It certainly wasn’t any kind of head start that would lead to success in the hockey world later in life for Sudbury native Dwayne Blais.

The now 48 year-old Skating and Skills Coach (Player Development Consultant) with the Detroit Red Wings had no real interest in lacing up the skates until after his ninth birthday – and only once the family moved from Minnow Lake to New Sudbury.

Kids out playing street hockey finally sparked his interest – and in the blink of an eye, his father had him outfitted for his introduction to a sport that would quickly become a passion. Thankfully, Blais more than made up for lost time, though not on the strength of an inordinate amount of natural athleticism and God-given ability.

“I knew that I was undersized and I had to work harder,” said Blais, with Hockey DB listing him at what he would suggest is a generous 5’10” frame. “I had parents who were very encouraging, but I was a good worker. They never had to tell me to work harder.”

Ironically, his relatively late start came in spite of the fact that his mother taught power skating for the City of Sudbury in his youth. When he did eventually take to the ice, a gentle assist from family genetics clearly did not hinder his progress.

“Skating was always my biggest asset,” said Blais.

But without the size, in the AAA hockey of the mid-eighties, that would only take him so far.

It was enough to land him as 10th forward as a minor on the bantam team. A year later, he was team captain. When the scenario more or less repeated itself in the midget age bracket, there was no denying the inner drive that the northern lad possessed landed well beyond the norm.

Two seasons with the Markham Waxers would earn Blais a scholarship with the University of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers – and a ton of great contacts over the course of a four year career.

“My ultimate goal was to play hockey as far as I could push it,” he reminisced. “I would have loved to play in the NHL, but I was very realistic. That was probably not an option. Still, I wanted to go out and explore the world.”

Interests in hockey and travel would combine for a small handful of years, with outposts such as Greenville (South Carolina), Biloxi (Mississippi) and Baton Rouge (Louisiana) welcoming the Canadian pro hockey talent to town.

Through it all, his university contacts had led to the creation of Total Package Hockey and an initial taste of what is now a well-established training and skills centre in London (Ontario). After serving as an assistant coach with the Saint John Sea Dogs (QJMHL) for just one season, Blais committed to giving his hockey business a fair shot.

“I was doing both the off-ice training and on-ice training and realized that I was more valuable on the ice than off the ice – and I could hire some really good guys who were way more passionate about off-ice training than I was.”

Blais had come to recognize where he wanted to focus his attention – and, at least as importantly, where his particular skill-set lie, equipped with a mind that understands how to identify the finer nuances of many components of the game and the communication skills to share that knowledge in a manner that young hockey talent could seemingly absorb.

“Just being a student of the game, watching what the NHL guys were doing, I began to think: how can I replicate what they are doing and break it down into three or four steps that kids can understand,” said Blais.

At various points in the conversation, the affable and refreshingly modest NHL coach points to a lucky break, a "right place at the right time" aligning of the stars as key contributors to his success.

That said, converting those opportunities into increasingly more attractive career options is a byproduct of a man who has the tools to shine in his role and the personality to do so in the midst of a team setting.

During his time in Alabama, Blais had created some connections with hockey folks in Nashville. Over the course of two summers, he worked their development camps as a skating instructor, making the acquaintance of Barry Trotz.

The latter moved on to Washington, stumbling across a chance to reunite – sort of.

“I feel like he (Trotz) was kind of: who was that bald guy that helped us out in Nashville? I kind of liked him,” said Blais with a laugh. For five years, he pitched in, as needed, with player development. When not on the road, his work in London included honing the tools of future NHLers Bo Horvat, Travis Konecky, Lawson Crouse and the like.

It was a set-up he enjoyed, his wife working in the Forest City, his children fully engrained in the local sports community. When the full-time offer came from the Red Wings, one that involved relocating to Detroit, Blais thought long and hard.

“We did a one year deal – and that was four years ago now,” he explained.

Having just signed a three-year extension with the Wings, Blais is, by his own admission, in a really nice place. He’s with the team during pretty much every homestand, typically on the ice well after practice is done, often making his way to Grand Rapids when the NHLers travel, just two hours away.

He is, most certainly, living proof that one need not be a three year-old hockey prodigy to enjoy a wonderful career in a game that he loves. Hard work, a sharp mind and a genuinely likeable personality can go an awfully long way.