The Blackhawks filled their assistant coaching vacancy Thursday by hiring Tomas Mitell, who was an assistant under head coach Jeremy Colliton at Mora IK in Sweden’s second division, Allsvenskan, during the 2016-17 season.
The 38-year-old Mitell served as AIK’s head coach in Allsvenskan for the past two seasons. The former defenseman guided the club to a 64-27-13 overall record during that span, including a league-best 35-8-9 record last season with Blackhawks prospect Mathias From (2016 fifth rounder). AIK’s 172 goals for ranked first in the league and their 116 goals allowed were the second fewest.
Mitell fills the vacancy left after Don Granto and the Blackhawks “mutually parted ways” last month.
Jeremy Colliton’s coaching staff now includes two assistant coaches in Mitell and Sheldon Brookbank, goaltending coach Jimmy Waite and video coach Matt Meacham and assistant video coach Dylan Crawford.
The Blackhawks have yet to name a second assistant coach for its AHL affiliate, Rockford IceHogs, who will be led by Derek King after he and assistant coach Anders Sorensen signed two-year contracts in April. Chicago also is looking to hire a head coach for their ECHL affiliate, the Indy Fuel, after “mutually parting ways” with Bernie John.