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FERSCHWEILER AND NOEL-BERNIER JOIN DETROIT COACHING STAFF

Jun 23, 2015

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday announced the hiring of Pat Ferschweiler as assistant coach and Dave Noel-Bernier as video coach.

Ferschweiler, 45, and Noel-Bernier, 39, recently concluded their first professional seasons as assistant coaches under Jeff Blashill, who became the head coach of the Red Wings on June 9. During 2014-15, the trio helped the Grand Rapids Griffins capture a Midwest Division title with a 46-22-6-2 regular season record, before leading the team to its second Western Conference Finals appearance in three seasons. In addition to stringing together a franchise-record 19-game point streak (15-0-3-1) from Feb. 4-March 20, Ferschweiler and Noel-Bernier assisted the Griffins in becoming the 11th team in AHL history to win a best-of-five series after trailing 0-2 during the conference quarterfinals against the Toronto Marlies.

Ferschweiler and Noel-Bernier become the first two assistant coaches in Grand Rapids history to earn a direct promotion to the NHL, while three others have served as NHL assistant coaches after departing from the team: Curtis Hunt (Ottawa Senators, 2008-09), Kelly Miller (New York Islanders, 2001-03), and current Grand Rapids head coach Todd Nelson (Atlanta Thrashers, 2008-10).

Before his time with the Griffins, Ferschweiler spent four seasons behind the bench at Western Michigan University as both an assistant coach (2010-13) and associate head coach (2013-14). In his debut campaign with Western Michigan in 2010-11, Ferschweiler served under the charge of Blashill and helped the team to a 19-13-10 record, more than doubling the win total from the Broncos’ previous season. Blashill and Ferschweiler’s squad finished fourth in the CCHA with a conference record of 10-9-9 and earned its first bid to the CCHA championship game since 1996 after defeating the top-seeded Michigan, 5-2, in the CCHA semifinals.

During his second season with Western Michigan, Ferschweiler assisted the Broncos in earning their first CCHA Tournament championship since 1986. Under his guidance, current Red Wings defenseman and former Griffin Danny DeKeyser was named Second Team All-CCHA and Second Team All-American.

Prior to his time with the Broncos, Ferschweiler acted as the general manager and head coach of the Russell Stover Under-18 team of the Midwest Elite Hockey League. Through six seasons at the helm of the U18 team from 2004-10, he established the club as one of the country’s elite hockey programs and led the team to numerous Midwest Regional Championships

A native of Rochester, Minn., Ferschweiler enjoyed an eight-year playing career spanning the International Hockey League, East Coast Hockey League and British Ice Hockey Superleague. In all, he amassed 304 points (87-217—304) and 474 penalty minutes in 527 professional games.

In addition to his duties with the Griffins, Noel-Bernier has served as the director of hockey for the Eagles Ice Center and the Grand Rapids Blades youth program since 2013. He was also an assistant coach for the Grand Rapids Christian High School varsity team for the last two seasons, earning honors as the Total Package Hockey’s Michigan High School Division III Assistant Coach of the Year in 2013-14 after helping lead the Eagles to a 19-7-1 record.

Noel-Bernier, a member of the University of Nebraska-Omaha’s inaugural Division I team in 1997 and the Mavericks’ first CCHA squad in 1999, compiled 50 points (24-26—50) in 138 career games from 1997-2001, spending the final three seasons as a teammate of Griffins captain Jeff Hoggan. Following graduation, Noel-Bernier played six seasons at the minor professional level, including two stints with the United Hockey League’s Muskegon Fury in 2003-04 and 2006-07. In 2003-04, as a linemate of former Griffins Jeff Nelson – brother of head coach Todd Nelson – and Kory Karlander, he picked up 53 points (21-32—53) in 72 regular season games before helping the Fury win the Colonial Cup.

Upon retiring as a player, the Montmagny, Quebec, native returned to UNO and served as director of hockey operations from 2007-10, while also acting as the Mavericks’ video coordinator and assistant strength and conditioning coach. After three seasons coaching in Omaha, he accepted a position as an assistant coach with the Muskegon Lumberjacks, who had recently shifted from the International Hockey League to the United States Hockey League, the country’s premier junior league.

