Trev talks WCHA, Blais, arena, etc.

This past week Patrick Reusse started a rumor about Dean Blais going to the Gophers and Trev Albert addressed the media on the subject yesterday, I wouldn't start celebrating in Minnesota just yet. Personally I don't think Blais is going to coach in Minnesota IMHO. Stick salute to Husker Mike.

I talked to UNO AD Trev Alberts on Sunday, not too many hours after he had returned from St. Paul to take in the WCHA's Final Five.

Even though the 2009-10 hockey season is over for the Mavs, the school will have plenty on its plate this spring and summer as it begins the process of moving from the CCHA to the WCHA.

As always, Trev had lots of interesting things to say after his weekend in the Twin Cities. So let's break things down by subject and share his perspective on a number of hot topics:

Alberts on the rumors that Minnesota already is talking to coach Dean Blais about taking over the Gophers:
"They (reporters) asked me about it up in St. Paul. First of all, I have not had a phone conversation with (Minnesota AD) Joel Maturi. And I have had only positive conversations with Dean, and I know he's out recruiting this week. I think, for all Maverick fans, we ought to be flattered that people mention our coach. If nobody ever wants your coaches, and nobody thinks much of your coaches, then maybe you need new coaches. When we hired Dean, we understood that he was a known and proven commodity that certainly would be a coach people would be interested in. I feel like it's our job — my job — at UNO to try and create a culture and a situation that Dean and (his wife) Jackie so appreciate and so enjoy that they're not interested in any other opportunity. We'll work hard at doing that. We certainly expect and look forward to having Dean as our coach for a long, long time."

Alberts on the long-held speculation that Blais came to Omaha with plans to take over at Minnesota if the job opened:
"We would not have hired somebody to lead our hockey program that we didn't believe was going to be here for a good length of time. I think Dean and I are a little bit alike in that (we both came to UNO) because we love a challenge. I think Dean wants to build something special. So we'll see. Like I said, I think our fans and the community ought to be flattered that our coach is going to be mentioned any time there is an opening — or not even openings — and people are still attaching his name to it. At the same time, it's a crazy world we live in, and people are given opportunities, and that's just business. Like I said, it's our job to build an environment that coaches are going to want to be a part of."
[Omaha.com]