Miami University Names Brent Brekke Assistant Hockey Coach
6/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
June 24, 2008
The Miami University hockey team has announced the hiring of Brent Brekke as an assistant coach.
Brekke replaces Jeff Blashill, who recently took over as the general manager and head coach of the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League.
Brekke comes to Miami after spending the previous nine seasons as an assistant coach at Cornell University of the ECAC and Ivy League. During his time with the Big Red, the team made four appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including a trip to the Frozen Four in 2003, and compiled a 185-90-30 record. During the 2003 season, Brekke helped guide the team to its first No. 1 national ranking in program history.
Prior to his stint with Cornell, Brekke spent two seasons with the Chicago Freeze of the United States Hockey League as an assistant coach and director of player personnel. Some of his coaching responsibilities included working with the defense and special teams. As the director of player personnel, he was responsible for recruiting and player development.
Miami head coach Enrico Blasi is enthusiastic about what Brekke brings to his staff.
"We are very excited to have Brent join our coaching staff," Blasi said.
"For the past nine years, he has been an integral part of Cornell's success. He brings a great deal of experience and knowledge. He was an outstanding defenseman at Western Michigan and knows the CCHA very well. Brent will play a big role in growing the tradition of Miami hockey," Blasi continued.
Brekke is excited about the opportunity to coach at a school that is as nationally prominent and successful as Miami.
"It's exciting coming to Miami," Brekke said.
"It's a huge attraction being able to come to a contender and being able to coach with someone like Rico, as well as being able to stay in the CCHA," Brekke stated.
"They`ve done a great job of establishing the program and putting Miami on the map over the last couple of years," Brekke ended.
After a four-year playing career at Western Michigan University, Brekke graduated with a degree in marketing in 1994. He served as the team's assistant captain for the 1992-93 season, and during the 1993-94 season was the first player in the program's history to be unanimously named the team's captain by his teammates.
A ninth round selection (188th overall) of the Quebec Nordiques in 1991, Brekke skated with the USA Hockey National Junior Team that placed fourth in the 1991 World Junior Hockey Championships. Once his time at Western Michigan was complete, Brekke went on to play for the Cornwall Aces, Quebec's American Hockey League affiliate, for the 1994-95 season. One season later, he went on to captain the Dayton Bombers of the East Coast Hockey League.
Brekke and his wife, Stacey, a former track and field athlete at Western Michigan, have a daughter, Bailee, and a son, Cody.