Noel-Bernier, who spent parts of three seasons (2010-13) with the Lumberjacks before joining Grand Rapids Christian and the Blades, has helped to produce more than 15 NHL draft picks and 50 Division I players since 2007.

Ferschweiler's Coaching Record

Regular Season Playoffs
Season Team League Position GP W L T OTL SOL PCT GP W L PCT
2004-05 Russell Stover U18 MWEHL Head Coach 58 31 20 7 -- -- 0.595 -- -- -- --
2005-06 Russell Stover U18 MWEHL Head Coach 54 31 15 8 -- -- 0.648 -- -- -- --
2006-07 Russell Stover U18 MWEHL Head Coach 67 40 18 9 -- -- 0.664 -- -- -- --
2007-08 Russell Stover U18 MWEHL Head Coach 72 45 17 10 -- -- 0.625 -- -- -- --
2008-09 Russell Stover U18 MWEHL Head Coach 64 32 25 7 -- -- 0.555 -- -- -- --
2009-10 Russell Stover U18 MWEHL Head Coach 63 40 17 6 -- -- 0.682 -- -- -- --
2010-11 Western Michigan CCHA Assistant Coach 42 19 13 10 -- -- 0.571 -- -- -- --
2011-12 Western Michigan CCHA Assistant Coach 41 21 14 6 -- -- 0.585 -- -- -- --
2012-13 Western Michigan CCHA Assistant Coach 38 19 11 8 -- -- 0.605 -- -- -- --
2013-14 Western Michigan NCHC Associate Head Coach 40 19 16 5 -- -- 0.538 -- -- -- --
2014-15 Grand Rapids AHL Assistant Coach 76 46 22 -- 6 2 0.658 16 9 7 0.563


Ferschweiler's Playing Record


Regular Season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A PTS PIM GP G
A
PTS PIM
1989-90 Rochester USHL 44 22 35 57 28 -- -- -- -- --
1990-91 Western Michigan CCHA 42 7 13 20 71 -- -- -- -- --
1991-92 Western Michigan CCHA 36 8 32 40 56 -- -- -- -- --
1992-93 Western Michigan CCHA 38 15 20 35 58 -- -- -- -- --
1993-94 Roanoke ECHL 68 27 58 85 79 2 0 1 1 2
1994-95 Roanoke ECHL 22 8 22 30 44 -- -- -- -- --
Minnesota IHL 1 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- --
Kansas City IHL 49 11 18 29 28 20 2 4 6 22
1995-96 Kansas City IHL 16 0 3 3 8 -- -- -- -- --
San Francisco IHL 42 3 7 10 42 4 0 0 0 0
1996-97 Kansas City IHL 49 4 6 10 42 2 0 1 1 2
1997-98 Kansas City IHL 79 16 27 43 73 10 2 2 4 8
1998-99 Kansas City IHL 80 7 38 45 66 3 0 1 1 2
1999-00 Kansas City IHL 82 8 21 29 66 -- -- -- -- --
2000-01 London BISL 39 3 17 20 26 -- -- -- -- --
IHL TOTALS 398 49
120
169
325 39 4 8 12 34
PRO TOTALS 527 87 217 304 474 41 4 9 13 36

