It’s hardly a secret now. Former North Dakota coach Dean Blais — a two-time NCAA champion — is returning to college hockey.

The Nebraska-Omaha program will get an infusion of enthusiasm and — very soon — talent. Expectations should ratchet upward, and Blais will hold everyone accountable from Day One.

It’s somewhat surprising in a way. New Omaha athletic director Trev Alberts has dropped some hints about making sure the school can afford the guy he decides to hire to run the hockey program. Blais is likely not coming cheap, but his pricetag was obviously not too high for UNO.

Nor should it be.

Omaha is a solid market, and it’s one this university can tap into with the right coach. While Blais might make a lot of money in his position, he will put a winning product on the ice, and he will do what it takes to make sure the program is successful.

Not only that, but you shouldn’t discount the experiences Blais has had in hockey. Among them was the work he did at North Dakota, a program that is as much a part of its home city as any other in the country. The North Dakota men could play a scrimmage against the Kentucky club team, and it would still sell a large number of tickets at the Ralph. Blais worked every day with a support staff that knows how to market a college hockey program.

In Fargo, he helped build a USHL franchise from scratch, and they just played for the Clark Cup title this spring.

With all this in mind, does UNO’s decision regarding the WCHA become easier with Blais on board?

There’s no question that Blais has a great amount of respect for the WCHA, and vice versa. I remember seeing him in Denver before a UMD game there a few years ago, when he had a chance to catch up with former Blais assistant and current UMD coach Scott Sandelin. Current North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol got the gig after Blais left, and he was an assistant prior to that. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone within the WCHA who doesn’t respect Blais.

Alberts admits he is learning about college hockey. That said, he is well-aware of the prestige of the WCHA. More importantly, the financial advantage the WCHA offers (for example, their per-school guarantee for the Final Five is much higher than the CCHA’s is for their league finals in Detroit) could really tip the scales in favor of this move. After all, Alberts talked at his introductory press conference about making a bigger deal out of hockey — UNO’s only Division I sport.

This might not be a slam dunk, but it’s as close as you’re going to get to one. Barring a major philosophical upset, I would expect Nebraska-Omaha to join Bemidji State in the WCHA. Not to brag, but it’s a solution I predicted nearly two years ago.

Friday, June 12th, 2009 - 2:17 pm | Commentary