|
MIKE BLAISDELL (1-97/98, 2-96/97, 3-98/99, 4-05/06) |
| DOB: 18th Jan 60 Birthplace: Moose
Jaw, Sask. Height: 6ft 1in Weight 12st 5lb |
| Position: Right Wing |
| Previous Teams: Regina Pats (WCHL),
Regina Blues (SJHL), Univ Of Wisconsin (WCHA), Adirondack Red Wings, New Haven Nighthawks,
Baltimore Skipjacks, Newmarket Saints (All AHL), Tulsa Oilers (CHL), Detroit Redwings, New
York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs (All NHL), Durham Wasps |
| Coaching |
GP |
W |
L |
D |
GF |
GA |
W% |
| Total |
477 |
272 |
158 |
47 |
2389 |
1808 |
57 |
| 05/06 |
59 |
31 |
16 |
12 |
169 |
129 |
53 |
| 99/00 |
22 |
6 |
15 |
1 |
63 |
103 |
27 |
| 98/99 |
71 |
44 |
23 |
4 |
248 |
197 |
62 |
| 97/98 |
65 |
34 |
25 |
6 |
263 |
226 |
52 |
| 96/97 |
66 |
38 |
24 |
4 |
286 |
224 |
58 |
| 95/96 |
60 |
34 |
16 |
10 |
347 |
257 |
57 |
| 94/95 |
67 |
48 |
14 |
5 |
581 |
323 |
72 |
| 93/94 |
67 |
37 |
25 |
5 |
432 |
349 |
55 |
| Playing |
GP |
Gls |
Ass |
Pts |
Ave |
PIM |
P/Ave |
| Total |
84 |
52 |
67 |
119 |
1.5 |
136 |
1.7 |
| 98/99 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0.3 |
0 |
0.0 |
| 96/97 |
15 |
6 |
8 |
14 |
0.8 |
12 |
0.8 |
| 95/96 |
52 |
35 |
46 |
81 |
1.6 |
75 |
1.4 |
| 94/95 |
14 |
11 |
14 |
25 |
1.8 |
97 |
6.9 |
|
| Mike signed on for 93/94 as Coach,
following a distinguished playing career which included an eight year |
| spell in the NHL, split between
Detroit, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh and Toronto. He also played for Team |
| Canada before signing for Durham Wasps
in January 91, from where he was surprisingly axed midway |
| through 92/93 season. Mike joined the
Panthers after this somewhat acrimonious parting from Durham. |
| In his first season he only filled the
role of Coach, but during his second season he came out of retirement |
| as Darren Schwartz returned to Canada.
Mike immediately led the side to a 7-2 Autumn Cup success over the |
| Devils, in which he contributed 3
goals. Two seasons later Mike was employed solely as Coach as the Panthers |
| once again took the Autumn Cup with a
5-3 success over the Ayr Eagles. In 98/99 Mike was again forced |
| from retirement to save the Panthers
from a fine, for icing an under strength squad, when Carpenter, |
| Roberts, Weber & Hunt were injured
& Beaulieu suspended. Panthers won the Autumn Cup under Mike in |
| 1998/99, with a 2-1 success, once
again over the Ayr Eagles. |
| On November 11th 99, Mike resigned.
After trying to run the smallest squad on the smallest budget and with |
| Panthers languishing at the foot of
the Superleague, Mike was probably offered the chance to coach the |
| Sheffield Steelers, who had just
parted company with Don McKee. Although nominally under contract until |
| the end of the season and with owner
Neil Black having stated that he would not accept Blaisers' resignation, |
| he had never the less resigned. Jamie
Leach took up the coaching role until something more permanent could |
| be arranged. Panthers most successful
coach to date was gone. Steelers general manager, |
| Dave Simms said; "We have three
candidates on our shortlist and Mike isn't one of them." Oh really!!. Five |
| days after his resignation, Mike was
announced as the new Steelers coach. |
| Mike had led the Panthers to three
Autumn Cup wins, 94/95, 96/97 & 98/99 and runners up in 95/96. They |
| also finished Championship runners up
in 95/96 & 96/97 and Challenge Cup runners up in 98/99. Mike was |
| coach
of the year in 94/95. |
| Much
to everyone's surprise Mike returned as coach in the summer of 2005, following Paul Adey's
departure, despite his somewhat |
| acrimonious
exit to the Steelers six years previously. Once again Panthers were close to the
silverware, but not close enough. Injuries and |
| departures
played their part. It was later reported that Blaiser had been offered another contract,
though on what terms wasn't revealed, but |
| he
showed little interest. |