Noel-Bernier's Coaching Record

Regular Season Playoffs
Season Team League Position GP W L T OTL SOL PCT GP W L PCT
2007-08 Nebraska-Omaha CCHA Asst. Strength & Conditioning Coach 40 17 19 4 -- -- 0.475 -- -- -- --
2008-09 Nebraska-Omaha CCHA Asst. Strength & Conditioning Coach 40 15 17 8 -- -- 0.475 -- -- -- --
2009-10 Nebraska-Omaha CCHA Asst. Strength & Conditioning Coach 42 20 16 6 -- -- 0.548 -- -- -- --
2010-11 Muskegon USHL Assistant Coach 60 24 28 -- 8 -- 0.467 6 3 3 0.500
2011-12 Muskegon USHL Assistant Coach 60 17 35 -- 8 -- 0.350 -- -- -- --
2012-13 Muskegon USHL Assistant Coach 26 16 8 -- 2 -- 0.563 -- -- -- --
2013-14 Grand Rapids Christian MHSAA Assistant Coach 27 19 7 1 -- -- 0.722 -- -- -- --
2014-15 Grand Rapids AHL Assistant Coach 76 46 22 -- 6 2 0.658 16 9 7 0.563
Grand Rapids Christian MHSAA Assistant Coach 25 9 15 1 -- -- 0.380 -- -- -- --

Noel-Bernier's Playing Record

Regular Season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A PTS PIM GP G A PTS PIM
1994-95 Yorkton SJHL 65 28 37 65 0 -- -- -- -- --
1997-98 Nebraska-Omaha NCAA 33 5 8 13 33 -- -- -- -- --
1998-99 Nebraska-Omaha NCAA 27 7 3 10 33 -- -- -- -- --
1999-00 Nebraska-Omaha CCHA 40 9 4 13 28 -- -- -- -- --
2000-01 Nebraska-Omaha CCHA 40 5 11 16 32 -- -- -- -- --
2001-02 Montmagny QSCHL 11 12 13 25 15 -- -- -- -- --
Thetford QSPHL 2 0 3 3 4 10 3 1 4 0
2002-03 Kempten Germany3 48 39 45 84 74 -- -- -- -- --
2003-04 Muskegon UHL 72 21 32 53 50 5 0 1 1 18
2004-05 Riessersee Germany3 39 35 20 55 98 8 4 11 15 2
2005-06 Riessersee Germany3 27 12 26 38 30 -- -- -- -- --
Munich Germany2 15 5 1 6 16 3 0 2 2 4
2006-07 Muskegon UHL 55 20 21 41 45 9 1 2 3 2
PRO TOTALS 256 132 145 277 313 25 5 16 21 26

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday announced the hiring of Pat Ferschweiler as assistant coach and Dave Noel-Bernier as video coach.

Ferschweiler, 45, and Noel-Bernier, 39, recently concluded their first professional seasons as assistant coaches under Jeff Blashill, who became the head coach of the Red Wings on June 9. During 2014-15, the trio helped the Grand Rapids Griffins capture a Midwest Division title with a 46-22-6-2 regular season record, before leading the team to its second Western Conference Finals appearance in three seasons. In addition to stringing together a franchise-record 19-game point streak (15-0-3-1) from Feb. 4-March 20, Ferschweiler and Noel-Bernier assisted the Griffins in becoming the 11th team in AHL history to win a best-of-five series after trailing 0-2 during the conference quarterfinals against the Toronto Marlies.

Ferschweiler and Noel-Bernier become the first two assistant coaches in Grand Rapids history to earn a direct promotion to the NHL, while three others have served as NHL assistant coaches after departing from the team: Curtis Hunt (Ottawa Senators, 2008-09), Kelly Miller (New York Islanders, 2001-03), and current Grand Rapids head coach Todd Nelson (Atlanta Thrashers, 2008-10).

Before his time with the Griffins, Ferschweiler spent four seasons behind the bench at Western Michigan University as both an assistant coach (2010-13) and associate head coach (2013-14). In his debut campaign with Western Michigan in 2010-11, Ferschweiler served under the charge of Blashill and helped the team to a 19-13-10 record, more than doubling the win total from the Broncos’ previous season. Blashill and Ferschweiler’s squad finished fourth in the CCHA with a conference record of 10-9-9 and earned its first bid to the CCHA championship game since 1996 after defeating the top-seeded Michigan, 5-2, in the CCHA semifinals.

During his second season with Western Michigan, Ferschweiler assisted the Broncos in earning their first CCHA Tournament championship since 1986. Under his guidance, current Red Wings defenseman and former Griffin Danny DeKeyser was named Second Team All-CCHA and Second Team All-American.

