Kyle Dubas permitted the Penguins' three assistant coaches on expiring contracts -- Mike Vellucci, Ty Hennes and Andy Chiodo -- to seek opportunities elsewhere before their deals are officially up this summer, but promised the three of them that they would be granted a meeting with the Penguins' new head coach when hired if they wished to remain on staff.
Vellucci didn't opt to wait around. The Blackhawks on Monday named their entire assistant coaching staff, and Vellucci was among those joining Jeff Blashill in Chicago.
“I’m looking forward to working alongside Mike who has excelled behind the bench at every level, as both a head and assistant coach,” Blashill said of Vellucci in a team release. “Serving as an assistant coach at the World Championship this summer and winning a gold medal for our country alongside Frank Nazar and Alex Vlasic will bring such valuable experience to this group. That kind of championship-caliber background only makes our team better and I’m excited to get to work.”
Vellucci was an assistant coach managing the forwards and penalty-kill with the Penguins for the last five seasons. He was Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's head coach and general manager in 2019-20.
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THE ASYLUM
Taylor Haase
6:20 pm - 06.02.2025DowntownBlackhawks hire Vellucci
Kyle Dubas permitted the Penguins' three assistant coaches on expiring contracts -- Mike Vellucci, Ty Hennes and Andy Chiodo -- to seek opportunities elsewhere before their deals are officially up this summer, but promised the three of them that they would be granted a meeting with the Penguins' new head coach when hired if they wished to remain on staff.
Vellucci didn't opt to wait around. The Blackhawks on Monday named their entire assistant coaching staff, and Vellucci was among those joining Jeff Blashill in Chicago.
“I’m looking forward to working alongside Mike who has excelled behind the bench at every level, as both a head and assistant coach,” Blashill said of Vellucci in a team release. “Serving as an assistant coach at the World Championship this summer and winning a gold medal for our country alongside Frank Nazar and Alex Vlasic will bring such valuable experience to this group. That kind of championship-caliber background only makes our team better and I’m excited to get to work.”
Vellucci was an assistant coach managing the forwards and penalty-kill with the Penguins for the last five seasons. He was Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's head coach and general manager in 2019-20.
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