Blackburn returns to Maize and Blue

Former Michigan goaltender Josh Blackburn is returning to the Wolverines as a volunteer assistant coach.

Blackburn will work primarily with the U-M goaltenders - junior Billy Sauer and freshmen Bryan Hogan and Shawn Hunwick. Blackburn became a goaltending consultant after he retired from professional hockey at the end of the 2004-05 season. He has operated his own goaltending school in southeast Michigan for the past year.

A four-year starter for the Maize and Blue from 1999-2002, Blackburn backstopped the Wolverines to consecutive NCAA Frozen Four appearances in 2001 and 2002. In addition, he helped U-M win two CCHA regular season titles (2000, 2002) and two CCHA playoff crowns (1999, 2002). He was an All-CCHA second team selection in 2001 and a CCHA All-Rookie team honoree in 1999. He posted a career record of 92-37-20.

Blackburn ranks highly in numerous Michigan career goalie records: Goals against average (2.29, first), games played (151, second), shutouts (14, second), save percentage (.905, third) and wins (92, third).

After graduating in 2002, Blackburn spent the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons in the ECHL with the Augusta Lynx and the Columbia Inferno. He played the 2004-05 campaign with the CHL's Corpus Christi Rayz (pictured).