Prior to his time with the Broncos, Ferschweiler acted as the general manager and head coach of the Russell Stover Under-18 team of the Midwest Elite Hockey League. Through six seasons at the helm of the U18 team from 2004-10, he established the club as one of the country’s elite hockey programs and led the team to numerous Midwest Regional Championships

A native of Rochester, Minn., Ferschweiler enjoyed an eight-year playing career spanning the International Hockey League, East Coast Hockey League and British Ice Hockey Superleague. In all, he amassed 304 points (87-217—304) and 474 penalty minutes in 527 professional games.

In addition to his duties with the Griffins, Noel-Bernier has served as the director of hockey for the Eagles Ice Center and the Grand Rapids Blades youth program since 2013. He was also an assistant coach for the Grand Rapids Christian High School varsity team for the last two seasons, earning honors as the Total Package Hockey’s Michigan High School Division III Assistant Coach of the Year in 2013-14 after helping lead the Eagles to a 19-7-1 record.

Noel-Bernier, a member of the University of Nebraska-Omaha’s inaugural Division I team in 1997 and the Mavericks’ first CCHA squad in 1999, compiled 50 points (24-26—50) in 138 career games from 1997-2001, spending the final three seasons as a teammate of Griffins captain Jeff Hoggan. Following graduation, Noel-Bernier played six seasons at the minor professional level, including two stints with the United Hockey League’s Muskegon Fury in 2003-04 and 2006-07. In 2003-04, as a linemate of former Griffins Jeff Nelson – brother of head coach Todd Nelson – and Kory Karlander, he picked up 53 points (21-32—53) in 72 regular season games before helping the Fury win the Colonial Cup.

Upon retiring as a player, the Montmagny, Quebec, native returned to UNO and served as director of hockey operations from 2007-10, while also acting as the Mavericks’ video coordinator and assistant strength and conditioning coach. After three seasons coaching in Omaha, he accepted a position as an assistant coach with the Muskegon Lumberjacks, who had recently shifted from the International Hockey League to the United States Hockey League, the country’s premier junior league.

Noel-Bernier, who spent parts of three seasons (2010-13) with the Lumberjacks before joining Grand Rapids Christian and the Blades, has helped to produce more than 15 NHL draft picks and 50 Division I players since 2007.

Ferschweiler's Coaching Record

Regular Season Playoffs
Season Team League Position GP W L T OTL SOL PCT GP W L PCT
2004-05 Russell Stover U18 MWEHL Head Coach 58 31 20 7 -- -- 0.595 -- -- -- --
2005-06 Russell Stover U18 MWEHL Head Coach 54 31 15 8 -- -- 0.648 -- -- -- --
2006-07 Russell Stover U18 MWEHL Head Coach 67 40 18 9 -- -- 0.664 -- -- -- --
2007-08 Russell Stover U18 MWEHL Head Coach 72 45 17 10 -- -- 0.625 -- -- -- --
2008-09 Russell Stover U18 MWEHL Head Coach 64 32 25 7 -- -- 0.555 -- -- -- --
2009-10 Russell Stover U18 MWEHL Head Coach 63 40 17 6 -- -- 0.682 -- -- -- --
2010-11 Western Michigan CCHA Assistant Coach 42 19 13 10 -- -- 0.571 -- -- -- --
2011-12 Western Michigan CCHA Assistant Coach 41 21 14 6 -- -- 0.585 -- -- -- --
2012-13 Western Michigan CCHA Assistant Coach 38 19 11 8 -- -- 0.605 -- -- -- --
2013-14 Western Michigan NCHC Associate Head Coach 40 19 16 5 -- -- 0.538 -- -- -- --
2014-15 Grand Rapids AHL Assistant Coach 76 46 22 -- 6 2 0.658 16 9 7 0.563


