CONGRATULATIONS TO DAN BYLSMA

"Dan Bylsma has been named head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins," with great excitement that I informed my husband of the wonderful news. Bylsma is a former NHL forward for the Los Angeles Kings for five seasons. Dan signed with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 2000 and made it all the way to Stanley Cup Finals in 2003. The Ducks lost to the New Jersey Devils. Knee surgery and other injuries took a toll which resulted in Bylsma's retirement as a player in 2004. Bylsma began his coaching career with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks in the American Hockey League. In 2006 the New York Islanders selected him as an assistant coach. Dan was the head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton "Baby Pens" AHL team when he got the phone call from the general manager of the "Big Pens" with an offer he could not refuse.
"Why all the excitment, TOTA?", you may ask. Because Dan Bylsma is a native of Grand Haven, Michigan and my husband played in a softball team with Dan's father, Jay. We knew Dan's family as they all are very athletics and the kids were standout in many sports, including golf, baseball, and ice hockey. The family was also community minded and good people you would like to associate with. For 11 years Bylsma provided financial assistance thru a charity to assist youths with expense of playing hockey.
Dan and his father, Jay has written four books, including the one below, "So You Want to Play in the NHL" and also "So Your Son Wants to Play in the NHL". The books were written to share the lessons and values instilled in the Bylsma children by their parents. It is nice to see good things happen to good people who reached their success thru hard work and perseverance.
Now I am sure Dan probably won't remember us and would question who is the chubby Asian woman that holding the sign "Congratulations Coach Bylsma! Good Luck to you and the Pens". We are so proud of you. Good luck and best wishes Dan.
There is a very nice display of photos and items belonged to Dan Bylsma at Apple Bee Restaurant in Grand Haven, Michigan. The gallery is a tribune to Dan Bylsma for his NHL career with the Los Angels Kings, photos and items from his college days at Bowling Green State University.