Hockey League's River City Lancers, was subsequently chosen assistant coach in Sandelin's place.

 

\"I am very honored to be asked by USA Hockey to coach the U.S. National Junior Team and to represent our country,\" said Sandelin. \"Following last year's gold medal is a big task but I'm excited to work with David and Mike on our coaching staff and, together with a talented roster, we will shoot to hopefully duplicate those results.\"

        

Scott Sandelin recently completed his fourth year behind the UMD bench and led the Bulldogs to a 28-13-4 record, their best overall mark in 19 years. The team aso finished second in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, and advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four in Boston, Mass., losing in the semifinal round to eventual national champion University of Denver. For his efforts, Sandelin was honored by the American Hockey Coaches Association with the 2003-04 Spencer Penrose Award as National Coach of the Year.

Prior to his appointment at UMD, Sandelin served as Blais' assistant at North Dakota for three seasons, from 1997-98 to 1999-2000. During his tenure in Grand Forks, Sandelin helped the Fighting Sioux claim two NCAA titles, three WCHA regular-season championships and two WCHA playoff crowns.

Sandelin and the coaching staff will conduct the U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp from Aug. 8-15 in Grand Forks. Seven members of the 2004 U.S. National Junior Team are eligible to return next season. Team USA posted a 6-0-0 record and earned the first gold medal for the United States in the 28-year history of the event at the 2004 IIHF World Junior Championship in Helsinki and Hameenlinna, Finland.  

Games from the 2004 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp will be videocast live at the official site for the 2005 IIHF World Junior Championship, www.worldjuniors2005.com, and www.usahockey.com. For ticket information about the camp or the 2005 IIHF World Junior Championship, visit www.worldjuniors2005.com. For the complete camp roster, released on June 14, please visit www.usahockey.com.