Ferschweiler's Playing Record


Regular Season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A PTS PIM GP G
A
PTS PIM
1989-90 Rochester USHL 44 22 35 57 28 -- -- -- -- --
1990-91 Western Michigan CCHA 42 7 13 20 71 -- -- -- -- --
1991-92 Western Michigan CCHA 36 8 32 40 56 -- -- -- -- --
1992-93 Western Michigan CCHA 38 15 20 35 58 -- -- -- -- --
1993-94 Roanoke ECHL 68 27 58 85 79 2 0 1 1 2
1994-95 Roanoke ECHL 22 8 22 30 44 -- -- -- -- --
Minnesota IHL 1 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- --
Kansas City IHL 49 11 18 29 28 20 2 4 6 22
1995-96 Kansas City IHL 16 0 3 3 8 -- -- -- -- --
San Francisco IHL 42 3 7 10 42 4 0 0 0 0
1996-97 Kansas City IHL 49 4 6 10 42 2 0 1 1 2
1997-98 Kansas City IHL 79 16 27 43 73 10 2 2 4 8
1998-99 Kansas City IHL 80 7 38 45 66 3 0 1 1 2
1999-00 Kansas City IHL 82 8 21 29 66 -- -- -- -- --
2000-01 London BISL 39 3 17 20 26 -- -- -- -- --
IHL TOTALS 398 49
120
169
325 39 4 8 12 34
PRO TOTALS 527 87 217 304 474 41 4 9 13 36

Noel-Bernier's Coaching Record

Regular Season Playoffs
Season Team League Position GP W L T OTL SOL PCT GP W L PCT
2007-08 Nebraska-Omaha CCHA Asst. Strength & Conditioning Coach 40 17 19 4 -- -- 0.475 -- -- -- --
2008-09 Nebraska-Omaha CCHA Asst. Strength & Conditioning Coach 40 15 17 8 -- -- 0.475 -- -- -- --
2009-10 Nebraska-Omaha CCHA Asst. Strength & Conditioning Coach 42 20 16 6 -- -- 0.548 -- -- -- --
2010-11 Muskegon USHL Assistant Coach 60 24 28 -- 8 -- 0.467 6 3 3 0.500
2011-12 Muskegon USHL Assistant Coach 60 17 35 -- 8 -- 0.350 -- -- -- --
2012-13 Muskegon USHL Assistant Coach 26 16 8 -- 2 -- 0.563 -- -- -- --
2013-14 Grand Rapids Christian MHSAA Assistant Coach 27 19 7 1 -- -- 0.722 -- -- -- --
2014-15 Grand Rapids AHL Assistant Coach 76 46 22 -- 6 2 0.658 16 9 7 0.563
Grand Rapids Christian MHSAA Assistant Coach 25 9 15 1 -- -- 0.380 -- -- -- --

Noel-Bernier's Playing Record

Regular Season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A PTS PIM GP G A PTS PIM
1994-95 Yorkton SJHL 65 28 37 65 0 -- -- -- -- --
1997-98 Nebraska-Omaha NCAA 33 5 8 13 33 -- -- -- -- --
1998-99 Nebraska-Omaha NCAA 27 7 3 10 33 -- -- -- -- --
1999-00 Nebraska-Omaha CCHA 40 9 4 13 28 -- -- -- -- --
2000-01 Nebraska-Omaha CCHA 40 5 11 16 32 -- -- -- -- --
2001-02 Montmagny QSCHL 11 12 13 25 15 -- -- -- -- --
Thetford QSPHL 2 0 3 3 4 10 3 1 4 0
2002-03 Kempten Germany3 48 39 45 84 74 -- -- -- -- --
2003-04 Muskegon UHL 72 21 32 53 50 5 0 1 1 18
2004-05 Riessersee Germany3 39 35 20 55 98 8 4 11 15 2
2005-06 Riessersee Germany3 27 12 26 38 30 -- -- -- -- --
Munich Germany2 15 5 1 6 16 3 0 2 2 4
2006-07 Muskegon UHL 55 20 21 41 45 9 1 2 3 2
PRO TOTALS 256 132 145 277 313 25 5 16 21 26