DEREK LALONDE NAMED ASSISTANT COACH AT FERRIS STATE

Derek Lalonde, an assistant coach with the Hamilton College (N.Y.) men’s ice hockey program for the last two seasons (2000-02), has been named assistant coach at Ferris State in an announcement made by FSU head coach Bob Daniels.

Lalonde replaces Jeff Blashill, who accepted an assistant coaching position at Miami (Ohio) University in May 2002 after serving as a full-time assistant at Ferris since August 1999. The 29-year old Lalonde, whose duties will include both on and off-ice activities, will work primarily with the Bulldogs’ goaltenders and defensemen while assisting in the program’s recruiting efforts.

“We’re really excited to have Derek join our staff,” said Daniels. “I believe he’s a great fit for the Ferris State hockey program and will be a valuable asset for us. He’s an energetic, hard-working coach and a quality individual who has considerable experience coaching goaltenders at the collegiate level and has established recruiting ties throughout Ontario.

“We’ve been fortunate at Ferris State to have assistant coaches with the ability to effectively coach and recruit. I sincerely believe Derek will continue that standard,” added Daniels.

A native of Brasher Falls, N.Y., Lalonde arrives at Ferris State after serving the last two seasons (2000-02) as an assistant men’s ice hockey coach under Phil Grady at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y. While at New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC)-member Hamilton, his primary responsibilities included being the Continentals recruiting coordinator, scheduling, managing practices, supervising training programs, home game management, and video analysis. Lalonde was Hamilton’s junior varsity head coach and served as director of the program’s summer hockey school. He also served as the institution’s intramural director and club sports supervisor.

Previous to his coaching stint at Hamilton, Lalonde held the same position title at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pa., from August 1998 through July 2000. He assisted with the establishment of the NCAA Division II-III’s men’s ice hockey program from its inception and was a member of head coach Al MacCormack’s staff in the 1998-99 season which registered an 19-6-1 record in the program’s first year of existance. The Flying Dutchmen also captured the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Northeast Championship and qualified for the NCAA Division III National Tournament in the program’s third year of existance. From 1995 until 1998, Lalonde was a graduate assistant coach at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, Mass. He also coached at a Prospects Camp for 16-year olds in Mississauga, Ontario while being a member of the selection committee for the Empire State Games and the New York State Select 16/17-year old group.

As a collegian, Lalonde was a four-year member (1990-95) of SUNY Cortland State University’s men’s ice hockey team and played at the goaltender position. He was the recipient of the team’s Red Letter Award in recognition of being selected the Red Dragons’ Most Valuable Player during his senior season in 1994-95 and concluded his career as the program’s holder of four goaltending records. Lalonde graduated in 1995 from SUNY Cortland State with a bachelor of science degree in education and went on to earn a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in 1998.

Lalonde, a 1990 graduate of St. Lawrence Central High School in Brasher Falls, N.Y., was a standout athlete in hockey, football and baseball. He was a two-time team Most Valuable Player and first-team All-Northern Athletic Conference goaltender in hockey, an all-league second-team pick at quarterback in football and earned first-team all-conference kudos in baseball as a senior.

The son of Donna and Jack Lalonde, Derek is a member of the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) and resides in Mecosta, Mich.