The Chicago Blackhawks have announced the addition of Mike Vellucci to their coaching staff as an assistant coach under Head Coach Jeff Blashill. Vellucci will join a team that includes assistants Michael Peca and Anders Sorensen, goaltending coach Jimmy Waite, assistant coach/video Matt Meacham, and assistant video coach Adam Gill.
Head Coach Jeff Blashill expressed his enthusiasm about working with Vellucci, stating, “I’m looking forward to working alongside Mike who has excelled behind the bench at every level, as both a head and assistant coach.” He added that Vellucci's recent success as an assistant coach at the World Championship, where he won a gold medal with Team USA, would bring valuable experience to the team.
Vellucci, 58, comes from a five-season tenure with the Pittsburgh Penguins from 2020 to 2025. During this period, the Penguins achieved a regular-season record of 195-140-49 and participated in the Stanley Cup Playoffs twice. Before joining Pittsburgh, Vellucci held roles with the Carolina Hurricanes as Assistant General Manager and Director of Hockey Operations from 2014 to 2019. He also served as Head Coach for their AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers.
While coaching the Checkers from 2017 to 2019, Vellucci led them to their first Calder Cup victory in franchise history in 2018-19. The team finished that season with a notable regular-season record of 51-17-8 and secured their first division title since the SHL Checkers in 1974-75.
Before his time in professional hockey management and coaching roles, Vellucci spent over a decade with the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). From 2001 to 2014, he served as General Manager and Head Coach for all thirteen seasons. His leadership helped guide the Whalers to an OHL Championship in 2006-07. Additionally, he was recognized with the Matt Leyden Trophy as OHL Coach of the Year in 2007.
Internationally, Vellucci contributed significantly as an assistant coach for Team USA during the IIHF World Championship in 2025 when they secured their first gold medal in over nine decades.
Vellucci's playing career included being selected by the Hartford Whalers in the seventh round of the NHL Draft in 1984. He played two NHL games with Hartford and participated in various leagues such as AHL and IHL before transitioning into coaching and management roles.